[Surgery of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease].

INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays a crucial part in the pathophysiology of Parkinsonism. Its inactivation improves all the main signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Surgery of the STN in patients with the disease is effective and the benefit/risk relationship very favorable. Although the dyskinesias are not a definite limitation, it seems most reasonable to use techniques of deep cerebral stimulation until greater experience has been obtained with subthalamotomy. The long term efficacy is being studied and preliminary data indicate that the clinical benefit obtained is maintained in the long term.

CONCLUSIONS

More studies are necessary to determine the mechanism of action of surgery on the STN. The potential neuroprotector effect of subthalamic surgery requires more extensive study.