What You Need to Know About Myelotomy
Myelotomy is a surgical procedure used to relieve severe cancer-related pain in the abdominal and pelvic regions that hasn’t responded to other pain management techniques. It can also be used during surgical procedures to remove spinal cord tumors.
How is a myelotomy performed?
When performing a myelotomy for pain relief, patients are placed under general anesthesia; then the surgeon makes a small incision in the patient’s back to expose the spinal cord. A surgical microscope aids the surgeon in visualizing the exact midline of the spinal cord where another incision is made to sever and disrupt the nerve fibers that transmit pain signals from the lower body to the brain. The goal of the procedure is to interrupt and stop the signals from reaching the brain.
Myelotomy is also used when opening the spinal cord at its midline to gain access to and remove a tumor. Once the incision is made to expose the spinal cord, the surgeon will delicately move through the layers of the spinal cord to reach the tumor.
Who is a candidate for myelotomy?
Myelotomy is typically considered when:
- patients experience intense pain due to certain cancers that has not responded to other forms of treatment
- patients are seeking palliative care options to improve quality of life
- specific types of tumors are located within the spinal cord
The decision to perform a myelotomy is made after careful evaluation of the patient’s condition and pain management needs.
What are the benefits of myelotomy?
Most patients experience significant pain relief following a myelotomy procedure when performed for pain relief. Recovery time varies depending on the extent of the surgery and the patient’s overall health. Generally, patients take several weeks to fully recover.
The success of the procedure is dependent upon careful patient selection and precise surgical skill to correctly identify the exact midline in the spinal cord. Seeking care from highly trained specialists minimizes the risk of complications and maximizes the chances for successful outcomes.
New Jersey Brain and Spine is ranked among the top 10 neurosurgery practices in the country. Contact us for more information and to learn how we can partner with you to prevent long-term complications.
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