Neurosurgery for movement disorders

Movement disorders have been treated neurosurgically since the 1930s. Current diagnoses for neurosurgical interventions are Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, multiple sclerosis, and some dystonic disorders such as idiopathic torsions dystonia. By using stereotactic image-guided techniques, targets can be chosen to treat different symptoms: the ventrointermediate nucleus of thalamus for tremor; the internal globus pallidus for dyskinesia, dystonia, rigidity, akinesia, and tremor; and the subthalamic nucleus for all cardinal symptoms in advanced Parkinson's disease, including drug-induced hyperkinesia (secondary to reduced drugs). The surgical approaches can be divided into three main groups: destructive (e.g., lesional surgery), reversible and adjustable (e.g., permanent electro-inhibition/stimulation), and reconstructive (e.g., fetal nerve cell transplantation). Reconstructive procedures, which are not discussed here, are still in the early developmental phase. All the methods have advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is important that the right target and technique be chosen for each patient.