Microelectrode-guided technique for treatment of Parkinson's diseases

From May, 2000 to June, 2001, 27 patients with Parkinson disease (PD), including 10 cases of rigidity, 13 cases of tremor, 4 cases of rigidity and tremor, were treated by microelectrode-guided technique. Among them, phlebotomy was carried out in 17 cases and thalamotomy in 10 cases. All the targets of lesion were anatomically located by using MR and neurophysiological signals on microelectrode. Our results showed that the efficiency of microelectrode-guided technique for treatment of PD was 98%. The postoperative unified parkinson disease rating scale were 12.3 +/- 9.1 and 13.2 +/- 8.9 respectively, which significantly improved as compared with those before operation. It was concluded that by recognizing special electrical signals in neurons microelectrode-guided neuropsychological techniques can locate target at cellular level, which overcomes the individual difference in anatomy and function, and allow more accuracy, safety and efficiency of operation. This is especially true of PD patients who fail to respond to medical treatment.