Neuroelectrophysiological basis and surgical treatment of essential tremor / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between limb tremor and neuronal firing in thalamus (Vim) and retrospectively review the clinical effects and safety of the surgical treatment of essential tremor (ET).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two ET patients received microelectrode-guided thalamotomy and 11 cases were quantitatively evaluated with FAHN rating scales pre- and post-operatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were electrophysiological tremor-related neurons in ventrolateral part of thalamus. Lesioning of those neurons abolished contralateral limb tremor in all of the patients. No permanent contralateral weakness, dysarthria and hemorrhage were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>"Tremor cell" in thalamus plays a key role in the symptom of ET patients. Destruction of those cells may completely and permanently abolish tremor symptom.</p>