Long‐range effects of electro‐pallidoansotomy in extrapyramidal and convulsive disorders

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Abstract
Of 50 cases of paralysis agitans and parkinsonism, 9 were completely rehabilitated and 15 were partially rehabilitated by operation. Improvement was also observed in a number of cases involving other extrapyramidal disorders such as Huntington''s chorea athetosis, and torsion dystonia. Three of 5 cases of spastic paralysis responded to operation. The effect of pallidotomy upon spastic phenomena is explained by assuming that the reduction of pallidofugal, facilitating impulses diminishes the discharges from lower subcortical mechanisms upon which the maintenance of static innervation depends. The latter mechanisms are in a state of hyperactivity following cortical or capsular lesions. Convulsive disorders were controlled or markedly diminished in frequency in 7 of 12 cases which had been refractory to anticonvulsive medication.

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