Open Thoracic Cordotomy for Cancer Pain with Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: A Case Series and Critical Review of the Literature.

Objective: Cordotomy is a viable option for patients with intractable cancer pain and limited survival. Open thoracic cordotomy is offered when patients are not candidates for percutaneous cordotomy. After the open procedure, traditionally performed purely based on anatomic landmarks, up to 22% of patients experience postoperative limb weakness. The objective of this study is to report our experience with neurophysiology-guided open cordotomy along with a critical review of the literature.

Methods: Between 2019 and 2022, 5 open thoracic cordotomies were performed in our center. Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring was used in all cases to guide the lesion and standard single-level laminectomy or hemilaminectomy was performed for exposure. Outcome measures were retrospectively reviewed focusing on pain control and neurologic status. Existing literature on cordotomy was critically reviewed.

Results: There was satisfactory pain relief with preservation of motor function in all 5 cases. Temperature sensation was preserved in all but 1 patient, who lost it after the previous ipsilateral percutaneous cordotomy (PCC). No procedural complications were experienced. We found that the neurophysiology monitoring lesion was guided anterior compared with what would have been lesioned on an anatomic basis.

Conclusions: Open thoracic cordotomy is a safe and effective procedure for intractable cancer-related pain. Technical advancements significantly reduced mortality and major morbidity of PCC. Our series suggests that neurophysiology monitoring alters the location of the lesion and may help better targeting of pain fibers within the spinothalamic tract and preserve other long tracts. The safety profile of open cordotomy with neurophysiology compares favorably with the PCC.