A novel lateral myelotomy approach for the treatment of lateral or ventrolateral spinal gliomas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel surgical approach in which myelotomy was performed lateral to the dorsal root entry zone (LDREZ), for the treatment of lateral or ventrolateral spinal intramedullary glioma. METHODS: This study reviewed six patients with lateral or ventrolateral spinal intramedullary glioma who received surgical treatments by using myelotomy technique of LDREZ approach. The patient's clinical characteristics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. The neurological function of patients before and after operation was assessed based on the Frankel scale system. The anatomical feasibility, surgical techniques, advantages and disadvantages of LDREZ approach were analyzed. RESULTS: Myelotomy technique of LDREZ approach was employed in all 6 patients. Gross total resections were achieved in 4 patients, and 2 patients with astrocytoma (case 2, 6) underwent partial removal. The perioperative recovery was all smooth and all the patients were discharged on schedule. All the patients who suffered from neuropathic pain were relieved. After surgery, neurological function remained unchanged in 3 patients. 2 patients improved from Frankel grade B to C, and 1 patient deteriorated from Frankel grade D to C immediately after surgery and returned to Frankel grade D at 3 months follow-up. Regarding to the poor prognosis of high-grade glioma, the two cases with WHO IV glioma didn't achieve long survival. CONCLUSION: LDREZ approach is feasible and safe for the surgical removal of lateral or ventrolateral spinal gliomas. This approach can provide a direct pathway to lateral or ventrolateral spinal gliomas with minimal damage to normal spinal cord.

Optimization of Radiofrequency Needle Placement in Percutaneous Cordotomy Using Electromyography in the Deeply Sedated Patient.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cordotomy, the selective disconnection of the nociceptive fibers in the spinothalamic tract, is used to provide pain palliation to oncological patients suffering from intractable cancer-related pain. Cordotomies are commonly performed using a cervical (C1-2) percutaneous approach under imaging guidance and require patients' cooperation to functionally localize the spinothalamic tract. This can be challenging in patients suffering from extreme pain. It has recently been demonstrated that intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring by electromyography may aid in safe lesion positioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in deeply sedated patients undergoing percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients who underwent percutaneous cordotomy while deeply sedated between January 2019 and November 2022 in 2 academic centers. The operative report, neuromonitoring logs, and clinical medical records were evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent PCC under deep sedation. In all patients, the final motor assessment prior to ablation was done using the electrophysiological criterion alone. The median threshold for evoking CMAP activity at the lesion site was 0.9 V ranging between 0.5 and 1.5 V (average 1 V ± 0.34 V SD). An immediate, substantial decrease in pain was observed in 9 patients. The median pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale) decreased from 10 preoperatively (range 8-10) to a median 0 (range 0-10) immediately after surgery. None of our patients developed motor deficits. CONCLUSION: CMAP-guided PCC may be feasible in deeply sedated patients without added risk to postoperative motor function. This technique should be considered in a group of patients who are not able to undergo awake PCC.

Effectiveness of CT-guided percutaneous cordotomy in intractable cancer pain: Experience in 14 patients.

BACKGROUND: Severe and treatment-resistant pain is a major issue for patients with cancer. Cordotomy is an effective approach for addressing severe cancer-related pain. It is based on blocking the transmission of pain by damaging the lateral spinothalamic tract. METHODS: Computed tomography guided cordotomy was performed on 14 patients who did not respond to medical and interventional pain management methods. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with cancer pain underwent CT-guided percutaneous cordotomy. Pain relief was reported in 86% of the patients. The visual analog scale values before and after cordotomy were compared and a significant difference was found (p = 0.0001). The improvement in the Karnofsky Performance Scale score of the patients was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We believe that CT-guided cordotomy, performed by experienced hands in a team of experienced individuals and applied to the right patients, is an effective treatment. However, it is crucial to exercise extreme caution regarding potential side effects and serious complications during the cordotomy procedure.

Endoscopic assisted microscopic posterior cordotomy for bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis using radiofrequency versus coblation.

