Deep-Brain Stimulation for Generalized Dystonia

Dystonia is characterized by twisting postures, tremor, and pain resulting from sustained muscle contractions. Idiopathic dystonia, in which dystonia is the only neurologic symptom, follows a very different course, depending on whether it starts in childhood or adult life. In the more common adult-onset dystonia, symptoms of idiopathic dystonia are usually restricted to a single region of the body, such as the neck, arm, or face (focal dystonia), or to a limited number of contiguous regions (segmental dystonia). Childhood-onset dystonia often spreads beyond one or two segments, involving one leg, the second leg or the trunk, and at least one . . .