Combined thalamic and subthalamic deep brain stimulation for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease

Publication

Combined thalamic and subthalamic deep brain stimulation for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease

Journal Paper/Review - Dec 13, 2016

Oertel Markus F, Schüpbach W Michael M, Ghika Joseph-André, Stieglitz Lennart H, Fiechter Michael, Kaelin-Lang Alain, Raabe Andreas, Pollo Claudio

Citation

Oertel M, Schüpbach W, Ghika J, Stieglitz L, Fiechter M, Kaelin-Lang A, Raabe A, Pollo C. Combined thalamic and subthalamic deep brain stimulation for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2016; 159:265-269.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2016; 159

Publication Date

Dec 13, 2016

Issn Electronic

0942-0940

Pages

265-269

Brief description/objective

UNASSIGNED
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamic ventral intermediate (Vim) or the subthalamic nucleus (STN) reportedly improves medication-refractory Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor. However, little is known about the potential synergic effects of combined Vim and STN DBS. We describe a 79-year-old man with medication-refractory tremor-dominant PD. Bilateral Vim DBS electrode implantation produced insufficient improvement. Therefore, the patient underwent additional unilateral left-sided STN DBS. Whereas Vim or STN stimulation alone led to partial improvement, persisting tremor resolution occurred after simultaneous stimulation. The combination of both targets may have a synergic effect and is an alternative option in suitable cases.