| Neurosurgery | | | | and intentional components also become apparent. |
| Thalamotomy | | | | Tremor is a presenting symptom in majority of PD |
| Thalamotomy is the precise destruction of a tiny | | | | patients. In eight out of ten patients it is well |
| area of the brain called the thalamus that controls | | | | controlled with drug therapy. Surgery is indicated only |
| some involuntary movements. Before surgery, | | | | in resistant cases. Thalamotomy is not effective in |
| detailed brain scans using a CT scan or MRI are done | | | | alleviating other symptoms, like rigidity, bradykinesia |
| to identify the precise location for treatment. | | | | and postural instability seen in PD patients. For the |
| The person is awake during the surgery, but the | | | | treatment of these symptoms we need to use other |
| scalp area where instruments are inserted is numbed | | | | surgical targets. When undertaking thalamotomy or |
| with a local anesthetic. The surgeon inserts a hollow | | | | thalamic stimulation, it is important to realize this and |
| probe through a small hole drilled in the skull to the | | | | educate the patient and physician about the need for |
| target location. An extremely cold substance, liquid | | | | continuous medical management of other Parkinsonian |
| nitrogen, is circulated inside the probe. The cold probe | | | | symptoms following surgery. |
| destroys the targeted brain tissue. The probe is then | | | | Risks |
| removed, and the wound is closed......... | | | | This type of brain surgery is less risky today than it |
| Surgery on one side of the brain affects the | | | | was in the past because technology allows the |
| opposite side of the body. If you have tremor in | | | | surgeon to identify with great precision the area of |
| your right hand, for instance, the left side of your | | | | the brain that will be treated. Serious, permanent |
| brain will be treated. The procedure can be repeated | | | | complications are uncommon. |
| on the other side of the brain if needed, but it | | | | Please log on to:Thalamotomy Surgery |
| greatly increases the risk of speech and cognitive | | | | Please log on to :Neurosurgery |
| problems after surgery. | | | | |
| Thalamotomy has very limited role in the present | | | | We Care Core Values |
| scenario for PD surgery. It is only useful in relieving | | | | "We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| Parkinsonian tremor. This tremor is typically described | | | | you as the centre. |
| as "Peel rolling" tremor. In advanced cases postural | | | | |