书写痉挛的外科治疗

目的：回顾书写痉挛的立体定向丘脑腹外侧核毁损术治疗方法及疗效。探讨书写痉挛的发生和治疗的机理。方法：运用微电极导向立体定向技术，对8例书写痉挛患者实施了丘脑腹外侧核毁损术，进行疗效分析。结果：8例患者术后书写功能即刻恢复正常，无手术并发症，1－2年的随访疗效稳定。结论：立体定向丘脑膜外侧核毁损术是治疗书写痉挛有效，安全的治疗手段，可能的治疗机制是阻断了基底节的异常爆发性电活动。     

分期双侧丘脑及苍白球毁损治疗帕金森病的手术策略及疗效分析

目的 总结分期双侧丘脑及苍白球核团毁损治疗原发性帕金森病(PD)的疗效,探讨其有效性及安全性. 方法 安徽医科大学附属省立医院神经外科自1998年2月至2008年5月对已行一侧核团毁损术的19例患者施行微电极导向立体定向对侧丘脑及苍白球核团毁损治疗,其中16例患者一期行丘脑腹中间核(Vim核)毁损,二期行对侧苍白球内侧部(Gpi核)毁损,同时加做Vim核小灶毁损.3例患者一期行Gpi核毁损,二期行对侧Gpi核毁损及Vim核小灶毁损.采用PD国际统一评分量表(UPDRS)对患者术前、术后1周“开”、“关”两种状态进行评分,分析术后症状改善情况及并发症的发生. 结果 所有患者的整体病情和典型症状(震颤、僵直、行动迟缓)均得到明显改善,二期Gpi核毁损术对缓解僵直明显,加做Vim核小灶毁损,震颤缓解满意.2例患者术后出现构音困难,其中1例伴吞咽困难.3个月后症状缓解. 结论 对双侧症状均较严重的PD患者,只要严格掌握适应征,选择合适的靶点,严格控制毁损灶大小,分期双侧丘脑及苍白球核团毁损治疗是一种安全有效的方法.     

立体定向丘脑腹中间核毁损术治疗书写痉挛的疗效评估

目的探讨丘脑腹中间(Vim)核毁损术治疗书写痉挛的有效性和安全性。方法采用微电极引导下左侧丘脑Vim核毁损治疗书写痉挛(WC)患者47例,其中男32例,女15例;年龄15~64岁,平均(28.9±10.7)岁;病程2~21年。在术前和术后,采用书写痉挛评分量表(the writer's cramp rating scale,WCRS)对患者进行评分。结果全部患者毁损手术当时症状就明显改善,肘部、腕部和手指痉挛明显缓解,写字的流利程度和速度明显提升。其中2例患者(4.2%)出现一过性的右手指尖麻木;另有3例患者(6.4%)出现一过性言语不流利;上述并发症在3个月内完全恢复,没有永久性并发症发生。术后对患者进行电话随访,随访时间6~36个月,平均23个月;结果显示,患者的症状改善稳定;其中有3例患者失随访。另外,有1例患者因症状反复,再次行丘脑Vim核毁损术,术后症状改善明显。结论丘脑Vim核毁损术治疗书写痉挛是一种有效、安全的手术方式。     

MRI导向丘脑腹中间核立体定向毁损术治疗书写痉挛二例并文献复习

目的探讨立体定向手术治疗书写痉挛的方法及疗效。方法与结果采用MRI导向丘脑腹中间核立体定向毁损术治疗2例书写痉挛(震颤型)患者,例1术后书写时震颤即消失,写字较术前工整;例2术后右上肢震颤明显改善,可正常工作和生活。2例患者均未出现明显并发症,术后随访至今均未复发。结论书写痉挛的外科手术疗效明确,MRI导向丘脑腹中间核立体定向毁损术可以精确定位神经核团,有效避免术中并发症。文献复习两种外科手术方法(脑深部电刺激术和脑深部神经核团毁损术)的优劣和适应证,尚待进一步探讨。     

微刺激在选择性丘脑腹中间核毁损术中的定位作用

目的探讨微刺激在选择性丘脑腹中间核毁损术中的定位作用.方法在对23例震颤型帕金森病患者进行的微电极引导选择性丘脑腹中间核毁损术中,比较丘脑腹中间核(Vim)及其周围结构在微刺激时,对侧肢体震颤变化情况及异常感觉情况.结果靶点上方2-5mm不仅震颤遏止机率最大,为靶点上方7～10mm的3倍以上,而且阈值小于10mA,比靶点上方7～10mm的阈值小1倍以上.不同亚核刺激时感觉异常的发生机率不同.刺激腹尾侧核(VC)时患者感觉确切,部位局限,阈值较小,常常小于10μA.结论微刺激可以确定VC与Vim的边界、手术靶点的内外侧界和手术毁损区域,在选择性丘脑毁损术靶点定位中有重要意义.     

