Rhizotomy

A rhizotomy is a neurosurgery that selectively severs problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord, most often to relieve the symptoms of neuromuscular conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spastic diplegia and other forms of spastic cerebral palsy. In extreme cases, a rhizotomy may also be considered for a person suffering from severe back pain or a pinched nerve. The sensory nerve roots are first separated from the motor ones. Identification of the nerve fibres to be cut is then made by means of electrical stimulation. The one producing the pain or other problems are identified in this way, then selectively cut.In spasticity, rhizotomy precisely identifies, targets, and destroys the damaged nerves that don’t receive gamma amino butyric acid, which is the core problem for people with spastic cerebral palsy. In this case, those nerves which, due to not receiving GABA, generate unusual electrical activity during the testing phase are considered to be those producing too much muscle tone, and are cut, while the remaining nerves and nerve routes carrying the correct messages remain fully intact. (From the Wikpedia article Rhizotomy.)

Download PDF containing detailed information.

Recent Publications on Rhizotomy:
Expression of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 in the Spinal Somatosensory System. Estrogens were originally identified as the primary sex steroid hormones...	17th November, 2009	Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of	Brain Res. 2009 Nov 10. DOI Direct Link
[Application of exercise therapy on rehabilitation after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in children with cerebral palsy] OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of exercise therapy on...	13th November, 2009	Department of Orthopaedics, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing	Zhongguo Gu Shang. 2009 Sep;22(9):674-6.
Intraoperative neurophysiology of the conus medullaris and cauda equina. PURPOSE: Intraoperative neurophysiological techniques are becoming routine...	12th November, 2009	Division of Neurosurgery, Luzerner Kantonsspital, 6000, Lucerne 16,	Childs Nerv Syst. 2009 Nov 11. DOI Direct Link
Changes in synaptic populations in the spinal dorsal horn following a dorsal rhizotomy in the monkey. Studies in monkeys have shown substantial neuronal reorganization and...	3rd November, 2009	Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of	J Comp Neurol. 2010 Jan 1;518(1):103-17. DOI Direct Link
Gamma knife radiosurgery for multiple sclerosis-related trigeminal neuralgia. BACKGROUND: Surgical options for multiple sclerosis (MS) related to...	31st October, 2009	Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of	Neurology. 2009 Oct 6;73(14):1149-54. DOI Direct Link
→View more research publications.

Rhizotomy Patents:
US Patent No.	Title
6767347	Catheter for delivery of energy to a surgical site
7071194	Method for improving respiratory function and inhibiting muscular degeneration
7115666	Nitrone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and methods for treating inflammation and neuropathic pain
7142925	Combined stimulation of ventral and dorsal sacral roots for control of bladder function
7169751	Method of identifying a compound capable of treating a pain or a painful disorder
→View more patents.

BioPortfolio Ltd. offers e-mail and postal lists for Rhizotomy scientists - we have details of around 154 individuals working on Rhizotomy .