Bilateral Posterior Subthalamic Area Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Neurology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological condition often refractory to medication.
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging treatment for severe ET.
• Posterior subthalamic area (PSA) DBS is a potential therapeutic target for ET.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of bilateral PSA-DBS in patients with medication-refractory ET.
• To assess the safety and adverse-event profile of bilateral PSA-DBS for ET.
• To determine the long-term effects and quality of life improvements following PSA-DBS.

Main Methods:

• Seven patients with refractory ET underwent bilateral PSA-DBS surgery.
• Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Essential Tremor Rating Scale at 1, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.
• The study documented motor symptom changes, quality of life improvements, and adverse events.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in motor symptoms (84.2%) and quality of life (81.25%) at 1-month follow-up.
• These clinical benefits were sustained through the 6-month and final follow-up assessments.
• Adverse events included dysarthria (n=4), balance disorder (n=2), and limb paresthesia (n=1).

Conclusions:

• Bilateral PSA-DBS offers a safe and effective treatment option for medically intractable ET.
• Further research is warranted to explore its clinical utility and comparative effectiveness.
• PSA-DBS demonstrates potential for sustained tremor reduction and improved patient quality of life.