title: Efficacy of unilateral deep brain stimulation of the VIM nucleus of the thalamus for essential head tremor.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7314, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pahwa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020651:Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / Q000601:surgery*