书写痉挛的立体定向治疗

目的回顾性分析9例书写痉挛患者的立体定向手术治疗的方法及疗效,探讨书写痉挛患者的治疗机制。方法运用脑深部微电极引导下的立体定位技术,对9例药物治疗无效及符合手术指证的书写痉挛患者行丘脑腹外侧核团损毁术,并分析其治疗效果。结果 9例患者即刻恢复书写功能,术后随访,无手术并发症,2³ y的随访中,1例患者复发,余8例患者随访疗效稳定。结论立体定向丘脑腹外侧核团损毁术是书写痉挛的安全有效的治疗手段。     

丘脑射频毁损术后早期MRI表现（附39例分析）

目的：分析探讨丘脑Vim核射频毁损术后早期MRI表现,方法：对39例以震颤为主要症状的帕金森病的42次丘脑Vim核进行立体定向射频毁损术治疗,术后早期进行MRI检查,观察毁损灶,同时进行早期临床评价。结果：术后平均103．7h进行MRI检查,所有病例T1,T2相均能精确分辨出毁损灶位置,形态及大小,典型表现：T2加权相呈三层不同密度椭圆形球体,水平面呈三层同心园结构,22例内囊出现不同程度水肿,其中6例毁损灶波及内囊,所有病人MR未见毁损区出血,创道仅见轻微水肿,结论：早期MRI检查对立体定向丘脑Vim核射频毁损灶形态,位置,大小及外周水肿程度和周围结构改变进行精确观察,对判断是否有早期严重的并发症有帮助。     

丘脑射频毁损术后早期MRI表现（附39例分析）

目的丘脑Vim核射频毁损术后早期MRI表现及分析.方法随机对39例以震颤为主要症状的帕金森病(PD)的42次丘脑Vim核进行立体定向射频毁损术治疗,术后早期进行MRI检查,观察毁损灶,同时进行早期临床评价.结果术后平均103.7小时进行MRI检查,所有病例T1、T2相均能精确分辨出毁损灶位置、形态及大小.典型表现T2加权相呈三层不同密度椭圆形球体,水平面呈三层同心圆结构.灶中心点与AC-PC相对位置X±15.4mm,Y-5.4mm,Z-3.7mm.22(52.4%)例内囊出现不同程度水肿,其中6例毁损灶波及内囊,病人有对侧肢体肌力下降,行走不稳,与其他病例比较毁损灶最外侧缘与中线之间距有显著性差异(P＜0.001).所有病人MR未见毁损区出血,创道仅见轻微水肿.8例术后出现对侧口角、唇、手指麻木,所有并发症出院时均有改善.结论早期MRI是一种无创性检查手段,对立体定向丘脑Vim核射频毁损灶形态、位置、大小及外周水肿程度和周围结构改变进行精确观察,判断是否有早期严重的并发症有帮助.     

立体定向选择性Vim核和(或)PVP核毁损术治疗帕金森病疗效观察

目的观察应用立体定向脑内核团毁损术治疗帕金森病的临床疗效。方法 2012年7至2013年12月采用立体定向丘脑腹中间核(Vim核)和或苍白球腹后外侧部(PVP核)毁损术治疗帕金森病45例。术前、术后1个月进行UPDRS评分,比较手术前后评分的变化和症状改善情况。结果 45例帕金森病患者的肢体震颤、僵硬及运动迟缓均得到明显改善,术后1个月的UPDRS评分较术前明显减少(P0.01),术后无明显并发症。结论立体定向脑内核团毁损术治疗帕金森病疗效显著,靶点定位、毁损范围及程度与手术疗效及并发症密切相关。     

