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Mercedes - There are risks to pallidotomy or any brain surgery, but no one can tell in advance who will have a negative outcome, just like with any surgery. I can tell you that once one's quality of life is suffering, surgery is the way to go, in my opinion. However, if you have access to a facility that does DBS, I'd strongly recommend that instead of a pallidotomy. The University of Kansas and other facilities in the country perform STN stimulation, which is stimulation of the sub-thalamic nucleus. It seems to be the surgery of choice these days, and is said to control more of the PD symptoms than either pallidotomy or pallidal stimulation. The biggest "plus" is that it is reversible, should something better come along. My husband had two pallidal stimulations three and a half years ago and they made all the difference in the world to his quality of life. You should know, though, that none of these surgeries constitute a cure. But they're still better than trying to get along without the surgery! Margie Swindler cg for Dick, 54/17