OPERATIVE RELIEF FROM PAIN IN LESIONS OF THE MOUTH, TONGUE AND THROAT

The recent development of an operative attack on the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves at the brain stem for the cure of trigeminal and glossopharyngeal tic douloureux¹ at once suggested the permanent relief from pain in which the peripheral distribution of both of these nerves are responsible, namely, in chronic ulcers, burns from radium or malignant lesions of the tongue and throat.

The exact form of treatment by which relief from pain is to be sought will necessarily depend on the character, location and rate of growth of the lesion and the general state of the patient's health. At times morphine or other strong sedatives may be the treatment of choice. For the relief from pain confined to the inferior or superior maxillary nerves an injection of alcohol into the peripheral branch may be indicated. Obviously, the operative relief from pain is intended only for a selected group of patients