Dorsal root ganglionectomy for intractable monoradicular sciatica. A series of 61 patients.

Dorsal root ganglionectomy was introduced in 1975 as a procedure with theoretical advantages over dorsal rhizotomy for the treatment of intractable radicular pain. Results of the few clinical reports have been generally favorable. The authors report the largest and most comprehensively studied series to date. 61 patients (33 men, 28 women) underwent dorsal root ganglionectomy for intractable sciatica, most often monoradicular. Patients were selected for surgery only if the clinical history, physical examination, radiologic studies, and diagnostic radicular block all predicted a favorable outcome. Sciatica was markedly reduced or eliminated in 36 patients (59%). Dysesthesia following ganglionectomy was observed frequently, but not invariably (approximately 60% of cases). Dysesthesia was generally of mild or moderate severity, self-limited, and responsive to treatment.