Journal of the American Medical Association · 1913 · 15 citations · 0 references
MedicineNeurological SurgerySurgeryPain ManagementPain MedicinePeripheral Nerve SurgeryNerve DecompressionPain Management ProceduresAnterolateral ApproachNerve Root DecompressionNeurosurgical Pain ManagementPain From Spinal MetastasesPersistent Postsurgical PainPosterior Rhizotomy
Dr. W. G. Spiller has suggested<sup>1</sup>the operation of cutting the anterolateral column of the cord for the relief of persistent pain of organic origin, and published a report of the first case illustrating this procedure, the operation being performed by Dr. E. Martin. The importance of obtaining relief for these cases is selfevident and, as I have seen a number of these patients dragging out their sufferings over months, more or less chronically poisoned with morphin, the suggestion of Dr. Spiller appealed to me. Compared with cutting of a large number of posterior roots to effect a similar result, it seemed a much simpler and safer procedure. Moreover, if our physiology was correct, patients so operated on would lose only pain and temperature sense in the affected parts, whereas section of posterior roots (even two consecutive ones<sup>2</sup>) produces loss of all three sensibilities. The patient of Drs.