neurotomy

Neurotomy, nū-rot′om-i, n. the cutting or dissection of a nerve.—adj.

But in many instances no treatment will arrest the growth of these bony tumors, and as a palliative measure neurotomy must be resorted to.

Its most frequent occurrence is found after the operation of neurotomy for foot lameness, and it may appear after the lapse of months or even years.

To relieve the pain, neurotomy may be performed—an operation in which the sense of feeling is destroyed in the foot by cutting out pieces of the nerve at the fetlock.

Derivation of the Word.—For many years the operation was known simply as 'nerving' or 'unnerving,' and it was not until 1823, at the suggestion of Dr. George Pearson, that Percival introduced the word neurotomy to signify the operation with which we are now about to deal.