[Thalamic pain syndrome. Clinico-radiologic correlations and treatment by intermittent stimulation of the sensory nuclei of the thalamus].

The thalamic pain syndrome is classically due to a softening of sensory thalamic nuclei. In a series of 10 patients treated between 1977 and 1984 by the intermittent stimulation of the nuclei ventroposterior thalami, the CT-Scan showed in 7 cases the thalamic lesions and in 3 cases a parietal one. The clinical manifestations of theses 2 groups can be individualised. The therapeutical results with long follow-up are moderate with 2 improvements of pain of more than 50%, 5 of less than 50% and 3 failures. The place of this technique is discussed.