Posted by Couver (216.232.13.93) on September 06, 2001 at 14:08:13:
In Reply to: Tallking about Quacktors ... Help! posted by Grant on September 06, 2001 at 09:36:53:
It's called a trigeminal rhysotomy - it involves lysing (burning, cutting, chemically destroying, etc.) the trigeminal nerve. It's called the trigeminal because it has three branches - the first branch is sensory and goes up into the forehead and face; the other two are motor and control the lower face and jaw.
There are too many problems connected with this proceedure. Phantom pain; incomplete lysis of the sensory branch; lysis of the moter branches and resulting paralysis of the face and jaw; loss of feeling and paralysis on the affected side; significant visual changes, even loss of sight; difficulty chewing; etc., etc. Most neurosurgeons absolutely refuse to do them. This is *not* an appropriate surgery for CH's.