Seminars in Neurosurgery 2004; 15(2/03): 195-202
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-835708
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Stereotactic Ablative Procedures for Pain Relief

Aviva Abosch1 , Andres M. Lozano2
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Emory Clinic, Atlanta, Georgia
  • 2Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
25 October 2004 (online)

Preview

Intracranial stereotactic procedures in the central nervous system for the treatment of medically refractory chronic pain have evolved over the years. Neuroablative lesions have become a rare treatment for chronic pain, primarily because of the advent of more effective pharmacotherapy and intrathecal drug delivery. Lesion generation has the advantage of being less costly and having none of the hardware-related side effects of deep brain stimulation but the disadvantage of not being modifiable or reversible when the lesion has been generated. Although neuroablative procedures typically result in short-lived pain relief and the possibility of deafferentation pain, these procedures are still useful in certain clinical settings. The indications, methods employed, and outcome for these procedures are covered in this article.

REFERENCES

Aviva AboschM.D. 

Department of Neurosurgery, Emory Clinic

1365-B Clifton Rd. NE, Ste. B2200

Atlanta, GA 303022

Email: aabosch@emory.edu