Observations following sympathetic ganglionectomy in cases of post-encephalitic parkinsonian syndrome

Evolution of Movement Disorders Surgery Leading to Contemporary Focused Ultrasound Therapy for Tremor

“…As early as 1908, Foerster 5 reported posterior rhizotomy for control of spasticity and rigidity, leading others to try sympathetic ramisection and various ganglionectomies for similar indications throughout the 1920s and 1930s. 6,7 During this same period, surgical interest in open craniotomy for ablation of primary cortical structures continued despite permanent loss of function and high mortality. For example, Bucy and colleagues 8–10 continued to report their series treating athetosis and parkinsonism with ablation of both the supplementary and primary motor cortices despite accruing evidence from Meyers 11–13 and others that lesions confined strictly to the extrapyramidal system controlled tremor without weakness.…”

Deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease: efficacy and safety

“…Early surgical therapies for movement disorders date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and include extirpations of the precentral gyrus, 1 rhizotomies, 2 sympathetic ganglionectomies, 3 and posterolateral cordotomy. 4 Because of the relative absence of medical treatment, surgical therapies persisted but generally shifted towards targeting the extrapyramidal system.…”