Deep brain stimulation for Dejerine-Roussy syndrome: case report.

BACKGROUND

The term "central post-stroke pain" is more appropriate to describe neuropathic pain following a cerebrovascular accident. Most patients complain of burning and other symptoms like lacerating and shooting pain. Treatment options for central pain are limited in number and efficacy.

CASE REPORT

This paper reports on a 47-year-old man with central post-stroke pain refractory to treatment. The patient underwent insertion of a deep brain stimulator utilizing the Leksell frame. The target was the left centromedian thalamic nuclei. He had a qualitative symptomatic improvement.

CONCLUSION

Deep brain stimulation can be a useful tool when all other modalities have failed. It is a minimally invasive neurosurgical procedure that may improve the quality of life in carefully selected (often desperate) patients with central post-stroke pain.