Clemens Neudorfer1,2, Markus Hinzke3, Stefan Hunsche1, Faycal El Majdoub1, Andres Lozano2, Mohammad Maarouf1. 1. Department of Stereotaxy and Functional Neurosurgery, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne, Germany. 2. Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 3. Department of Neurology, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Despite its efficacy in tremor-suppression, the ventral intermediate thalamic (VIM) nucleus has largely been neglected in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (tdPD). The employment of a parietal approach, however, allows stimulation of VIM and subthalamic nucleus (STN) using one trajectory only and thus constitutes a promising alternative to existing strategies. In the present study, we investigate safety and efficacy of combined lead implantation and stimulation of STN and VIM using a parietal approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of five patients with tdPD was performed who underwent DBS using a parietal approach. Changes in symptom severity, disease-specific health-related quality of life and l-dopa equivalent doses (LED) were evaluated over a total time course of 12 months. RESULTS: DBS within both targets yielded significant improvement of parkinsonian symptoms (median: 40.0%, p = 0.04) in the first 6 months of continuous stimulation and remained stable thereafter (median improvement at 12 months: 43.2%, p = 0.07). Sustained improvement of tremor (median at 6 months: 100.0%, p = 0.04; median at 12 months 83.3%, p = 0.04) and quality of life scores (median at 6 months: 29.8%, p = 0.04; median at 12 months: 32.6%, p = 0.04) was noted throughout the follow-up period. No significant change of LEDs was observed by the end of follow-up (median decrease: 2.2%, p = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous DBS of VIM and STN using one trajectory is safe, yielding good control of parkinsonian tremors. Further studies, however, are necessary to determine whether a parietal trajectory affords better control over tremor symptoms than established strategies and hence justifies the potential risks associated with the alternative approach.
OBJECTIVES: Despite its efficacy in tremor-suppression, the ventral intermediate thalamic (VIM) nucleus has largely been neglected in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (tdPD). The employment of a parietal approach, however, allows stimulation of VIM and subthalamic nucleus (STN) using one trajectory only and thus constitutes a promising alternative to existing strategies. In the present study, we investigate safety and efficacy of combined lead implantation and stimulation of STN and VIM using a parietal approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of five patients with tdPD was performed who underwent DBS using a parietal approach. Changes in symptom severity, disease-specific health-related quality of life and l-dopa equivalent doses (LED) were evaluated over a total time course of 12 months. RESULTS: DBS within both targets yielded significant improvement of parkinsonian symptoms (median: 40.0%, p = 0.04) in the first 6 months of continuous stimulation and remained stable thereafter (median improvement at 12 months: 43.2%, p = 0.07). Sustained improvement of tremor (median at 6 months: 100.0%, p = 0.04; median at 12 months 83.3%, p = 0.04) and quality of life scores (median at 6 months: 29.8%, p = 0.04; median at 12 months: 32.6%, p = 0.04) was noted throughout the follow-up period. No significant change of LEDs was observed by the end of follow-up (median decrease: 2.2%, p = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous DBS of VIM and STN using one trajectory is safe, yielding good control of parkinsonian tremors. Further studies, however, are necessary to determine whether a parietal trajectory affords better control over tremor symptoms than established strategies and hence justifies the potential risks associated with the alternative approach.