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M Sindou

Publications and source records attributed to M Sindou.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease: clinical evaluation of 18 patients.

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of chronic subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). 18 consecutive severely affected PD patients were included (mean age, SD: 56.9+/-6 years; mean disease duration: 13.5+/-4.4 years). All the patients were evaluated clinically before and 6 months after the surgical procedure using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Additionally, a 12 months follow-up was available in 14 patients. The target coordinates were determined by ventriculography under stereotactic conditions, followed by electrophysiology and intraoperative stimulation. After surgery, continuous monopolar stimulation was applied bilaterally in 17 patients at 2.9+/-0.4 V through 1 (n = 31) or 2 contacts (n = 3). One patient had bilateral bipolar stimulation. The mean frequency of stimulation was 140+/-16 Hz and pulse width 68+/-13 micros. Off medication, the UPDRS part III score (max = 108) was reduced by 55 % during on stimulation (score before surgery: 44.9+/-13.4 vs at 6 months: 20.2+/-10; p < 0.001). In the on medication state, no difference was noted between the preoperative and the postoperative off stimulation conditions (scores were respectively: 17.9+/-9.2 and 23+/-12.6). The severity of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias assessed by UPDRS IV was reduced by 76 % at 6 months (scores were respectively: 10.3+/-3 and 2.5+/-3; p < 0.001). Off medication, the UPDRS II or ADL score was reduced by 52.8 % during on stimulation (26.9+/-6.5 preop versus 12.7+/-7 at 6 months). The daily dose of antiparkinsonian treatment was diminished by 65.5 % (levodopa equivalent dose -- mg/D -- was 1045 +/- 435 before surgery and 360 +/- 377 at 6 months; p < 0.01). These results remained stable at 12 months for the 14 patients studied. Side effects comprised lower limb phlebitis (n = 2), pulmonary embolism (n = 1), depression (n = 6), dysarthria and freezing (n = 1), sialorrhea and drooling (n = 1), postural imbalance (n = 1), transient paresthesias and dyskinesias. This study confirms the great value of subthalamic nucleus stimulation in the treatment of intractable PD. Some adverse events such as depression may be taken into account in the inclusion criteria and also in the post-operative outcome.

Adult↗

Cranio-cervical decompression for Chiari type I-malformation, adding extreme lateral foramen magnum opening and expansile duroplasty with arachnoid preservation. Technique and long-term functional results in 44 consecutive adult cases -- comparison with literature data.

BACKGROUND: Posterior cranio-cervical decompression by opening at least foramen magnum and C1-lamina usually with corresponding dural and arachnoid opening, is the procedure most currently used for treating Chiari I malformation (alone or in association with syringomyelia). To optimize decompressive effects together with reducing risks, a procedure was developed which consists of a sub-occipital craniectomy and a C1 (or C1/C2) laminectomy, plus an extreme lateral Foramen Magnum opening, a "Y" shaped dural incision with preservation of the arachnoid membrane, and an expansile duroplasty employing autogenous periosteum. The purpose of the article is:1. to report the long-term functional results in a consecutive series of 44 adult patients affected by symptomatic Chiari Malformation type I (CM) using the procedure described.2. and to compare this technical modality with the other modalities reported in the literature. METHOD: This series includes 44 patients harboring CM type I and operated on between 1990 and 2000. 15 patients had CM with syringomyelia (34%) and 29 CM alone (66%). Functional status was evaluated by using the Karnofsky disability scale. Before surgery 37 patients (84.1%) were independent (of whom 13 had syringomyelia) and 7 patients (15.9%) were dependent - i.e., they required assistance - (of whom 2 had syringomyelia). Outcomes were analized with follow-up ranging from 1 to 10 years (4 years on average). FINDINGS: There was no operative mortality, and surgery did not provoke any neurological aggravation. After surgery all the patients were independent. For the patients with CM only, the averaged Karnofsky score was 90 at latest follow up, versus 76 before surgery. For the patients with syringomyelia, the averaged latest Karnofsky score was 89 after surgery, versus 74 before. INTERPRETATION: The presented technique was compared with the other surgical modalities reported in the literature. This comparative study shows that cranio-cervical decompression with extreme lateral resection of the posterior rim of Foramen Magnum out to the level of the occipital condyles on either side, associated with an enlargement duroplasty with preservation of the arachnoid membrane, achieved the best results with minimal complications and side-effects.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Anatomical observations during microvascular decompression for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (with correlations between topography of pain and site of the neurovascular conflict). Prospective study in a series of 579 patients.

