chordotomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “chordotomy” mean?
A surgical procedure that cuts through a bundle of nerve fibers in the spinal cord to relieve severe, chronic pain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical procedure that cuts through a bundle of nerve fibers in the spinal cord to relieve severe, chronic pain.
A specific type of neurosurgical intervention, also known as cordotomy, performed to interrupt pain pathways when other treatments have failed, typically for terminal conditions like cancer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both regions use the term identically within medical literature.
Connotations
Purely clinical; carries connotations of last-resort intervention for intractable pain.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialist medical texts and discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “chordotomy” in a Sentence
The surgeon performed a chordotomy on the patient.Chordotomy was performed to alleviate the pain.The patient is a candidate for chordotomy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chordotomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will chordotomise the patient tomorrow.
- He was chordotomised to manage his carcinoma pain.
American English
- The team will chordotomize the patient tomorrow.
- He was chordotomized to manage his cancer pain.
adjective
British English
- The chordotomy patient showed immediate pain relief.
- They discussed the chordotomy approach.
American English
- The chordotomy patient showed immediate pain relief.
- They discussed the chordotomy approach.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and neuroscience research papers discussing historical or specific surgical interventions for pain.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in neurosurgery, neurology, and palliative care documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chordotomy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chordotomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chordotomy”
- Misspelling as 'chordatomy' or 'cordatomy'.
- Confusing it with 'lobotomy'.
- Using it as a general term for any pain surgery.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is much less common than in the mid-20th century due to advances in pain management pharmacology and neuromodulation techniques like spinal cord stimulators. It remains an option for select cases of severe, unilateral cancer pain.
The primary risks include weakness or paralysis (if motor tracts are damaged), loss of bladder/bowel control, and in bilateral procedures, potentially life-threatening sleep apnoea (Ondine's curse).
A chordotomy (or cordotomy) cuts pain tracts within the spinal cord itself. A rhizotomy cuts the nerve root(s) as they exit the spinal column. They target different parts of the nervous system to achieve pain relief.
No. It is a palliative, not curative, procedure. It interrupts the transmission of the pain signal to the brain but does not treat the underlying disease or injury causing the pain.
A surgical procedure that cuts through a bundle of nerve fibers in the spinal cord to relieve severe, chronic pain.
Chordotomy is usually technical/medical in register.
Chordotomy: in British English it is pronounced /kɔːˈdɒtəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɔːrˈdɑːtəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'chord' as in spinal cord + 'tomy' as in cutting (like in anatomy). It's a cut in the spinal cord.
Conceptual Metaphor
Surgery as a pathway interruption. The pain signal is conceptualized as traveling along a 'road' (nerve tract) that is surgically 'blocked'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'chordotomy' primarily used?