CT定位立体定向丘脑毁损术治疗癌性顽痛的临床研究

目的探讨CT定位立体定向丘脑毁损术在治疗癌性顽痛的临床应用。方法应用立体定向技术,结合CT导向定位方法,行双侧丘脑中央中核毁损对37例癌性顽痛患者进行止痛治疗。结果CT定位能精确的对阴性靶点进行定位。37例患者术后立即获得有效止痛,术后有10例有不同程度的疼痛复发。结论CT定位立体定向中央中核毁损治疗癌症顽痛,手术方法简单、创伤小,且疗效可靠、并发症少,是治疗癌性顽痛较为理想的手术方法。     

Deep brain stimulation therapy for involuntary movements]

During the last decade, it has become clear that deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy provides a dramatic improvement in the symptoms of movement disorders. We have experienced DBS in 110 patients with various types of involuntary movements, and confirmed the benefits of stimulation of the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim), internal globus pallidus (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) in these patients. DBS therapy affords the best effect on tremor when the Vim is selected as the stimulation site. DBS therapy is also useful for controlling rigidity when the GPi or STN is stimulated. Improvements of bradykinesia and gait disturbance are often induced by DBS therapy involving the GPi or STN. Dopa-induced dyskinesia can be attenuated effectively by the direct and/or indirect effects of DBS therapy. DBS of the Vim also provides excellent control of post-stroke involuntary movements, including hemiballism and hemichoreoathetosis. Dystonia in young patients is controlled effectively by DBS of GPi. Ablative procedures for control of involuntary movement disorders, such as thalamotomy and pallidotomy, always carry a risk associated with creating additional lesions in an already damaged brain. In contrast, there is not such a risk in DBS therapy. This modality of therapy is an important option in treating involuntary movements.     

Advances in neurostimulation for movement disorders

In just 12 years since its introduction, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become well established as a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of medically refractory movement disorders. Ventralis intermedius (Vim) DBS has virtually replaced thalamotomy in the routine clinical treatment of essential tremor, affording relief to thousands of patients who previously would not have undergone surgery, and there is increasing usage of Vim DBS in other tremors of intention (e.g., multiple sclerosis). Subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) DBS have revolutionized the treatment of advanced stage Parkinson's disease, improving all cardinal disease features and increasing 'on' time without dyskinesias. Finally, DBS of various sub-cortical structures is being developed and tested in other less prevalent movement disorders such as dystonia. Future developments in this rapidly advancing area will no doubt include widening indications for this relatively safe surgical procedure, elucidation of the mechanisms of action of electrical stimulation, and technological advancements improving effectiveness and convenience.     

立体定向下丘脑Vim核毁损术治疗特发性震颤的相关因素分析

目的探讨立体定向下丘脑腹中间核(Vim核)毁损术治疗特发性震颤(essentialtremor,ET)的疗效及相关因素。方法回顾性分析微电极导向下单侧丘脑毁损术治疗的55例ET患者。对患者术前术后肢体震颤、生活功能改善情况进行评估,对并发症、症状复发及手术适应证进行分析。结果手术对侧肢体震颤完全消失47例,遗留有轻微震颤8例,头颈、躯干部震颤及声音震颤有所改善,同侧肢体震颤无缓解,震颤的整体改善率54.1%,术后复发3例,同侧二次手术后震颤完全控制。长期随访疗效稳定,患者生活质量明显提高。一过性并发症15例,无永久性并发症。结论立体定向单侧Vim核毁损术治疗ET是一种安全、有效的方法,微电极引导准确定位是手术成功的保障,症状复发及并发症的出现与靶点定位不准及毁损灶大小有关。     

Treatment of Parkinson tremor by chronic stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus

Stereotactic ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim) thalamotomy may improve drug resistant severe parkinsonian tremor. However, tremor may recur and bilateral thalamotomy is known to induce unacceptable side effects in a proportion of patients. A high frequency (130 Hz) chronic Vim stimulation was performed in 4 parkinsonian patients, 2 of them having previously undergone a thalamotomy on the other side. Tremor was suppressed in all patients at the price of slight paresthesias. This improvement has been lasting from 2 to 14 months. Beneficial and adverse effects were suppressed at once each time the stimulation was stopped. These preliminary results are encouraging but a longer delay and more patients are obviously needed.     

