How Do You Spell RADICOTOMY?

Pronunciation: [ɹˌadɪkˈɒtəmɪ] (IPA)

Radicotomy is a type of surgical procedure that targets one or more nerve roots in the spinal cord. The word is spelled with a "c" instead of a "k" because it derives from the Greek word "radix," meaning "root," which ultimately influenced the spelling of the English word. The IPA phonetic transcription of radicotomy would be /ˌrædɪˈkɒtəmi/, with emphasis on the second syllable. This word is commonly used in the medical field and is crucial for healthcare professionals to correctly spell and pronounce.

RADICOTOMY Meaning and Definition

1. Radicotomy is a medical procedure that involves the surgical cutting or severing of a nerve root. This operation is typically performed to relieve the symptoms caused by nerve compression or irritation, commonly associated with conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis. By severing the affected nerve root, radicotomy aims to alleviate pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling that radiates along the path of the nerve.

   The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and requires a highly skilled surgeon. During the operation, the surgeon accesses the affected nerve root through a small incision in the spine. Careful dissection and removal of surrounding tissues may be necessary to gain access to the compressed nerve. Once the appropriate nerve root is identified, it is carefully cut or severed, disrupting the transmission of pain signals and allowing for pain relief.

   Radicotomy is considered a last resort intervention when other conservative treatments have failed to provide adequate relief. It is typically pursued after a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's symptoms, medical history, and imaging studies. While radicotomy may successfully alleviate symptoms in many cases, it is important to note that it does not treat the underlying cause of the nerve compression and may only provide temporary relief. Rehabilitation and physical therapy are often recommended postoperatively to help restore function and strengthen the affected area.

2. Rhizotomy.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for RADICOTOMY

• eadicotomy
• dadicotomy
• fadicotomy
• tadicotomy
• 5adicotomy
• 4adicotomy
• rzdicotomy
• rsdicotomy
• rwdicotomy
• rqdicotomy
• rasicotomy
• raxicotomy
• racicotomy
• raficotomy
• raeicotomy
• raducotomy
• radjcotomy
• radkcotomy
• radocotomy
• rad9cotomy

Etymology of RADICOTOMY

The word "radicotomy" is derived from two Latin roots: "radix" and "tomia".

1. "Radix" means root or nerve root in Latin. In medical terminology, it refers specifically to the root of a spinal nerve that arises from the spinal cord.

2. "Tomia" comes from the Greek word "tomē", which means a cutting or incision. It is commonly used as a suffix in medical terms to indicate a surgical procedure involving cutting or incision.

Therefore, "radicotomy" combines these two roots to refer to the surgical procedure of cutting or incising a spinal nerve root.