Thalamotomy for essential and cerebellar tremor.
Thalamotomy significantly suppressed essential tremor in 86% of patients and restored the ability to hold a glass to drink in 81% in the long term, but tremor recurred in 5/21 patients up to 5 years postoperatively, unlike parkinsonian patients whose tremor seldom recurs after 3 months. In multiple sclerosis (MS), 67% of those followed showed sustained significant suppression of tremor, 67% sustained improvement in dexterity, 50% in drinking; tremor recurred up to 5 years postoperatively. In other cerebellar tremors, 52% of those followed enjoyed lasting significant relief of tremor, 55% in dexterity, 45% in drinking, tremor relief being best in poststroke cases. Chronic thalamic stimulation may be the preferred therapy in MS and other cerebellar tremors.
Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Hospital, Ont., Canada.
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Shahzadi
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Tasker
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Lozano
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013788:Thalamus / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014202:Tremor / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*