BACKGROUND: The Micro-Vascular Decompression (MVD) procedure - developed for conservative treatment of idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is based on the NeuroVascular Conflict (NVC) theory. Although MVD has become very popular over the last twenty years, its principles and value remain controversial. Detailed anatomical observations during posterior fossa exploration in patients with idiopathic TN may help to understand better the role of NVCs. METHOD: In this article, the authors report the anatomical observations made under the operating microscope in a consecutive series of 579 patients suffering from idiopathic TN who were treated by MVD. FINDINGS: In 19 cases (3.3%) no neuro-vascular conflict was found. In the remaining 560 (96.7%) one or several offending vessel(s) were identified. A superior cerebellar artery alone or in association with other "conflicting" vessel(s) was found in 88% of the patients, an anterior-inferior cerebellar artery (alone or in association) in 25.1%, a vein embedded in the nerve (alone or in association) in 27.6%, the basilar artery (alone or in association) in 3.5%. Of prime importance, several "conflicting" vessels were found in association in 37.8% of the patients. Location of the NVC was in the trigeminal root entry zone in 52.3% of the patients, in the midthird of the nerve in 54.3% and at the exit of the nerve from Meckel cave in 9.8%. The relation of the predominant conflict with the surface of the nerve was supero-medial in 53.9%, supero-lateral in 31.6% and inferior in 14.5%. The degree of severity of the main conflict was a simple contact with the nerve in 17.6%, a distorsion of the nerve in 49.2% and a marked indentation in 33.2%. Alteration of the whole trigeminal nerve was frequently observed. In 42% of patients, the nerve had a significant degree of global atrophy. In 18.2%, there was a local thickening of arachnoid membranes, adherent to the nerve. In 12.6%, the root had a marked angulation on crossing over the petrous ridge. Finally in 3.9%, the nerve was compressed between pons and petrous bone, due to the small size of the posterior fossa. INTERPRETATION: It is concluded that NVC in this series played an important role as a causative factor of the neuralgia, as classical; but other - possibly responsible - anatomical factors were found, especially a global atrophy of the root, a focal arachnoid thickening, a ribbon-shaped and angulated root on crossing over the petrous ridge.

Adult↗

Cognitive effects of precentral cortical stimulation for pain control: an ERP study.

Electrical stimulation of the motor cortex (MCS) is a promising and increasingly used neurosurgical technique for the control of refractory neuropathic pain. Although its mechanisms of action remain unknown, recent functional imaging data suggest involvement of the thalamus, brainstem and anterior cingulate/orbitofrontal cortex. Since some of these areas are also implicated in higher cognitive functions, notably attentional processes, we analysed cognitive ERPs and behavioural performance during an "oddball" auditory detection task in patients submitted to this procedure. Eleven consecutive patients undergoing MCS because of neuropathic refractory pain, ranging in age from 25 to 71 years, were included in the study. ERPs were obtained in all cases both during the application ("MCS-on") and within the 10 min that followed discontinuation of the procedure ("MCS-off"). In five patients, ERPs could also be obtained just before the start of MCS. When the patients' sample was taken as a whole, there were no consistent effects of MCS on the ERPs. There was, however, a significant interaction of MCS action with the patients' age, reflecting a significant delay during MCS of the cognitive responses N2 and P3 (N200 and P300) in the group of patients older than 50 years exclusively. This effect was rapidly reversible after MCS discontinuation. No MCS-related changes were observed in the N1 component. At the individual level, the effect of MCS on the endogenous ERPs was highly variable, ranging from a total stability of ERPs (mostly in younger subjects) to latency differences of tens of milliseconds in the older group. These results, together with recent experiments showing P300 alteration during repetitive transcranial stimulation, suggest that motor cortex stimulation may interfere with relatively simple cognitive processes such as those underlying target detection, and that the risk of abnormal cognitive effects related to cortical stimulation may increase with age. Although the procedure appears on the whole remarkably safe, complementary neuropsychological studies in this category of patients are advised, as well as caution to possible adverse cognitive effects when using MCS in the elderly, notably in the presence of pre-existent cerebral lesions.

