Background Deep-brain stimulation through an electrode implanted in the thalamus was developed as an alternative to thalamotomy for the treatment of drug-resistant tremor. Stimulation is thought to be as effective as thalamotomy but to have fewer complications. We examined the effects of these two procedures on the functional abilities of patients with drug-resistant tremor due to Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, or multiple sclerosis. Methods Sixty-eight patients (45 with Parkinson's disease, 13 with essential tremor, and 10 with multiple sclerosis) were randomly assigned to undergo thalamotomy or thalamic stimulation. The primary outcome measure was the change in functional abilities six months after surgery, as measured by the Frenchay Activities Index. Scores for this index can range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating better function. Secondary outcome measures were the severity of tremor, the number of adverse effects, and patients' assessment of the outcome. Results Functional status ...

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A comparison of continuous thalamic stimulation and thalamotomy for suppression of severe tremor

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has provided remarkable therapeutic benefits for people with a variety of neurological disorders. Despite the uncertainty of the precise mechanisms underlying its efficacy, DBS is clinically effective in improving motor function of essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and primary dystonia and in relieving obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recently, this surgical technique has continued to expand to other numerous neurological diseases with encouraging results. This review highlighted the current and potential future clinical applications of DBS.

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Deep brain stimulation.

Object Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is increasingly prominent in the treatment of various disorders refractory to medication. Despite the procedure's efficacy, the community at large continues to be hesitant about presumed associated risks. The main object of this study was to assess the incidence of various surgical complications occurring both during and after DBS device implantation in a large population of patients with movement disorders in an effort to better quantify patient risk, define management plans, and develop methods for risk avoidance. A second aim was to corroborate the low procedural complication risk of DBS reported by others, which in light of the procedure's efficacy is needed to promote its widespread acceptance. Methods All patients who had undergone new DBS device implantation surgery between 2002 and 2010 by a single surgeon were entered into a database after being verified by cross-referencing manufacturer implantation records. All surgical records and charts were reviewe...

Risks of common complications in deep brain stimulation surgery: management and avoidance

One hundred patients with definite multiple sclerosis, who were randomly selected from a multiple sclerosis unit in London, were examined in order to study the prevalence, subtypes, clinical features and associated disability of tremor in this population. There were 35 males and 65 females with an average age of 47 years and an average disease duration of 18.8 years. The mean tremor duration was 13 years, with a median latency of 11 years from disease onset to appearance of tremor. Tremor was reported in 37 patients but was detected in 58. Tremor affected the arms (56%), legs (10%), head (9%) and trunk (7%). There were no examples of face, tongue or jaw tremor. All the patients had action tremor, either postural or kinetic (including intention). Rest, Holmes' ('rubral') and primary orthostatic tremors were not encountered. Tremor severity ranged from minimal in 27%, to mild in 16% and moderate or severe in 15% of cases. Tremor severity correlated with the degree of dysarthria, dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia but not with grip strength. In order to determine the clinical characteristics of these tremors, the action tremors of the upper limbs were subclassified according to the predominant site and state of tremulous activity. Of the 50 patients with tremor in the right arm, 32% had distal postural tremor, 36% had distal postural and kinetic tremor, 16% had proximal postural and kinetic tremor; 4% had proximal and distal postural and kinetic tremor and 12% isolated intention tremor. Twenty-seven percent of the overall study population had tremor-related disability and 10% had incapacitating tremor. Patients with abnormal tremor (severity grade >1/10) were more likely than those without tremor to be wheelchair dependent and have a worse Expanded Disability Systems Score, but Barthel activities of daily living indices and cognitive scores were comparable in the two groups.

A study of tremor in multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interrater and intrarater reliability of the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS) in essential tremor (ET). Proper treatment of ET is contingent upon correct assessment of the severity, loss of function, and disability related to tremor. Videotape recordings of 17 subjects with ET evaluated with the TRS were produced and sent to 59 raters. Once the raters returned the videotape and completed the score sheet, they were mailed a second tape with the same recordings presented in a different order. In the interrater reliability evaluation, modified Kappa statistics for seven tremor type composites ranged from 0.10 to 0.65 in the first videotape and 0.17 to 0.62 in the second videotape. Interrater reliabilities were greater for Part A items (magnitude of tremor in different body parts) than for Part B items (tremor in writing and drawings) of the TRS. The average Spearman correlation was 0.87, indicating very good consistency between the two videotapes, but correlations for Part A were somewhat better than for Part B. It is best when the same rater performs repeated measures of tremor on a patient, particularly when judging tremor in handwriting and drawings. Training of raters on use of the TRS would help standardize judgement.

Assessment of interrater and intrarater reliability of the Fahn–Tolosa–Marin Tremor Rating Scale in essential tremor

The place for neurosurgical management of movement disorders in multiple sclerosis is unclear. To evaluate the potential benefits of unilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) a prospective study was performed. Fifteen patients with confirmed MS and chronic, severe, drug-resistant movement disorders underwent stereotactic surgery to implant a thalamic DBS electrode using CT image guidance and intra-operative neurophysiological testing. The primary outcome measures were reduction in tremor severity and improvement in tests of hand function when the DBS electrode was turned on, 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included indices of disability, handicap, neuropsychological function and independence. Thirty-seven patients were assessed for treatment, but only 15 underwent surgery. In the 10 patients in whom implantation of the complete DBS system was carried out there was a significant reduction in the severity of tremor (p = 0.02) and improvement in hand function (p = 0.02). There were no benefits in any of the secondary outcome measures. Two patients had thalamocapsular haemorrhages at the site of electrode implantation and two had seizures in the follow-up period. Thalamic stimulation significantly reduced the tremor associated with MS and improved hand function in the targeted upper limb. However, there can be difficulties with identifying an optimal implantation site during operation, significant procedural morbidity and difficulty in predicting immediate outcome. It is also likely that the insignificant benefits of DBS on disability and handicap reflect persisting cerebeller dysmetria, and both the severity and diffuse nature of the disease process in this patient cohort.

A prospective study of thalamic deep brain stimulation for the treatment of movement disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Rater reliability of Fahn's tremor rating scale in patients with multiple sclerosis

Thalamic deep-brain stimulation for movement disorders due to multiple sclerosis.

Long-term outcome after thalamotomy for movement disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Several studies have shown that thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) reduces tremor and improves hand performance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this paper is to describe the cost implications of DBS in MS patients and to highlight postoperative medical requirements that can be associated with this therapy. In a prospective study of thalamic DBS in MS patients the mean equipment costs were £4769 (median £7010, Medtronic, 1998 prices); mean neurosurgical inpatient costs per operated patient (n = 15) were £4848 (range £1982–8920, median £5110); and mean in-patient postoperative rehabilitation cost £4602 (range £0–32, 225, median £1783). In addition there were transport and follow up costs. Mean neurosurgical inpatient stay following stereotactic DBS implantation was 15 days (median 12 days); and mean inpatient, postoperative rehabilitation stay 54 days (median 25 days). Although there were significant improvements in hand function and tremor reduction at 12 months postoperation, t...

Julie Hooper

Papers

A prospective study of thalamic deep brain stimulation for the treatment of movement disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Rater reliability of Fahn's tremor rating scale in patients with multiple sclerosis

Thalamic deep-brain stimulation for movement disorders due to multiple sclerosis.

Long-term outcome after thalamotomy for movement disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Costs of thalamic deep brain stimulation for movement disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis.