%0 Case Reports
%T Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Salvages Failed Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Essential Tremor: A Case Report.
%A Wang TR
%A Dallapiazza RF
%A Moosa S
%A Huss D
%A Shah BB
%A Elias WJ
%J Stereotact Funct Neurosurg
%V 96
%N 1
%D 2018
%M 29433124
%F 1.643
%R 10.1159/000486646
%X A recent randomized controlled trial investigating unilateral MRI-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) for essential tremor demonstrated efficacy. The long-term durability of this thalamotomy, however, is unknown. Furthermore, the feasibility of stimulating a previously lesioned target such as the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim) is poorly understood. We report a case of tremor recurrence, following an initially successful FUS thalamotomy, in which Vim-DBS was subsequently utilized to regain tremor control.<BR>An 81-year-old right-handed female with medically refractory essential tremor (a Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor [CRST] value of 73) underwent left-sided FUS thalamotomy with initial abolition of right-upper extremity tremor. By the 6-month follow-up, there was complete recurrence of tremor (a CRST value of 76). The patient subsequently underwent left-sided Vim-DBS.<BR>Vim-DBS provided clinical improvement with a CRST value of 42 at the 3-month follow-up; the patient continues to do clinically well at the 6-month follow-up. This result mirrors previous reported cases of stimulation following radiofrequency and gamma-knife lesioning. Our literature review highlights several reasons for the waning of clinical benefit seen with lesional procedures.<BR>This case demonstrates that thalamic DBS can salvage a failed FUS thalamotomy and also the feasibility of stimulating a previously lesioned target.