Percutaneous CT-guided cordotomy for pain.

Cordotomy has evolved since the first open procedure by Spiller and the first percutaneous radiofrequency cordotomy by Mullan in 1965. Today, the minimally invasive, CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency cordotomy is mostly used for the palliative management of medically intractable somatic pain related to malignancy in well-selected patients. The risk of adverse events is minimized with the use of intraoperative stimulation monitoring. This video highlights the spinal cord anatomy at the level of C1-2, the approach to patient selection, the associated risks and benefits, and, finally, the procedural setup and key steps involved in this unique neurosurgical procedure. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/a-0ORqy0W2o.