Etymed
neurotomy
Definition
surgical incision of a nerve
Clinical context
A 32-year-old man presents with severe chronic pain in his right arm following a motor vehicle accident. Despite conservative management, he continues to experience debilitating neuropathic pain that significantly impacts his quality of life. His pain specialist recommends a neurotomy procedure to interrupt the pain pathway. During the surgical intervention, the anesthesiologist notes a decrease in sympathetic tone on the affected side, confirming successful nerve disruption. Postoperatively, the patient reports significant pain relief with minimal complications.
Mnemonic
NEUROTOMY: Nerve incision = Neuro (nerve) + Tomy (incision)