Parkinson's Surgery (continued)

Surgery Choices

•   Deep Brain Stimulation
•   Pallidotomy
•   Thalamotomy (rarely done)
•   Neurotransplantation

What to think About

Surgery most often becomes a treatment option for people when Parkinson's disease progresses to the point that medication can no longer control symptoms adequately. With advanced disease, existing symptoms may get worse, or a person may develop new symptoms, like dementia or freezing, that medication cannot control. (However, when a person has severe one-sided tremor, deep brain stimulation [DBS] may be considered much sooner because this symptom often responds better to DBS than to medication.)

People who have extremely advanced Parkinson's or who have other serious conditions (such as heart or lung disease, cancer, or kidney failure) are not usually good candidates for surgery.

Surgery is not a cure for Parkinson's disease. Medication is usually still necessary after surgery, but surgery can reduce the number and amount of medications needed to control symptoms. This reduces the side effects caused by medication without giving up symptom control.

Deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation neither cures Parkinson's disease nor eliminates the need for medication. Deep Brain Stimulation has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of medically refractory symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

Pallidotomy and thalamotomy

Few brain surgeons (neurosurgeons) perform pallidotomy, and thalamotomy is rarely done today. People who are considering surgical treatment should locate the most experienced neurosurgeons available. Referrals can be made through various organizations that provide health information and organizations that support people with Parkinson's disease.