Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Deafferentation Pain: Case Report

Deep Brain Stimulation(DBS) analgesia is known to be an effective method of otherwise intractable chronic pain. The authors report a case of thalamic DBS for the relief of recurred deafferentation pain after DREZotomy. The patient was a 53-year-old female who had presented with neuropathic pain on right shoulder and upper extremity, owing to previous brachial plexus injury. She underwent DREZotomy on C3-C5 level with resultant pain relief, but symptom recurred 3 months after surgery. The authors performed left VPL nucleus stimulation, and good relief of the pain was achieved. We reviewed the pertinent literature, and discussed pathophysiology, clinical result of the DBS on deafferentation pain.