1. surgical procedure in which spinal nerve roots are cut; done (anterior roots) to relieve intractable pain or (posterior roots) to stop severe muscle spasms;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
rhizotomy
n 1: surgical procedure in which spinal nerve roots are cut;
done (anterior roots) to relieve intractable pain or
(posterior roots) to stop severe muscle spasms