Adult↗

Respective indications for orbital rim, zygomatic arch and orbito-zygomatic osteotomies in the surgical approach to central skull base lesions. Critical, retrospective review in 146 cases.

BACKGROUND: Orbital Rim (ORo) Zygomatic Arch (ZAo) and Orbito-Zygomatic (OZo) osteotomies can be useful adjuncts to the classical Fronto-Pteriono-Temporal craniotomy in facilitating the exposure of deep seated skull base lesions, sparing brain retraction injuries. Based on a review of 146 "operated" cases, the authors suggest their guidelines for patient selection for each of these osteotomies. METHOD: 146 lesions (100 central skull base tumors, 29 deep vascular lesions and 17 mesial temporal epileptogenic foci) were surgically treated by the senior author between 1988-1999 using ORo (59 cases), ZAo (12 cases) and OZo (75 cases). The lesion were radically cured in 85% of the cases. A retrospective critical analysis of patients' records by an independent observer evaluated: 1)--the usefulness and the appropriateness of the performed osteotomy for obtaining an optimal approach to the lesion and 2)--morbidity related to the osteotomy and to brain retraction. FINDINGS: In only one case, the osteotomy (ORo) was found not to be useful. An other 17 patients who underwent OZo would have benefited from a reduced osteotomy (ORo in 15 cases, ZAo in 2 cases). In another case an ORo was found insufficient for an effective exposure of the lesion. Osteotomy-related morbidity rate was 10.2% (15 patients), mostly due to transient Temporo Mandibular Joint dysfunction. In spite of an appropriate approach, 12 patients (8.2%) showed neurological deficits (temporary) and/or CT manifestations attributable to brain retraction. INTERPRETATION: The additional osteotomies were found useful and relatively safe in facilitating the exposure of most of the lesions in this series. A target (rather than pathology) and surgical axis oriented list of indications for ORo, ZAo and OZo is given.

Adolescent↗

Microsurgical DREZotomy for pain due to spinal cord and/or cauda equina injuries: long-term results in a series of 44 patients.

According to the literature estimations, 10-25% of patients with spinal cord and cauda equina injuries eventually develop refractory pain. Due to the fact that most classical neurosurgical methods are considered of little or no efficacy in controlling this type of pain, the authors had recourse to microsurgery in the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ). This article reports on the long-term results of the microsurgical approach to the dorsal root entry zone (DREZotomy) in a series of 44 patients suffering from unbearable neuropathic pain secondary to spine injury. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 20 years (6 years on average). The series includes 25 cases with conus medullaris, 12 with thoracic cord, four with cauda equina and three with cervical cord injuries. Surgery was performed in 37 cases at the pathological spinal cord levels that corresponded to the territory of the so-called 'segmental pain', and in seven cases, on the spinal cord levels below the lesion for 'infralesional pain' syndromes. The post-operative analgesic effect was considered to be 'good' when a patient's estimation of pain relief exceeded 75%, 'fair' if pain was reduced by 25-75%, and 'poor' when the residual pain was more than 75% of preoperative estimations. Immediate pain relief was obtained in 70% of patients and was long-lasting in 60% of the total series. The results varied essentially according to the distribution of pain. Good long-term results were obtained in 68% of the patients who had a segmental pain distribution, compared with 0% in patients with predominant infralesional pain. Regarding pain characteristics, a good result was obtained in 88% of the cases with predominantly paroxysmal pain, compared with 26% with continuous pain. There were no perioperative mortalities. Morbidity included cerebrospinal fluid leak (three patients), wound infection (two patients), subcutaneous hematoma (one patient) and bacteremia (in one patient). The above data justify the inclusion of DREZ-lesioning surgery in the neurosurgical armamentarium for treating 'segmental' pain due to spinal cord injuries.

Female↗

Meningiomas invading the sagittal or transverse sinuses, resection with venous reconstruction.

