Chronic electrical stimulation for treatment of intention tremor and ataxia of multiple sclerosis

Twelve patients suffering from incapacitating intention tremor of multiple sclerosis were treated with the method of deep brain stimulation, first uni laterally for the dominant side. A quadripolar stimulation electrode was im planted into the ventrolateral complex of the contralateral thalamus and co nnected with on impulse generator (Medtronic) embedded in a subcutaneous in fraclavicular pocket. As well the action tremor as the intention tremor imp roved under stimulation, so that some patients were able to write legibly, eat soup with a spoon, at least catch an object and handle with it. Contrar ily to the ablative technique of thalamotomy damage to the brain is avoided . The risk of major permanent surgically induced deficit is less. The effic acy of the method and its inherent problems ore the subject of a prospectiv e study at our institution.