rhizotomy

Section of the spinal nerve roots for the relief of pain or spastic paralysis. SYN: radicotomy, radiculectomy. [G. rhiza, root, + tome, section]

- anterior r. section of anterior spinal root.

- facet r. a percutaneous radiofrequency lysis of the innervation of a facet.

- posterior r. section of posterior spinal root. SYN: Dana operation.

- trigeminal r. division or section of a sensory root of the fifth cranial nerve, accomplished through a subtemporal (Frazier-Spiller operation), suboccipital (Dandy operation), or transtentorial approach. SYN: retrogasserian neurectomy, retrogasserian neurotomy.

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rhi·zot·o·my rī-'zät-ə-mē n, pl -mies the operation of cutting the anterior or posterior spinal nerve roots

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n.

a surgical procedure in which selected nerve roots are cut at the point where they emerge from the spinal cord. In posterior rhizotomy the posterior (sensory) nerve roots are cut for the relief of intractable pain in the organs served by these nerves. An anterior rhizotomy - the cutting of the anterior (motor) nerve roots - is sometimes done for the relief of severe muscle spasm or dystonia.

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rhi·zot·o·my (ri-zotґə-me) [rhizo- + -tomy] interruption of a cranial or spinal nerve root; see also neurolysis (def. 4).