[Partial vertical nucleotomy as a modification of tractotomy of the trigeminal nerve]

The authors report on partial vertical nucleotomy, a modification of tractotomy of the quintothalamic tract. In 1979 eight patients underwent this procedure. Three of them showed a recurrence of pain from genuine trigeminal neuralgia. Three patients had symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, one patient atypical neuralgia of the face without organic cause, whereas in one case the neuralgia occurred subsequent to a herpes zoster. At the time of examination all patients were free from pain.