Stereotactic ventrolateral thalamotomy for parkinsonians

THESES

STEREOTACTIC VENTROLATERAL THALAMOTOMY FOR PARKINSONIANS (ABSTRACT)^*. THESIS. SÃO JOSÉ DO RIO PRETO, 1997.

SEBASTIÃO CARLOS DA SILVA JUNIOR ^**

This series explored the symptomatic and functional impact of ventralis lateralis (VL) thalamotomy on 32 patients with severe, refractory tremor and rigidity due to Parkinson's disease.

All patients received VL radiofrequency thalamotomies utilizing stimulation control. The patients received follow-up for as long as 42 months ( mean 17.1 mo.) after their operations. At the most recent follow-up visit 87.5% of the patients with Parkinson's disease had cessation of or moderate to marked improvement in their contralateral tremor and rigidity, with a concomitant improvement in function. The most common complications were confusion (21.8%) contralateral weakness (15.6%), and dysarthria (15.6%). These complications generally resolved during the postoperative period.

These results compare favorably with those reported in the literature and confirm that stereotactic VL thalamotomy for debilatating tremor and rigidity carries a low surgical risk and can be an effective treatment option for properly selected patients.

KEY WORDS: stereotactic surgery, thalamotomy, Parkinson's disease, tremor.

** Address: Departamento de Neurociências, Hospital de Base, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Avenida Faria Lima 5416, 15090-000 São José do Rio Preto SP, Brasil.

*

Talamotomia estereotáxica ventrolateral em parkinsonianos (Resumo). Tese de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (Área: Medicina Interna). Orientador: Édimo Garcia de Lima.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  06 Dec 2000
• Date of issue
  Sept 1998