DREZ surgery (Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning)

Patients who may be evaluated for DREZ surgery usually experience severe neuropathic pain that has not responded to conventional treatments. The pain is often described as burning, stabbing, or electric shock–like sensations and may occur in areas affected by nerve damage.

Conditions associated with this type of pain may include nerve root injuries, brachial plexus injuries, spinal cord injuries, or other forms of deafferentation pain.

Evaluation for DREZ surgery typically involves a comprehensive assessment by specialists in neurosurgery and pain management. The purpose is to identify the origin and characteristics of the pain and determine whether surgical treatment may be appropriate.

Diagnostic assessment may include neurological examination, review of the patient’s medical history and previous treatments, as well as imaging studies such as MRI of the spine and nervous system.

DREZ surgery is performed using microsurgical techniques to target the dorsal root entry zone in the spinal cord. The goal is to interrupt abnormal pain signals while preserving normal neurological function.

Because this is a highly specialized procedure, treatment decisions are made following careful evaluation and multidisciplinary discussion. In many cases, DREZ surgery is considered when other medical or interventional pain treatments have not provided sufficient relief.