Stereotactic selective thalamotomy for the treatment of tremor type cerebral palsy in adolescence

6 cases with tremor-athetotic type cerebral palsy and 2 cases with moderate dystonia-tremor type cerebral palsy were treated by selective stereotactic thalamotomy. In the former group, postural-movement type tremor in the upper limb gradually progressed with age while athetosis remained unchanged. In the latter group, dystonia in the truncal muscles predominated over the irregular tremulous movement of the upper limbs. In all cases, the intelligence was almost normal. Stereotactic selective thalamotomy (Vim for tremor athetosis, VL-Vim for dystonia tremor) was performed under local anesthesia with the aid of radiological and neurophysiological control methods. The results of the operations were satisfactory in regard to the tremor relief and concomitant improvement of motor performances in most of the cases. Stereotactic treatment might be an effective way to make possible a one-step progress in these handicapped cases. The importance of postoperative physical therapy is also emphasized.     

Limb Preference Changes after Focused-Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor

Background

Magnetic resonance-guided focused-ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy is an effective treatment for essential and other tremors. It targets the ventrointermedius (Vim) nucleus, which is the thalamic relay in a proprioceptive pathway, and contains kinesthetic cells. Although MRgFUS thalamotomy reduces some risks associated with more invasive surgeries, it still has side effects, such as balance and gait disturbances; these may be caused by the lesion impacting proprioception.

Objectives

Our aim was to quantitatively measure the effects of MRgFUS on proprioception and limb use in essential tremor patients. We hypothesized that this thalamotomy alters proprioception, because the sensorimotor Vim thalamus is lesioned.

Methods

Proprioception was measured using the Kinarm exoskeleton robot in 18 patients. Data were collected pre-operatively, and then 1 day, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery. Patients completed four tasks, assessing motor coordination and postural control, goal-directed movement and bimanual planning, position sense, and kinesthesia.

Results

Immediately after surgery there were changes in posture speed (indicating tremor improvement), and in bimanual hand use, with the untreated limb being preferred. However, these measures returned to pre-operative baseline over time. There were no changes in parameters related to proprioception. None of these measures correlated with lesion size or lesion-overlap with the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract.

Conclusions

This is the first quantitative assessment of proprioception and limb preference following MRgFUS thalamotomy. Our results suggest that focused-ultrasound lesioning of the Vim thalamus does not degrade proprioception but alters limb preference. This change may indicate a required “relearning” in the treated limb, because the effect is transient. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.     

Verbal, visual and aural memory in the early postoperative period in patients treated by thalamotomy

Verbal memory and learning ability were determined before the operation and immediately 3-4 weeks after stereotactic surgery in 11 patients with extrapyramidal motor disturbances treated by ventrolateral (VL and Vim) thalamotomy. Preoperative examinations demonstrated disturbances of short-term verbal memory with narrowing of its extent and increased susceptibility of the trace to interference. Long-term memory was disturbed also, with presence of difficulties in recall and difficulties in memorization of verbal materials. Directly after the operation, in relation to the preoperative testing, increased disturbances were demonstrated in all stages of verbal memory, after damage to the border area of VL and Vim nuclei in the left as well as in the right thalamus. It was possible to detect some functional differentiation between thalamic lesions, with a tendency for increased disturbances of short-term verbal visual memory after right-sided thalamotomy and verbal auditory memory after left-sided thalamotomy.     

Combined deep brain stimulation and thalamotomy for tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease

Although deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson’s disease, the long-term suppression of tremor is still a challenging issue. We report two patients with tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease (PD) treated with unilateral thalamotomy of the ventralis intermedius nucleus (Vim) combined with the subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS or the posterior subthalamic area (PSA)-DBS. One year after the surgery, thalamotomy of the area from the Vim to the PSA showed improvement not only in tremor but also in rigidity and akinesia. PSA- or STN-DBS with low intensity stimulation eliminated residual PD symptoms. Combined DBS and thalamotomy may provide long-term improvement of the majority of PD symptoms using lower therapeutic stimulation voltages.     

Ataxic arm movements after thalamotomy for Parkinsonian tremor

Voluntary finger-nose movements of the arm were analysed in six patients undergoing stereotaxic nucleus ventralis intermedius thalamotomy for relief of severe Parkinsonian tremor. In all cases thalamotomy acutely abolished tremor in the contralateral arm. In the early postoperative phase, ataxia of the arm contralateral to the operated side was also seen. Ataxia was transient, lasting between 7 and 21 days postoperatively. This observation suggests that a lesion of the Vim nucleus interrupts cerebellar input to the thalamus, and supports the concept that abnormal cerebellar activity is an important contributor to the generation of tremor in Parkinson's disease.