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Efficacy of unilateral deep brain stimulation of the vim nucleus of the thalamus for essential head tremor
Author(s) -
Koller William C.,
Lyons Kelly E.,
Wilkinson Steven B.,
Pahwa Rajesh
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8257(199909)14:5<847::aid-mds1021>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - essential tremor , thalamus , deep brain stimulation , stimulation , thalamic stimulator , medicine , neuroscience , anesthesia , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , parkinson's disease , disease
Essential tremor is a common movement disorder. Deep brain stimulation of the VIM nucleus of the thalamus has been reported to be efficacious for reducing essential hand tremor. The effect of deep brain stimulation of the thalamus on essential head tremor has not been well studied. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of DBS of the thalamus in 38 patients with essential head tremor. Head tremor scores prior to surgery were compared with scores at 3, 6, and 12 months postimplant with stimulation “on” and “off.” The 3‐month evaluations were blinded for 24 patients and all others were open‐label. There was a significant improvement in head tremor at all postimplant evaluations compared with baseline. Essential head tremor can be reduced with deep brain stimulation of the VIM nucleus of the thalamus and, pending the results of other controlled trials, should be considered as a treatment option for patients with disabling essential head tremor unresponsive to medication.