Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Dejerine-Roussy Syndrome

Abstract

Background/Aims: Patients who suffer from Dejerine-Roussy syndrome commonly experience severe poststroke hemibody pain which has historically been attributed to thalamic lesions. Despite pharmacological treatment, a significant proportion of the population is resistant to traditional therapy. Deep brain stimulation is often appropriate for the treatment of resistant populations. In this review we aim to summarize the targets that are used to treat Dejerine-Roussy syndrome and provide insight into their clinical efficacy. Methods: In reviewing the literature, we defined stimulation success as achievement of a minimum of 50% pain relief. Results: Contemporary targets for deep brain stimulation are the ventral posterior medial/ventral posterior lateral thalamic nuclei, periaqueductal/periventricular gray matter, the ventral striatum/anterior limb of the internal capsule, left centromedian thalamic nuclei, the nucleus ventrocaudalis parvocellularis internis, and the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Conclusions: Due to technological advancements in deep brain stimulation, its therapeutic effects must be reevaluated. Despite a lack of controlled evidence, deep brain stimulation has been effectively used as a therapeutic in clinical pain management. Further clinical investigation is needed to definitively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of deep brain stimulation in treating the drug-resistant patient population.