OBJECTIVEPosterior subthalamic area (PSA) deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the zona incerta (ZI) is an emerging treatment for tremor syndromes, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET).
Antero-dorso-medial stimulation site in the STA were associated with less tremor and adverse effects in our small single-center cohort of ET patients with thalamic DBS.
We also propose possible pathophysiological explanations for the phenomenon and define a nomenclature of the associated features: early versus late DBS failure; tremor rebound versus habituation (to be preferred over tolerance).
This study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with tremor with thalamic DBS, acute short pulse stimulation reduces adverse effects, while directional steering does not provide a generalizable benefit regarding adverse effects.
To evaluate whether unilateral DBS targeting the caudal zona incerta (cZi) may be sufficient to alleviate voice tremor in patients with essential tremor, or whether bilateral stimulation is needed.
Whilst changes in the frequency of subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) have been proposed to improve control of tremor or axial motor features in Parkinson's disease (PD), little is known about the effects of frequency changes on upper limb motor function, particularly bradykinesia.
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy is cost-effective for tremor compared with DBS and stereotactic radiosurgery and more effective than both.
Bilateral subthalamic nucleus DBS holds the most promising results for patients with tremor, severe motor fluctuations and dyskinesias from L-dopa, with the best improvements seen in daily activities and quality of life.