What are the physiological effects?
The essence of cryoneurolysis is the precise location and ablation of targeted nerve tissue. Necrosis of nerve cells is caused by rapid freezing of intercellular elements and extra-cellular fluid at or below -20 C. The rapid freeze causes cell walls to rupture and the axons and myelin sheath degenerate (Wallerian Degeneration). The endonuerium, epinuerium and perinuerium remain intact allowing subsequent regeneration of the nerve. The risk of post-operative neuritis or neuralgia is nearly non-existent.
