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. 2013 Nov;28(13):1877-82.
doi: 10.1002/mds.25586. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

Subthalamus deep brain stimulation for primary dystonia patients: a long-term follow-up study

Chunyan Cao  1 , Yixin Pan, Dianyou Li, Shikun Zhan, Jing Zhang, Bomin Sun
Affiliations

Subthalamus deep brain stimulation for primary dystonia patients: a long-term follow-up study

Chunyan Cao et al. Mov Disord. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Deep brain stimulation has generated sustained improvement in motor function for patients with dystonia, but the long-term impact of subthalamic nucleus stimulation on dystonia has not been elucidated.

Methods: Patients with primary dystonia underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation and were evaluated with the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia rating scale and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey at baseline and 1 month, 1 year, and 3 to 10 years postoperatively.

Results: Improvements in motor function according to the Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia rating scale at 1 month, 1 year, and 3 to 10 years of stimulation were 55%, 77%, and 79%, respectively. The quality of life improved after 1 month of stimulation (P < 0.001), progressed within 1 year (P < 0.001), and then remained stable. Disease duration was negatively correlated with an improvement in motor function.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the subthalamus is an alternative to the globus pallidus internus as a target for deep brain stimulation to treat primary dystonia.

Keywords: Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia rating scale; Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey; deep brain stimulation; primary dystonia; subthalamic nucleus.

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