The amount of compensatory sweating depends on the patient, the damage that the white rami communicans incurs, and the amount of cell body reorganization in the spinal cord after surgery.
Other potential complications include inadequate resection of the ganglia, gustatory sweating, pneumothorax, cardiac dysfunction, post-operative pain, and finally Horner’s syndrome secondary to resection of the stellate ganglion.
www.ubcmj.com/pdf/ubcmj_2_1_2010_24-29.pdf

After severing the cervical sympathetic trunk, the cells of the cervical sympathetic ganglion undergo transneuronic degeneration
After severing the sympathetic trunk, the cells of its origin undergo complete disintegration within a year.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0442.1967.tb00255.x/abstract

Monday, March 24, 2008

sympathectomy leads to qualitative alterations in localized bone modeling and remodeling

Previous studies have indicated that regional sympathectomy leads to qualitative alterations in localized bone modeling and remodeling. In this study, unilateral cervical sympathectomy resulted in significant increases in osteoclast surface and osteoclast number within the ipsilateral bulla of experimental animals. The mechanisms by which sympathectomy leads to increased local bone loss is unknown. Potential mechanisms include disinhibition of resorption, secondary to the elimination of periosteal sympathetics, as well as indirect vascular effects.
Disruption of the control of modeling within the temporal bone may lead to various bone diseases such as otosclerosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget's disease of bone, fibrous dysplasia, or the erosion of bone associated with chronic otitis media.

Sherman, Bret E.; Chole, Richard A.
Institution
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A.
Title
In Vivo Effects of Surgical Sympathectomy on Intramembranous Bone Resorption.[Miscellaneous]
Source
American Journal of Otology. 17(2):343-346, March 1996.