What is the difference between cutting the nerve versus clamping the nerve?
In the cutting method, the nerve is cut with an electric cautery or with a harmonic scalpel (an ultrasonic device). In the clamping method, titanium clips are applied on the nerve. This ceases the function of that particular nerve segment. Both methods will result in compensatory sweating (compensatory hydrosis or reflex sweating) but the clipping method allows for the possibility of reversal if the compensatory sweating (compensatory hydrosis or reflex sweating) becomes too severe. To learn more about reversal see the reversal section below.
