The first results by the study group of the Italian Neurosurgery
Society (Friday, 04 November 2005)

Motor cortex stimulation is a novel type of surgery for Parkinson's
disease, which has recently been introduced into clinical practice.
It consists in the chronic application of low intensity and low
frequency electrical impulses by means of an electrode connected to a
battery generator located in the chest. The more superficial location
of the electrode does not require penetration of the dura mater, the
membrane that protects the brain, which is required for deep brain
stimulation (DBS). For this reason the selection criteria for
surgical candidates are less stringent. The results achieved with
this type of surgery in 16 patients in Italy have just been
published. Fifteen of the patients did not meet the criteria for DBS.
Persistent improvement in parkinsonian symptoms was achieved in all
patients except one. Not only tremor and rigidity improved, but also
gait, speech, swallowing, motor fluctuations and dyskinesias.
Levodopa dosage was reduced on average by 50%.