Effects of unilateral and bilateral invasion of thalamic pulvinar for pain relief.

Thalamic pulvinotomy has been performed on 32 patients in severe chronic pain and a follow-up study was made. Among 10 patients with whom unilateral invasion was made, 4 were "excellent" in relieving pain, 2 "good", 2 "fair" and 2 "poor". Among 22 cases of bilateral invasion 17 were "excellent", 2 were "good", and 3 were "poor". Thus, in the cases of bilateral invasion effects of the operation were more prominent than in the cases of unilateral invasion. Further, transient psychic symptoms following the operation has been analysed in relation to position of pulvinar destruction and to underlying diseases.