Multicentre European study of thalamic stimulation in essential tremor
- Department of Neurology, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Hope Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD, UK
- Correspondence to: DR J P R Dick; Jeremy.Dicksrht.nhs.uk
Bilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation continues to show well maintained benefit in patients who have severe essential tremor after seven years with little increase in stimulation parameters
In their paper, Sydow et al (see this issue pp 1387–1391)1 have shown sustained long term efficacy of high frequency deep brain stimulation of the thalamus (Vim) for the management of severe essential tremor. This observation is of interest as certain authors had commented that its benefit may wane with time.2
A multicentre European trial had initially demonstrated the efficacy of thalamic deep brain stimulation (largely unilateral) in the management of essential tremor3 and a subsequent comparison of bilateral Vim stimulation with unilateral thalamotomy suggested that deep brain stimulation was more effective and certainly associated with …
