|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

Pros & Cons of a Rhizotomy

Rhizotomy, or surgical denervation, is a procedure in which nerve supply to a certain body part is severed. Rhizotomy is used to treat a number of medical conditions including back and neck pain, trigeminal neuralgia and cerebral palsy. Although rhizotomy has documented benefits, like any surgical procedure it carries certain risks.

  1. Reduced Spasticity

    • Spasticity is a condition where muscles involuntarily contract due to irregular nerve signals. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is sometimes used to reduce symptoms in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), according to the St. Louis Children's Hospital. When nerves from the muscles to the spinal cord are cut, spasticity is reduced, which reduces the risk of spinal deformities, reduces pain and increases motor function in many CP patients.

    SDR Complications

    • SDR is a complex procedure with some risks, according to the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Possible complications include bladder paralysis, leg paralysis, impotence and sensory loss and meningitis, urinary tract infection, pneumonia and spinal fluid leakage. Temporary complications include skin sensitivity and bladder control problems, which usually resolve within a few weeks.

    Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment

    • Partial sensory rhizotomy (PSR) is used to treat trigeminal neuralgia, a condition in which spontaneous sharp pains inflict areas of the face and mouth, according to MayoClinic.com. Severing the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain relieves this pain. However, it leaves the face permanently numb.

    Facet Joint Pain Relief

    • Facet rhizotomy is used to treat facet joint pain, according to Espalda.org. When facet joint degeneration reaches the bone, nerves become activated causing back pain. Facet rhizotomy usually involves burning the facet joint nerves with radiofrequency current to reduce this pain. According to the Espalda.com, even if the procedure is initially successful, the results often diminish with time.

    Surgery Risks

    • Because rhizotomy is a surgical procedure, it carries risk such as the possibility of contracting infection, hemorrhaging and anesthesia complications. Pain at the operation site may also persist for several days, according to Espalda.org.

Surgeries - Related Articles