PURPOSE: To assess the outcomes of endoscopic assisted microscopic posterior cordotomy for bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis (BAVFP) using radiofrequency versus coblation. METHODS: This was a randomized prospective cohort study that carried out on 40 patients with BAVFP who were subjected to endoscopic/assisted microscopic posterior cordotomy. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups: group (A) patients were operated with radiofrequency, and group (B) patients were operated with coblation. Glottic chink, grade of dyspnea, voice handicap index 10 (VHI10), and aspiration were evaluated pre-operatively and 2 weeks and 3 months post-operatively. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the glottic chink and VHI10 scores postoperatively with a non-significant difference between both groups regarding the degree of improvement. In addition, there was a significant improvement of the grade of dyspnea with a non-significant impact on the degree of aspiration in both groups post operatively. There was a lower incidence of oedema and granulation formation in the coblation group but without a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Both techniques are effective alternatives for performing posterior transverse cordotomy in cases of BAVFP.

Open thoracic cordotomy for intractable cancer pain: a how I do it.

BACKGROUND: Some cancers of the lower extremity involve nerves and plexuses and can produce extreme drug-resistant noceptive pain. In these cases, open thoracic cordotomy can be proposed. METHOD: This procedure involves disruption of the spinothalamic tract, which sustains nociceptive pathways. After placement in the prone position, selection of the side to be operated on (contralateral to the pain), and dura exposure, microsurgery is used to section the anterolateral spinal cord quadrant previously exposed by gently pulling on the dentate ligament. CONCLUSION: Open thoracic cordotomy is a moderate invasive, safe, and effective option for the management of drug-resistant unilateral lower extremity cancer pain in well-selected patients.

Temporal Summation Predicts De Novo Contralateral Pain After Cordotomy in Patients With Refractory Cancer Pain.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC), which selectively interrupts ascending nociceptive pathways in the spinal cord, can mitigate severe refractory cancer pain. It has an impressive success rate, with most patients emerging pain-free. Aside from the usual complications of neurosurgical procedures, the risks of PCC include development of contralateral pain, which is less understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether sensory and pain sensitivity, as measured by quantitative sensory testing (QST), are associated with PCC clinical outcomes. METHODS: Fourteen palliative care cancer patients with severe chronic refractory pain limited mainly to one side of the body underwent comprehensive quantitative sensory testing assessment pre-PPC and post-PCC. They were also queried about maximal pain during the 24 h precordotomy (0-10 numerical pain scale). RESULTS: All 14 patients reported reduced pain postcordotomy, with 7 reporting complete resolution. Four patients reported de novo contralateral pain. Reduced sensitivity in sensory and pain thresholds to heat and mechanical stimuli was recorded on the operated side (P = .028). Sensitivity to mechanical pressure increased on the unaffected side (P = .023), whereas other sensory thresholds were unchanged. The presurgical temporal summation values predicted postoperative contralateral pain (r = 0.582, P = .037). CONCLUSION: The development of contralateral pain in patients postcordotomy for cancer pain might be due to central sensitization. Temporal summation could serve as a potential screening tool to identify those who are most likely at risk to develop contralateral pain. Analysis of PCC affords a unique opportunity to investigate how a specific lesion to the nociceptive system affects pain processes.

Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for cancer-related pain: prospective multimodal outcomes evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC) offers pain relief to patients with unilateral treatment-refractory cancer-related pain. There is insufficient evidence about any effects of this intervention on patients' quality of life. METHOD: Comprehensive multimodal assessment to determine how PCC affects pain, analgesic intake and quality of life of patients with medically refractory, unilateral cancer-related pain.This study was set in a multidisciplinary, tertiary cancer pain service. Patient outcomes immediately following PCC were prospectively recorded. Patients were also followed up at 4 weeks. RESULTS: Outcome variables collected included: background and breakthrough pain numerical rating scores before PCC, at discharge and 4 weeks postprocedure; oral morphine equivalent opioid dose changes, Patient's Global Impression of Change, Eastern Cooperative oncology group performance status and health related quality of life score, that is, EuroQol-5 dimension-5 level (EQ-5D). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant improvement in pain and other standard outcomes sustained at 4 weeks, there was little evidence of improvement in EQ-5D scores. In patients with terminal cancer, improved pain levels following cordotomy for cancer-related pain does not appear to translate into improvements in overall quality of life as assessed with the generic EQ-5D measure.

