Cordomyelotomy in the treatment of paraplegia pain. Experience in two cases with long-term results.

A new operation is described for the treatment of central pain of cord origin. This is termed cordomyelotomy, and differs from cordectomy in that it aims at saving all descending neural transmission conveyed through the lateral columns. Three cases have been treated, two with excellent results after more than 10 years. Cordomyelotomy is indicated in cases of paraplegia pain in which the paroxysmal component is predominant and the patient is both paraplegic and without sphincteric control.