rhizotomy

rhi·zot·o·my  (r-zt-m)

n. pl. rhi·zot·o·mies

Surgical severance of spinal nerve roots to relieve pain or hypertension.

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rhizotomy [raɪˈzɒtəmɪ]

n pl -mies

(Medicine / Surgery) surgical incision into the roots of spinal nerves, esp for the relief of pain

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rhizotomy

the surgical cutting of the nerve roots of the spine, usually the sensory or posterior roots, to relieve pain or eliminate paralysis.

See also: Nerves

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

rhizotomy - surgical procedure in which spinal nerve roots are cut; done (anterior roots) to relieve intractable pain or (posterior roots) to stop severe muscle spasms surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process, surgery, operation - a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; "they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available"; "he died while undergoing surgery"