Abstract
The freezing of gait (FOG) phenomenon is a common symptom in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but it is very difficult or almost impossible to treat this condition with antiparkinsonian drugs. FOG is an interesting symptom for neurologists in many aspects. It is observed in both phases of on and off during the wearing-off phenomenon and under specific conditions such as being in a narrow space and not in an open space, and can be improved by external cues, so-called kinesie paradoxale. From these observations, it is supposed that FOG is not only a motor symptom but a symptom generated by the arousal system. Surgical therapy for PD has been performed to improve symptoms that are resistant to drug therapy since the mid-20th century. Recently, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been performed and has shown great effects on parkinsonian symptoms. DBS of the subthalamic nucleus in particular markedly improves FOG. The clinical outcomes of subthalamic DBS are the focus of discussion in this paper.
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