[Open spinal operations (anterolateral chordotomy and commissural myelotomy) in modern treatment of pain (author's...

The only significant open pain operations on the spinal cord itself that are routinely in use nowadays are anterolateral chordotomy and commissural myelotomy. Open thoracic chordotomy is still inidcated in cases of malignant growth in the lower body, to be sure of avoiding further neurological involvement in the upper region. Open cervical chordotomy, on the other hand, is now only indicated after unsuccessful percutaneous chordotomy and neurostimulation technics. Commissural myelotomy is still used in specific cases in specialized clinics. Despite advances in knowledge and more modern methods, the open operations still cannot be anondoned.