We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Nerve Transection?

By S. Berger
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 16,509
Share

Nerves are fibers that convey information between nervous system cells, called neurons, located throughout the body and the brain. Either intentionally, due to surgery, or unintentionally, through accidents, these fibers may be cut, in a process known as nerve transection. Many times, this is something to be avoided during surgery, because it destroys the ability of neurons to communicate with one another. In some cases, such as surgery to alleviate epileptic seizures, transection is a desirable outcome.

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by overactivity in neurons, resulting in uncontrolled signals being sent through nerves in a phenomenon known as a seizure. Sometimes, drugs cannot control the seizures, and doctors may not be able to safely remove the brain areas causing them. Situations like these can require a nerve transection to prevent the seizure activity from spreading, thus limiting the damage that they cause.

With any nerve transection undertaken to create relief for epileptics, there is an extensive pre-operative evaluation period. This is viewed as a last resort remedy, but is being delivered more rapidly than in the past. Previously, people that elected to undergo this type of medical procedure had taken medications for their condition for ten years or more, without relief.

In order to minimize the physical and psychological harm of frequent seizures, doctors are now opting to pursue nerve transection sooner, within one or two years of evaluating the effects of medications. Children may have surgeries even more quickly, with doctors determining the efficacy of medications within weeks to months of their initial use. Tests are used to determine the origin of the seizures, and to anticipate possible side effects from the procedure before it is undertaken.

A special type of nerve transection known as a multiple subpial transection is one possible seizure treatment. Partial seizures that occur in the largest part of the brain, the cerebral cortex, can be treated with this medical procedure. This invasive surgery involves exposing the brain, and making a number of cuts into the surface of the cortex. The cuts are shallow to limit the damage to the brain, and are meant to sever the nerve connections between cortical areas.

Permanent damage to the brain does not usually occur from this medical procedure, although transection of areas involved in language can lead to problems generating and comprehending language. Depending on where the transection takes place, individuals may experience an increased perception of pain due to changes in how pain signals are delivered to the brain. This side effect can often be averted by giving the patient a nerve block before the surgery begins.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-nerve-transection.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.