Objective tremor registration during DBS surgery for essential tremor.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Essential Tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder causing involuntary shaking, often in the upper limbs.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) targeting the thalamus (Vim nucleus) is an effective treatment for severe or refractory ET.
• Current intra-operative tremor assessment relies on subjective clinical evaluations.

Observation:

• A case study involving a 76-year-old woman with medically refractory ET undergoing unilateral DBS.
• Tremor was objectively monitored pre- and intra-operatively using an accelerometer-based device (Tremor Pen).

Findings:

• Device-based tremor quantification revealed a 34.7-fold improvement in the contralateral limb post-macro-stimulation.
• No significant tremor reduction was observed in the ipsilateral (non-operated) limb.

Implications:

• Objective, device-based tremor registration can supplement subjective clinical measures during DBS procedures.
• This technology offers a more precise method for evaluating tremor response to surgical interventions.
• Potential for improved patient management and treatment efficacy in Essential Tremor.