Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for severe idiopathic dystonia: impact on severity, neuropsychological status, and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
Medically refractory dystonia has recently been treated using deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the globus pallidus internus (GPI). Outcomes have varied depending on the features of the dystonia. There has been limited literature regarding outcomes for refractory dystonia following DBS of the subthalamic nucleus (STN).


METHODS
Four patients with medically refractory, predominantly cervical dystonia underwent STN DBS. Intraoperative assessments with the patients in a state of general anesthesia were performed to determine the extent of fixed deformities that might predict outcome. Patients were rated using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) and the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) preoperatively and 3 and 12 months following surgery by a rater blinded to the study. Mean changes and standard errors of the mean in scores were calculated for each subscore of the two scales. Scores were also analyzed using analysis of variance and probability values were generated. Neuropsychological assessments and quality of life ratings using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were evaluated longitudinally.


RESULTS
Significant improvements were seen in motor (p = 0.04), disability (p = 0.02), and total TWSTRS scores (p = 0.03). Better outcomes were seen in those patients who did not have fixed deformities. There was marked improvement in the mental component score of the SF-36. Neuropsychological function was not definitively impacted as a result of the surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep brain stimulation of the STN is a novel target for dystonia and may be an alternative to GPI DBS. Further studies need to be performed to confirm these conclusions and to determine optimal candidates and stimulation parameters.
Kleiner-Fisman
Galit
G
Philadelphia Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, USA. gkleinerfisman@yahoo.com
Liang
Grace S Lin
GS
Moberg
Paul J
PJ
Ruocco
Anthony C
AC
Hurtig
Howard I
HI
Baltuch
Gordon H
GH
Jaggi
Jurg L
JL
Stern
Matthew B
MB
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*