Surgery of meningiomas involving dural sinuses leaves the surgeon confronted with a dilemma: leave the fragment invading the sinus and have a higher risk of recurrence, or attempt a total removal with or without venous reconstruction and expose the patient to a potentially greater operative danger. The authors report a series of 80 meningiomas (72 of the sagittal sinus, 5 of the transverse sinus and 3 of the torcular) in whom gross total removal was achieved in all but 7 cases (i.e., 91%), and venous reconstruction attempted in a majority. In total, 70 patients (87.5%) had a good outcome and resumed their previous activities. There was a permanent neurological deficit in seven (8.7%) due to infarction secondary to injury of central veins (all but one in the sagittal sinus mid-third). Three patients (3.6%) died from brain swelling; all with meningioma totally occluding the sinus and in whom resection was achieved without sinus reconstruction. There were two recurrences (2.5%) in this series which has a mean follow-up of 8.5 years. The conclusion is to favour, whenever possible, total removal with sinus reconstruction, using a patch for meningiomas with partial sinus invasion and a venous bypass for those with total sinus occlusion.

Adolescent↗

Intraoperative monitoring of facial EMG responses during microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Prognostic value for long-term outcome: a study in a 33-patient series.

Lateral spread responses (LSR), an electrophysiological characteristic of hemifacial spasm (HFS), can be recorded during surgery. This work aims at evaluating the prognostic value of the persistence or suppression of the LSR at the end of the microvascular decompression (MVD) procedure of the facial nerve. Thirty-three patients with HFS, which had been evolving for 5.5 years, underwent MVD with intraoperative EMG. Monitoring required the placement of a needle in the frontalis and mentalis muscles. Responses were recorded after stimulation of inferior or superior branches of the facial nerve to search for abnormal ephaptic LSR. Preoperative abnormal LSRs were present in all patients. In 23 patients, LSR disappeared with vascular decompression and was not present upon closure. Among those patients, 20 were considered clinically cured and three still presented with mild/moderate spasm at 3-month follow-up. At late follow-up, 22 patients were free of spasm. One patient had recurrence of spasm at month 10. On the contrary, 10 patients had persistent abnormal LSR upon closure. Among those, seven were cured at early follow-up (3 months on average), whereas spasm disappeared at late follow-up (12 to 36 months) in the other three patients. The prognostic value of LSR monitoring is questionable; a good clinical result may be obtained in patients who presented with persistent LSR at the end of MVD. Delayed cure strongly supports the hypothesis that HFS is not only due to the mechanical pulsations of the elongated artery against the root exit zone of the facial nerve, but also to demyelination of the nerve and/or hyperactivity of the facial motornucleus generated by the neurovascular compression.

Adult↗

Neurophysiological monitoring for epilepsy surgery: the Talairach SEEG method. StereoElectroEncephaloGraphy. Indications, results, complications and therapeutic applications in a series of 100 consecutive cases.

OBJECT OF THE STUDY: In some candidates for epilepsy surgery in whom the decision to operate is difficult to make, invasive presurgical investigations, namely depth electrode recordings, may be needed. The SEEG (StereoElectroEncephaloGraphy) method consists of stereotactic orthogonal implantation of depth electrodes (5 to 15, 11 on average). The object of this study is to clarify the indications for SEEG, to expose its complications, and to display its usefulness in terms of surgical strategy and results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 patients, suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy and selected as candidates for surgical resection, underwent SEEG between 1996 and 2000. A total of 1,118 electrodes were implanted. For each single case, the sites of implantation of the electrodes were chosen in order to determine either the side of the onset of seizures, or the uni- or multilobar feature of them, or a possible operculo-insular propagation from a temporal onset, and also, using direct electrode stimulation, the proximity of speech or motor area. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 5 patients (2 superficial infections, 2 breakages of electrodes, and 1 intracerebral hematoma responsible for death). SEEG was helpful in most (84%) of the 100 patients to confirm or annul surgical indication, and to adjust the extent of the resection. In some cases (14%), SEEG allowed to propose a resection that might have been disputable based solely on noninvasive investigation data. For frontal epilepsy, SEEG was crucial in all cases to delineate the extent of resection. CONCLUSION: SEEG proved to be a relatively safe and a very useful method in 'difficult' candidates for epilepsy surgery. In addition, in some cases the implanted electrodes can be used to perform therapeutic RF thermocoagulation of epileptic foci or networks.