Punctate Midline Myelotomy: A Historical Overview and Case Series with Detailed Efficacy and Side Effect Profiles.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with punctate midline myelotomy (PMM) for malignant and benign visceral pain with an emphasis on detailed side-effect profiles and efficacy. METHODS: Thirteen adults (5 men) underwent microsurgical transverse-crush PMM. RESULTS: Median follow-up for the benign pain group (n = 6) was 17.5 months (10-72) and for the malignant group (n = 7) was 8 months (0.5-31). Five of seven patients in the malignant pain group obtained excellent, lasting relief. Two had initial relief followed by worsening pain with disease progression. In the benign pain group, two patients with endodermal-origin pain (gastrointestinal tract, bladder) had complete, long-lasting relief. Three patients with mesodermal-origin pain (ureter) had excellent relief for 2-3 months, followed by recurrence in two and partial (40%) recurrence in the third. One man with pre-existing cervical myelopathy underwent PMM for benign testicular-region pain from which he had long-term relief but only transient relief of coexisting low-back and leg pain. There were no motor deficits in either group, and all patients remained ambulatory and continent. The most common side effect was transient numbness of the medial leg and foot. Two patients (both with pre-existing spinal pathology) reported persistent moderate reduction of bowel, bladder, and sexual sensation. CONCLUSIONS: PMM offers substantial pain relief for carefully selected patients with intractable visceral pain. Relief from primarily endoderm-derived structures was most complete and long-lasting. Relief from mesoderm-derived structures was typically transient or incomplete. There was essentially no relief from pain of ectoderm-derived structures. Detailed preoperative counseling is important, especially for those with pre-existing neurologic deficits.

Cervical Cordotomy in Terminal Cancer: Pain Relieving in Oncological Treatment

Cordotomy consists in the discontinuation of the lateral spinothalamic tract (LST) in the anterolateral quadrant of the spinal cord, which aims to reduce the transference of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the gray matter of the spinal cord to the somatosensory cortex. The main indication is for patients with terminal cancer that have a low life expectancy. It improves the quality of life by relieving pain. The results are promising and the pain relief rate varies between 69 and 100%. Generally speaking, the complications are mostly temporary and not remarkable.

Neuroablative surgical treatments for pain due to cancer.

Cancer pain is common and challenging to manage - it is estimated that approximately 30% of cancer patients have pain that is not adequately controlled by analgesia. This paper discusses safe and effective neuroablative treatment options for refractory cancer pain. Current management of cancer pain predominantly focuses on the use of medications, resulting in a relative loss of knowledge of these surgical techniques and the erosion of the skills required to perform them. Here, we review surgical methods of modulating various points of the neural axis with the aim to expand the knowledge base of those managing cancer pain. Integration of neuroablative approaches may lead to higher rates of pain relief, and the opportunity to dose reduce analgesic agents with potential deleterious side effects. With an ever-increasing population of cancer patients, it is essential that neurosurgeons maintain or train in these techniques in tandem with the oncological multi-disciplinary team.

