Pallidal deep brain stimulation in primary cervical dystonia with phasic type : clinical outcome and postoperative course.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze in detail the relationship between outcome and time course of effect in medically refractory primary cervical dystonia (CD) with phasic type that was treated by bilateral globus pallidus internus (Gpi) deep brain stimulation (DBS).


METHODS
Six patients underwent bilateral implantation of DBS into the Gpi under the guide of microelectrode recording and were followed for 18.7 +/- 11.1 months. The mean duration of the CD was 5.8 +/- 3.4 years. The mean age at time of surgery was 54.2 +/- 10.2 years. Patients were evaluated with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) and relief scale using patient self-reporting.


RESULTS
The TWSTRS total scores improved by 64.5%, 65.5%, 75.8%, and 76.0% at 3, 6, 12 months, and at the last available follow-up after surgery, respectively. Statistically significant improvements in the TWSTRS scores were observed 3 months after surgery (p = 0.028) with gradual improvement up to 12 months after surgery, thereafter, the improvement was sustained. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the scores at 3 and 12 months. Subjective improvement reported averaged 81.7 +/- 6.8% at last follow-up. Mild dysarthria, the most frequent adverse event, occurred in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the bilateral Gpi-DBS can offer a significant therapeutic effect from 3 months postoperatively in patients with primary CD with phasic type, without significant side effects.
Jeong
Seong-Gyu
SG
Department of Neurosurgery, Bongseng Memorial Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Lee
Myung-Ki
MK
Kang
Ju-Young
JY
Jun
Sung-Man
SM
Lee
Won-Ho
WH
Ghang
Chang-Ghu
CG