[Neurosurgical treatment of pain].

Chronic pain may be considered a disease and its treatment a necessity. Neurosurgical treatment of chronic pain is justified in cases where conservative treatment is no longer effective or causes excessive side effects. The new percutaneous methods involve no stress, minimal risk and short hospitalization. Destructive neurosurgical procedures are mainly used for cancer pain, with the exception of trigeminal neuralgia. Non-destructive neurostimulating methods to control pain are well on the way to achieving their optimum clinical potential and preserve the integrity of the nervous system.