[Advances in the treatment of the dystonias]

Except in Wilson's disease, few secondary dystonias are susceptible to benefit from an aetiological treatment. The somatic distribution of dystonia often determines the therapeutic strategy. Thus, stereotactic surgery may be the treatment of choice for hemidystonia while anticholinergic medication may alleviate generalized dystonia, particularly in childhood. Finally, local infiltrations of botulinum toxin are particularly useful for various forms of local and segmental dystonia. Certain subsyndromes as myoclonic dystonia, levodopa sensitive dystonia and paroxysmal choreoathetosis may benefit from relatively specific treatment strategies.