Adult↗

Microdialysis study of amino acid neurotransmitters in the spinal dorsal horn of patients undergoing microsurgical dorsal root entry zone lesioning. Technical note.

The aim of this study was to develop, for the first time in the human spinal dorsal horn (DH), an in vivo method for the study of amino acids (AAs). A microdialysis technique was used to sample AAs in the extracellular fluid of the DH apex in eight patients in whom surgery in the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) was performed. Before making microsurgical lesions, specific concentric-type microdialysis probes were implanted over a 60-minute period in the DREZ and directed to the DH apex (10 implantations). The AA concentrations in the dialysates were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The concentrations of excitatory AAs (glutamate and aspartate) and inhibitory AAs (gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine) decreased and were stabilized by 45 minutes after probe implantation, whereas the levels of nonneurotransmitter AAs (alanine and threonine) were not stabilized at 60 minutes. The ability of the probe to track the changes of extracellular AAs was demonstrated. Neither intra- nor postoperative microdialysis-related complications were observed (with a follow up of 18 months). The present study demonstrates that microdialysis can be performed safely in the human DH during DREZ lesioning. Despite technical and analytical limitations related to the intraoperative conditions, this technique offers new possibilities for clinical research on neurotransmitters involved in some relevant pathological states, especially in chronic pain and spasticity.

Adolescent↗

[Multiple intracranial and intraspinal meningiomas successively discovered in the absence of neurofibromatosis: 2 cases].

Multiple meningiomas in different neuroaxial compartments are quite rare. We describe the case of a 44-year-old woman who developed three intracranial meningiomas and 8 years later a T3 dorsal meningioma. Histologically, the frontal and dorsal tumors appeared as benign psammomatouss meningiomas. Both tumors were removed successfully. The second patient was a 31-year-old woman who developed right benign fronto-parietal transitional meningioma. She presented local and spheno-orbital recurrences, then a lombo-sacral lesion. The histological picture worsened from benign to malignant with multiple recurrences. Several mechanisms could account for multiple meningiomas. Such meningiomas could arise from a single primary tumor via subarachnoidal spread of a benign or malignant nature. Alternatively, they could be atypical forms of neurofibromatosis type 2 or tumors with a multifocal origin.

Adult↗

Amino acids in spinal dorsal horn of patients during surgery for neuropathic pain or spasticity.

A specific microdialysis probe combined with high performance liquid chromatography analysis was used to compare the basal levels of extracellular amino acids (AAs) in the dorsal horn (DH) between two groups of patients undergoing spinal surgery for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain (n = 5) or disabling spasticity (n = 5). A stabilized concentration was reached in the dialysates 45 min after probe implantation for excitatory AAs (glutamate and aspartate) and inhibitory AAs (GABA and glycine). A significant increase in the ratios aspartate/GABA and aspartate/glycine was found in the group of patients suffering from neuropathic pain. This study shows the feasibility of a microdialysis investigation in the DH of patients during a neurosurgical operation and supports in humans the hypothesis of an imbalance between excitatory AAs and inhibitory AAs within the DH in neuropathic pain states, as suggested by previous animal studies.

Amino Acids↗

Radiologic anatomy of the spinal dorsal horn at the cervical level (anatomic-MRI correlations).

The spinal dorsal horn is known for its important functional role in the field of transmission and modulation of sensory afferents. Because of this, the dorsal horn represents a target for numerous analgesic and antispastic procedures. Thus, it would be interesting to develop imaging dedicated to this spinal structure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiologic anatomy of the cervical dorsal horn by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1.5T). The first step consisted in the validation of the anatomic information provided by MRI on 5 human cadavers. A spin-echo sequence (T2, 2000/45) enabled the demonstration of good correlations between histologic sections and axial MRI slices performed at the corresponding cervical levels. The second step was the < > exploration of 20 subjects, aiming at the development of a gradient echo sequence (T2*) with a conventional MRI unit, compatible with a routine clinical examination. The dorsal horn was clearly identified in 77% of the axial slices performed (n = 300). The angle between the dorsal horn axis and the sagittal plane was measured as from 25.5 degrees at C2 to 40 degrees at C8 segments. The results of this anatomico-radiologic study of the cervical dorsal horn suggest that preoperative MRI could be useful to design the surgical approach to this structure, as performed during cervical microsurgical drezotomy (DREZ = dorsal root entry zone) for the treatment of selected cases of chronic pain or disabling spasticity in the upper limbs.