Cordotomy for Intractable Cancer Pain: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Cordotomy is an invasive procedure for the management of intractable pain not controlled by conventional therapies, such as analgesics or nerve block. This procedure involves mechanical disruption of nociceptive pathways in the anterolateral column, specifically the spinothalamic and spinoreticular pathways to relieve pain while preserving fine touch and proprioceptive tracts. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review article is to refresh our knowledge of cordotomy and support its continued use in managing intractable pain due to malignant disease. STUDY DESIGN: This is a review article with the goal of reviewing and summarizing the pertinent case reports, case series, retrospective studies, prospective studies, and review articles published from 2010 onward on spinal cordotomy. SETTING: The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. METHODS: PubMed search of keywords "spinal cordotomy," "percutaneous cordotomy," or "open cordotomy" was undertaken. Search results were organized by year of publication. RESULTS: Cordotomy can be performed via percutaneous, open, endoscopic, or transdiscal approach. Percutaneous image-guided approach is the most well-studied and reported technique compared with others, with relatively good pain improvement both in the postoperative and short-term period. The use of open cordotomy has diminished significantly in recent years because of the advent of other less invasive approaches. Cordotomy in children, although rare, has been described in some case reports and case series with reported pain improvement postprocedure. Although complications can vary broadly, some reported side effects include ataxia and paresis due to lesion in the spinocerebellar/corticospinal tract; respiratory failure due to lesion in the reticulospinal tract; or sympathetic dysfunction, bladder dysfunctions, or Horner syndrome due to unintentional lesions in the spinothalamic tract. LIMITATIONS: Review article included literature published only in English. For the studies reviewed, the sample size was relatively small and the patient population was heterogeneous (in terms of underlying disease process, duration of symptoms, previous treatment attempted and length of follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: Cordotomy results in selective loss of pain and temperature perception on the contralateral side, up to several segments below the level of the disruption. The plethora of analgesics available and advanced technologies have reduced the demand for cordotomy in the management of intractable pain. However, some patients with pain unresponsive to medical and procedural management, particularly malignant pain, may benefit from this procedure, and it is a viable treatment option especially for patients with a limited life expectancy whose severe, unilateral pain is unresponsive to analgesic medications. KEY WORDS: Cancer pain, cordotomy complications, cordotomy indications, intractable pain, open cordotomy, percutaneous cordotomy.

Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for cancer-related pain: national data.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC) is an interventional ablative procedure in the armamentarium for cancer pain treatment, but there is limited evidence to support its use. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of PCC. METHODS: Analysis was undertaken of the first national (UK) prospective data repository of adult patients with cancer undergoing PCC for pain treatment. The relationship between pain and other outcomes before and after PCC was examined using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: Data on 159 patients' PCCs (performed from 1 January 2012 to 6 June 2017 in three centres) were assessed: median (IQR) age was 66 (58-71) years, 47 (30%) were female. Mesothelioma was the most common primary malignancy (57%). The median (IQR) time from cancer diagnosis to PCC assessment was 13.3 (6.2-23.2) months; PCC to follow-up was 9 (8-25) days; and survival after PCC was 1.3 (0.6-2.8) months. The mean (SD) for 'average pain' using a numerical rating scale was 6 (2) before PCC and 2 (2) at follow-up, and for 'worst pain' 9 (1) and 3 (3), respectively. The median (IQR) reduction in strong opioid dose at follow-up was 50% (34-50). With the exception of 'activity', all health-related quality of life scores (5-level version of EuroQol-5 Dimension) either improved or were stable after PCC. Six patients (4%) had PCC-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: PCC is an effective treatment for cancer pain; however, findings in this study suggest PCC referrals tended to be late in patients' disease trajectories. Further study into earlier treatment and seeking international consensus on PCC outcomes will further enhance opportunities to improve patient care.

Percutaneous Cordotomy for Pain Palliation in Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Cancer pain, one of the most common symptoms for patients with advanced cancer, is often refractory to maximal medical therapy. A controlled clinical trial is needed to provide definitive evidence to support the use of ablative procedures such as cordotomy for patients with medically refractory cancer pain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of cordotomy for patients with unilateral advanced cancer pain using a controlled clinical trial study design. The secondary objectives are to define the patient experience of cordotomy for medically refractory cancer pain as well as to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging as a non-invasive biomarker for successful cordotomy. METHODS: We will undertake a single-institution, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial of cordotomy in patients with refractory cancer pain. Patients in the cordotomy arm will undergo a percutaneous computed tomography-guided cordotomy at C1-C2, while patients in the control arm will undergo a similar procedure where the needle will not penetrate the thecal sac. The primary endpoint will be the reduction in pain intensity, as measured by the Edmonton Symptoms Assessment Scale. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: We expect that patients randomized to cordotomy will have a significantly greater reduction in pain intensity than those patients randomized to the control surgical intervention. DISCUSSION: This randomized clinical trial comparing cordotomy with a control intervention will provide the level of evidence necessary to determine whether cordotomy should be the standard of care intervention for patients with advanced cancer pain.

