An Update on Surgical Treatment of Parkinson Disease

Over the last several decades, surgery became an integral part of comprehensive treatment of advanced Parkinson disease (PD).  Better understanding of disease mechanisms and advancement of technological innovations resulted in universal acceptance of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an important part of the PD treatment algorithm. Based on experience with thousands of operated patients, the criteria for patient selection, preoperative evaluation, procedural details, and nuances of post-operative management are now well established. As a matter of fact, surgery in general and DBS in particular are now included in every guideline of PD management making it an option to consider when disease progresses and medical side effects occur.