spinal cordotomy

Indications

• chronic pain refractory to medical therapy

Procedure

• any surgery on the spinal cord
• usually done percutaneously with fluoroscopic guidance while under local anesthesia
• open cordotomy requires a laminectomy

Complications

• effect is usually temporary
• dysesthesia is frequent

More general terms

• neurosurgery

More specific terms

• laminectomy with cordotomy
• myelotomy

Additional terms

• vocal cordotomy