Neurosurgeons' Armamentarium for the Management of Refractory Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can be refractory to both medical and minimally invasive treatments. Its complex pathophysiology explains the numerous neurosurgical procedures that have been implemented through the years. Our objective was to summarize all available neurosurgical strategies for the management of resistant PHN and evaluate their respective safety and efficacy outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies comprising 811 patients with refractory PHN were included. The safety and efficacy of the following procedures were investigated: spinal cord stimulation (SCS), dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning, intrathecal drug delivery, caudalis DREZ lesioning, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) radiofrequency lesioning, peripheral nerve stimulation, gamma knife surgery, deep brain stimulation, cordotomy, percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy and Gasserian ganglion stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: There are several available neurosurgical approaches for recalcitrant PHN including neuromodulatory and ablative procedures. It is suggested that patients with resistant PHN undergo minimally invasive procedures first, including SCS, peripheral nerve stimulation or DRG radiofrequency lesioning. More invasive procedures should be reserved for refractory cases. Comparative studies are needed in order to construct a PHN neurosurgical management algorithm.

Minimally Invasive Cordotomy for Refractory Cancer Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Up to 30% of patients with cancer continue to suffer from pain despite aggressive supportive care. The present study aimed to determine whether cordotomy can improve cancer pain refractory to interdisciplinary palliative care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited patients with refractory unilateral somatic pain, defined as a pain intensity (PI) ≥4, after more than three palliative care evaluations. Patients were randomized to percutaneous computed tomography-guided cordotomy or continued interdisciplinary palliative care. The primary outcome was 33% improvement in PI at 1 week after cordotomy or study enrollment as measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled (nine female, median age 58 years). Six of seven patients (85.7%) randomized to cordotomy experienced >33% reduction in PI (median preprocedure PI = 7, range 6-10; 1 week after cordotomy median PI = 1, range 0-6; p = .022). Zero of nine patients randomized to palliative care achieved a 33% reduction in PI. Seven patients (77.8%) randomized to palliative care elected to undergo cordotomy after 1 week. All of these patients experienced >33% reduction in PI (median preprocedure PI = 8, range 4-10; 1 week after cordotomy median PI = 0, range 0-1; p = .022). No patients were withdrawn from the study because of adverse effects of the intervention. CONCLUSION: These data support the use of cordotomy for pain refractory to optimal palliative care. The findings of this study justify a large-scale randomized controlled trial of percutaneous cordotomy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This prospective clinical trial was designed to determine the improvement in pain intensity in patients randomized to either undergo cordotomy or comprehensive palliative care for medically refractory cancer pain. This study shows that cordotomy is effective in reducing pain for medically refractory cancer pain, and these results can be used to design a large-scale comparative randomized controlled trial that could provide the evidence needed to include cordotomy as a treatment modality in the guidelines for cancer pain management.

Somatotopy and Organization of Spinothalamic Tracts in the Human Cervical Spinal Cord.

BACKGROUND: Understanding spinothalamic tract anatomy may improve lesioning and outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous cordotomy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate somatotopy and anatomical organization of spinothalamic tracts in the human cervical spinal cord. METHODS: Patients with intractable cancer pain undergoing cordotomy underwent preoperative and postoperative quantitative sensory testing for sharp pain and heat pain on day 1 and 7 after cordotomy. Intraoperative sensory stimulation was performed with computed tomography (CT) imaging to confirm the location of the radiofrequency electrode during cordotomy. Postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed to define the location of the lesion. RESULTS: Twelve patients were studied, and intraoperative sensory stimulation combined with CT imaging revealed a somatotopy where fibers from the legs were posterolateral to fibers from the hand. Sharpness detection thresholds were significantly elevated in the area of maximum pain on postoperative day 1 (P = .01). Heat pain thresholds for all areas were not elevated significantly on postoperative day 1, or postoperative day 7. MR imaging confirmed that the cordotomy lesion was in the anterolateral quadrant, and in this location the lesion had a sustained effect on sharp pain but a transient impact on heat pain. CONCLUSION: In the high cervical spinal cord, spinothalamic fibers mediating sharp pain for the arms are located ventromedial to fibers for the legs, and these fibers are spatially distinct from fibers that mediate heat pain.

[NEUROSURGICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR INTRACTABLE ONCOLOGICAL PAIN].

