title: Ventroposterolateral pallidotomy can abolish all parkinsonian symptoms.
abstract: Stereotactic ventroposterolateral pallidotomy in 46 parkinsonian patients resulted in a complete or almost complete and long-lasting relief of rigidity and hypokinesia in 91% of the patients. Good tremor effect was obtained in 80% of them. The L-dopa-induced dyskinesias, gait and speech improved in most patients. Complications were observed in 7 cases after 51 pallidotomies, i.e. 14% (partial homonymous hemianopia in 6 and transient dysphasia and facial weakness in 1). We believe that the good effect of surgery is based on interruption of some striopallidal or subthalamopallidal pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sophiahemmet Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Bergenheim
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hariz
mesh_terms: D004421:Dystonia / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005684:Gait; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013060:Speech; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques