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Published on: December 13, 2017
Unilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation for disabling kinetic tremor in multiple sclerosis
Hassan Hosseini1, Tomasz Mandat, Emmanuelle Waubant
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil, France. hassan.hosseini@hmn.aphp.fr
Neurosurgery
|July 20, 2011
Summary
Unilateral ventralis intermedius deep brain stimulation effectively reduces disabling kinetic arm tremor in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Proper patient selection is crucial for successful outcomes in this MS tremor treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Surgical options for multiple sclerosis (MS) tremor are limited, primarily to thalamotomy or deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the ventralis intermedius nucleus.
- A lack of standardized qualification protocols often leads to suboptimal outcomes in these procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of unilateral ventralis intermedius DBS for managing disabling kinetic arm tremor associated with MS.
Main Methods:
- Nine consecutive MS patients underwent unilateral ventralis intermedius DBS.
- Neurological, neuropsychological, tremor, dexterity, disability, and quality-of-life assessments were conducted pre-operatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-operatively.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in postural and kinetic tremor scores, as well as improvements in manual capacity and functional handicap, were observed with DBS.
- These improvements were sustained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, demonstrating the durability of the treatment.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral ventralis intermedius DBS is a valuable and safe therapeutic option for kinetic tremor in MS patients.
- Precise pre-surgical patient qualification is paramount for achieving successful treatment outcomes.