INTRODUCTION: Pain is one of the most common symptoms among cancer patients, and particularly in those who suffer from metastatic or terminal disease. There is great importance in delivering good pain management to these patients in order to alleviate their suffering, improve their functional status and their overall quality of life. In most cases, pain management is based on pharmacotherapy with opioids and other medications. However, there are selected patients for whom pharmacotherapy does not achieve acceptable pain relief or is associated with marked side effects. These patients, who suffer from refractory cancer pain, may benefit from neurosurgical procedures selectively intervening in different locations along the pain signaling pathways. This article summarizes several of these neurosurgical procedures: percutaneous cordotomy for unilateral pain, punctuate midline myelotomy for visceral pain and stereotactic cingulotomy for diffuse pain syndromes. This article demonstrates the use of careful patient selection by an interdisciplinary team which is critical for the success of these procedures. The team consists of palliative care specialists, pain specialists and a neurosurgeon. These neurosurgical interventions are presented through representative clinical cases, followed by a discussion of the clinical considerations that guided the choice of the therapeutic approach for each case.

A comparison of two endoscopic posterior cordotomy techniques: Laser cordotomy vs diathermy-assisted cordotomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare respiratory function, swallowing and voice quality of bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis (BAVFP) patients undergoing laser and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients were included in the study (groups 1 and 2, 15 patients each). Mean age was 53 ± 14.27 years with a range of 31-78 years (12 [40%] males, 18 [60%] females). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sufficient airway, complications, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), voice quality VAS, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, NHR, amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ) and pitch perturbation quotient (PPQ) scores. RESULTS: A sufficient laryngeal airway was achieved in all patients. Six patients (20%) developed postoperative granulation tissue (2 in group 1 and 4 in group 2). There was a statistically significant improvement in FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEF measurements at the postoperative sixth month compared to preoperative measurements in both of the groups (P < .05). Preoperative median voice quality VAS scores in groups 1 and 2 were 8 (IQR = 1) and 8 (IQR = 3), respectively. Postoperative sixth-month voice quality VAS scores in groups 1 and 2 were 6 (IQR = 1) and 6 (IQR = 0), respectively. Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower in both groups (P < .05). The postoperative changes in fundamental frequency, NHR, jitter, shimmer, APQ and PPQ were not statistically significant in both of the groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Laser and diathermy-assisted posterior cordotomy are both minimally invasive, effective techniques with a long-term sufficient laryngeal airway. Despite lower quality of voice VAS scores, objective acoustic outcomes were not significantly lower in both of the groups.

Limited Midline Myelotomy for Intractable Visceral Pain: Surgical Techniques and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Limited midline myelotomy targets the midline nociceptive pathway for intractable visceral pain. Multiple techniques are available for limited midline myelotomy; however, outcome data for each technique are sparse. OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with open and percutaneous approaches for limited midline myelotomy for intractable visceral pain. METHODS: Patients who underwent limited midline myelotomy for intractable visceral pain were reviewed. Myelotomy was performed using 3 techniques: open limited myelotomy, percutaneous radiofrequency myelotomy, and percutaneous mechanical myelotomy. Demographic and perioperative clinical data were recorded. In addition to the visual analog scale and Karnofsy performance score, outcomes were categorized as excellent (no pain), good (considerable reduction in pain, not requiring opioids stronger than codeine), fair (minimal reduction in pain, but no change in opioid medication requirement), and poor (no reduction in pain). RESULTS: Eight patients (median age 56.5 yr, 6 females) underwent limited myelotomy. Four patients underwent open limited thoracic myelotomy with excellent pain outcomes. Three patients underwent percutaneous radiofrequency lesioning with fair (n = 1) and poor outcomes (n = 2). One patient underwent percutaneous mechanical lesioning with a good outcome (n = 1). The median duration of follow-up was 11 wk (2-54 wk). Two patients reported minor sensory complications after the procedure. CONCLUSION: In our preliminary experience, outcomes for open limited thoracic myelotomy were superior to percutaneous approaches. Given the limited utilization of this technique, multicenter registries are needed to further evaluate the best surgical technique for limited midline myelotomy.