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Posteroventral Medial Pallidotomy in Levodopa-Unresponsive Parkinsonism
Joachim K. Krauss, MD;
Joseph Jankovic, MD;
Eugene C. Lai, MD, PhD;
Gayle M. Rettig, PhD;
Robert G. Grossman, MD
Arch Neurol. 1997;54(8):1026-1029.
Abstract
Background
Parkinsonism in a 42-year-old patient, which was presumably related to peripheral trauma, did not respond to levodopa therapy.
Observation
We treated the patient with microelectrode-guided unilateral posteroventral medial pallidotomy and followed up with magnetic resonance imaging and prospective clinical evaluation. Pallidotomy resulted in marked improvement of right-sided parkinsonian symptoms and functional disability at 4.5 months after surgery. Microelectrode recording during pallidotomy revealed discharge patterns that were similar to those seen in patients with Parkinson disease. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the location of the lesion in the posteroventral medial pallidum.
Conclusions
Posteroventral pallidotomy usually has limited benefit in patients with degenerative atypical parkinsonism who do not respond to levodopa therapy. Nevertheless, pallidotomy can be an effective treatment for other levodopa-unresponsive parkinsonian disorders.
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Neurosurgery (Drs Krauss, Rettig, and Grossman) and Neurology (Drs Jankovic and Lai), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. Dr Krauss is now with the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
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