Abstract
Neurosurgical procedures are indispensable in management of various types of movement disorders (MD). Stereotactic operations that have been well established include deep brain stimulation for tremor, dystonia, and Parkinsonian symptoms. Recently the actual role of stereotactic ablative procedures such as thalamotomy and pallidotomy has been re-explored, and Vo thalamotomy shows long-term improvement of taskspecific focal dystonia like writer’s cramp and musician’s dystonia. A new less invasive treatment of tremor using MR guided focused ultrasound has started and is promising. Intrathecal administration of baclofen is also an established treatment for severe spasticity, but other ablative procedures such as peripheral neurotomy and dorsal rhizotomy are also important in spasticity treatment.
It seems that most neurologists are unfamiliar, at least in Japan, with such neurosurgical procedures. However, neurologists involved in management of MD should understand the important roles of neurosurgical management of intractable MD and should refer such patients to appropriate neurosurgeons before permanent contracture and deformity develop.
