Essential Tremor

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Tremor Surgery

Surgery may be recommended when essential tremor is so severe that it causes disability. Thalamotomy is destruction of a portion of the area deep within the brain that receives sensory messages (thalamus). This procedure relieves essential tremor on one side of the body in approximately 75% of cases. Surgery on both sides of the thalamus rarely is performed because of the high risk for speech loss.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is another surgical option when severe essential tremor does not respond to medication. In this procedure, a hair-thin wire is implanted in the thalamus and connected to a device (called a neurostimulator) that is implanted under the collarbone. The neurostimulator sends electrical impulses along the wire to the thalamus to interrupt signals that cause tremor.

Patients can turn DBS on when needed and turn it off when tremors are infrequent (e.g., during sleep). Studies have shown that DBS reduces essential tremor and improves patients' ability to perform daily activities.

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