Primary Dystonia Is More Responsive than Secondary Dystonia to Pallidal Interventions: Outcome after Pallidotomy or Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation

This study indicates that primary dystonia responds much better than secondary dystonia to pallidal procedures. We could not distinguish a difference in efficacy between pallidotomy and pallidal deep brain stimulation. The presence of basal ganglia abnormalities on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan is an indicator of a lesser response to pallidal interventions for dystonia.