How frequent is anesthesia dolorosa following spinal posterior rhizotomy? A retrospective analysis of fifteen patients.
Anesthesia dolorosa has been considered an infrequent complication of spinal posterior rhizotomy. We reviewed the data of all patients who underwent rhizotomy between 1962 and 1972 (15 cases). Thirteen were affected by cancer and 2 by non-neoplastic conditions. Eight developed a typical deafferentation pain (i.e., anesthesia dolorosa) (53%) while 3 who were found to have a brain (frontal 2; parietal 1) metastasis did not. Anesthesia dolorosa developed 1.5-8 months after rhizotomy. We conclude that anesthesia dolorosa following rhizotomy is more frequent than usually stated and that rhizotomy should be restricted to patients with a less than 3-month life expectancy.
Pagni
Carlo Alberto
CA
Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Turin, TurinItaly Department of Neurosurgery C.T.O. Hospital, TurinItaly.
Lanotte
Michele
M
Canavero
Sergio
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003714:Denervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*