Objective: To investigate the relationship between limb tremor and neuronal firing in thalamus (Vim) and retrospectively review the clinical effects and safety of the surgical treatment of essential tremor (ET).
Methods: Forty-two ET patients received microelectrode-guided thalamotomy and 11 cases were quantitatively evaluated with FAHN rating scales pre- and post-operatively.
Results: There were electrophysiological tremor-related neurons in ventrolateral part of thalamus. Lesioning of those neurons abolished contralateral limb tremor in all of the patients. No permanent contralateral weakness, dysarthria and hemorrhage were observed.
Conclusion: "Tremor cell" in thalamus plays a key role in the symptom of ET patients. Destruction of those cells may completely and permanently abolish tremor symptom.