[Surgical treatment of dystonia]

Dystonia is a neurological syndrome which is often progressive and disabling. The pathophysiological basis is only partly understood. Medical treatment often fails. Peripheral surgical techniques can alleviate the symptoms of many patients with diverse forms of focal dystonia. In patients with generalized dystonia, central surgical techniques are preferable. Thalamotomy is the best known technique, although the target is not fully defined. Experience with surgery of the pallidum and subthalamus is very limited, but results are promising.

More studies are necessary to discover the precise potential benefit of these techniques and define the ideal candidates. It is important that such studies should be done using rigorous methodology and be similar for all groups working on this.