Cerebellar stimulation in four patients with cerebral palsy.
Six Medtronic 1743 dual-channel cerebellar stimulators were implanted in 4 patients between September 1977 and January 1979. Evaluations were conducted in both a blind and nonblind fashion. Significant differences between the evaluations occurred. The operating surgeon, physical therapists, referring neurologist and the patients' families all overestimated the degree of improvement, compared to a blind evaluation by a noninvolved group of neurologists. The concomitant occurrence of significant complications raised serious questions of the advisability of cerebellar stimulation for cerebral palsy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male