title: Dorsal root entry zone lesion, midline myelotomy and anterolateral cordotomy.
abstract: This review encompasses the most common spinal cord lesioning procedures used for the treatment of pain: dorsal root entry zone lesioning, open cordotomy, percutaneous cordotomy, and midline myelotomy. A literature review and summary of each technique regarding relevant anatomy, patient selection, surgical technique, outcomes, and complications are discussed. A general review of somatic and visceral pain pathways of the spinal cord is included, as each procedure requires an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to lesioning the spinal cord for pain. Neurosurgical education of these rarely used procedures needs to be included in residency and fellowship training.
authors.affiliation: Functional Neurosurgery, Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: peter.konrad@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Konrad
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cordotomy; DREZ; Myelotomy; Pain; Spinal cord