[Novel possibilities for treatment of parkinsonian tremor and other abnormal movements by stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius thalami].

Chronic thalamic stereotactic stimulation has been performed in 22 patients with disabling tremor and poor response to drug therapy: 17 parkinsonian tremors and 5 essential tremors. Our first results are presented with a mean follow-up of 26 months. Parkinsonian tremors 17 = complete disappearance: 12, clear improvement: 5. Essential tremors 5 = complete disappearance: 3, clear improvement: 1, failure 1 cured by thalamotomy. Choreic or ballistic dyskinesias 7 = complete disappearance: 5, clear improvements: 2. Dystonic dyskinesias 3 = complete disappearance: 2, failure: 1. This new stereotactic procedure permits to control easily not only tremor but also L-Dopa induced dyskinesias: choreic or ballistic dyskinesias and biphasic dystonic dyskinesias. The place of this surgical treatment among the other therapeutic possibilities is discussed.