Aged↗

Functional results after microsurgical resection of brain stem cavernous malformations (retrospective study of a 12 patient series and review of the recent literature).

BACKGROUND: Since advent of MRI, brain stem Cavernous Malformations (CM) can be easily diagnosed, and their curative surgical resection considered under precise conditions. The authors report a consecutive series of twelve patients with CMs surgically treated and histopathologically confirmed. Eleven of the cases had bled (six more than once). In this study special emphasis has been put on the pre and post-operative functional status of the patients, by using the 100 Karnofsky scale (KS). METHOD: Surgical approaches were: 1) supra-occipital transtentorial for 1 thalamomesencephalic and 1 quadrigeminal plate CM, 2) suboccipital infratentorial supracerebellar for 1 dorsolateral mesencephalic CM, 3) retrosigmoid through the cerebello-pontine angle for 3 pontine and/or medullary CM, 4) suboccipital intertonsillar for 6 CM located under the floor of the IVth ventricle. Completeness of removal was checked by postoperatoire MRI. It was complete in 11 cases and only partial in 1 (i.e., in the case with the progressing mass-effect presentation). There was no post-op death. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 7 years. FINDINGS: Preoperatively: 2 patients were operated on in a comatose state (KS < 20), 5 were in state of functional dependance (K < 60) and 5 had severe neurological deficits but were still of independant functional status (KS > 60). At one year after surgery: 3 patients had a KS > or = 80 (i.e., they could resume their prior normal life), 6 had a KS between 60 and 80 (i.e., they were independant) and 3 had a KS below 60 (i.e., they were dependant especially for walking). INTERPRETATION: Our results, as well as the data harvested from the literature, plead for advocating radical surgical resection at least in patients with exophytic CMs having bled. As a matter of fact, study of the natural history shows that in brain stem CMs, the bleeding risk amounts to 21% per year per patient. Review of literature shows evidence that radiosurgery did not prove effective and/or even innoccuous.

Adult↗

Anatomy of optic nerve radiations as assessed by static perimetry and MRI after tailored temporal lobectomy.

AIMS: To determine the course of optic nerve radiations in the temporal lobe, especially their retinotopic organisation and the anterior limit of the Meyer's loop. METHODS: 18 adult patients who had undergone a tailored temporal lobectomy for epilepsy were included in this study between 1994 and 1998. The rostrocaudal extent of the lateral temporal lobe resection assessed intraoperatively by the surgeon and by postoperative MRI was compared with the postoperative visual fields determined by automated static perimetry (ASP). RESULTS: 15 patients (83%) presented a postoperative visual field deficit (VFD) confined to the superior homonymous field contralateral to the side of the resection. All degrees from a minimal upper field loss to a complete quadrantanopia were observed. The VFDs were somewhat stereotyped, predominating along the vertical meridian. The smallest anteroposterior resection resulting in a VFD was limited to 20 mm from the tip of the temporal lobe. A relation was observed between the extent of the lateral resection in front of the second and third convolutions and the occurrence and extent of postoperative VFDs. No patient reported persisting subjective visual impairment. CONCLUSION: The high frequency of postoperative VFDs appears to be due to the greater sensitivity of ASP. The characteristics of the stereotyped VFDs allow new conclusions about the course and retinotopy of optic nerve radiations. The anterior limit of Meyer's loop is likely to be located more rostrally than previously believed.

Adult↗

Neurosurgical management of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a very difficult problem with which the neurosurgeon frequently must deal. The neurosurgical methods to be considered are: (1) modulative, by using neurostimulation or implanted drug delivery systems, and (2) ablative, by making selective therapeutic lesions in well-defined and identified targets proven to sustain pain mechanisms (especially DREZotomy).

Algorithms↗