Unilateral prefrontal lobotomy for the relief of intractable pain.

1. Frontal lobotomy is an effective procedure for the relief of intractable pain. 2. Unilateral frontal lobotomy for the relief of pain is less successful than the bilateral (standard) operation. 3. Unwanted changes in personality and intellect are apt to be severe after the bilateral procedure. These changes, though of less degree, also occur with the unilateral operation performed by standard technic. 4. To broaden the use of this type of operation for intractable pain of noncancerous origin a less disabling procedure is necessary. This may possibly be accomplished by limiting the size of the bilateral operation or by selective bilateral destruction of certain areas of the frontal lobes. 5. A new procedure in which a small symmetrical destructive lesion is produced in the lower medial quadrant each hemisphere has been successful in relieving pain.