What is "cordotomy"

alt. (context surgery English) The surgical procedure for selectively disabling pain-conducting nerve paths in the spinal cord to relieve chronic pain. n. (context surgery English) The surgical procedure for selectively disabling pain-conducting nerve paths in the spinal cord to relieve chronic pain.

Cordotomy (or chordotomy) is a surgical procedure that disables selected pain-conducting tracts in the spinal cord, in order to achieve loss of pain and temperature perception. This procedure is commonly performed on patients experiencing severe pain due to cancer or other incurable diseases. Anterolateral cordotomy is effective for relieving unilateral, somatic pain while bilateral cordotomies may be required for visceral or bilateral pain.