[Neurochemical treatment of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor]

Recent technological advances along with new neuroimaging techniques and progress in neuro-monitoring have provided us with new therapeutical options from the neurosurgical point of view in the management of movement disorders. Deep brain stimulators become more and more frequently used in the last few years since they have reversible effects, are easily implantable and have shown good initial results. However, only now we start knowing the clinical effects in the middle run.

To review the main neurosurgical options in Parkinson's disease and tremor.

We reviewed the articles considering ablative or stimulating neurosurgical treatments in these diseases, and we grouped the results according to the technique performed and the time of follow-up.

Clinical results are often similar despite the use of different techniques. However, the side-effects are critical in deciding which technique should be used once medical therapy has been considered insufficient.