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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of tremor resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI). METHODS: A series of eight consecutive patients with post-ABI tremor were treated with DBS of the ventro-oralis posterior (VOP)/zona incerta (ZI) region, and subsequently underwent blinded assessments using Bain's tremor severity scale. RESULTS: VOP/ZI DBS produced a mean reduction in tremor severity of 80.75% based on Bain's tremor severity scale, with significant reductions in all five component tremor subscores: rest, postural, kinetic, proximal and distal. No adverse neurological complications were reported, although one patient experienced exacerbation of pre-existing gait ataxia. CONCLUSION: VOP/ZI stimulation is demonstrated here to be an effective and safe approach for the treatment of post-ABI tremor in the largest series published at the time of writing.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/jnnp-2013-305340

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

Publication Date

07/2014

Volume

85

Pages

811 - 815

Keywords

Electrical Stimulation, Head Injury, Movement Disorders, Neurosurgery, Tremor, Adult, Aged, Brain Injuries, Deep Brain Stimulation, Electrodes, Implanted, Female, Humans, Male, Severity of Illness Index, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome, Tremor, Young Adult