Abstract:

Objective A study on the cooperation of mesencephalotomy and bilateral anterior cingulotomy for the treatment of central pain.Methods Six patients with central pain including 3 cases of thalamus or pontine infarction, 2 cases of thalamus haemorrhage, 1 cases of spinal cord injure, were treated using the cooperation of mesencephalotomy and bilateral anterior cingulotomy. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) were used for preoperative and postoperative evaluation of the pain status of each patient. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired-samples t test.Results The short-term (3 months) follow-up results indicated a significant reduction in patients' pain scales( P <0.01). In the long-term follow-up period, pain recurred in 1 patient treated in 13 weeks. Other 5 patients had excellent pain relieving effect in 6 months after operation. There were no serious complication and surgery-related mortality.Conclusion The cooperation of mesencephalotomy and bilateral anterior cingulotomy is a effective means for relieving central pain.

Key words: central pain, mesencephalotomy, cingulotomy