Abstract
<strong>Clinical Vignette:</strong> A 64-year-old female with essential tremor (ET) presents for evaluation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy. Examination revealed subtle dystonic features as well as a disabling postural-action tremor. <strong>Clinical Dilemma:</strong> Can dystonia occur in the setting of the diagnosis of ET and can its presence alter DBS target selection? <strong>Clinical Solution:</strong> Unilateral DBS implantation of the ventralis intermedius (Vim) led to improvement in both tremor and dystonic posturing. <strong>Gap in Knowledge:</strong> Case reports of DBS in dystonic tremor suggest Vim, globus pallidus internus (GPi), and subthalamic targets may all be effective, to varying degrees, in improving both tremor and dystonia. More rigorous studies are needed to identify the optimal target(s). <strong>Expert Commentary:</strong> This case underscores the limited evidence available to guide a clinician’s choice of DBS targets in patients with ET and dystonia. The severity of the dystonia and the presence of more generalized dystonia may alter the thinking about optimal targeting. Vim, GPi, and subthalamic targets appear potentially acceptable options, though Vim is usually the first target attempted when postural-action tremor is the chief complaint. Occasionally, a second rescue DBS lead may be necessary.
Highlights
Clinical Vignette: A 64-year-old female with essential tremor (ET) presents for evaluation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy
The lack of diagnostic consensus and the variability of diagnostic schema in the literature contribute to a second clinical dilemma: What evidence is available to guide the choice of DBS target selection when treating tremor with associated dystonic features?
Available evidence regarding DBS treatment for dystonic tremor (DT) has been limited to smaller retrospective reviews which often mix patients with variable forms of dystonia and tremor. These studies are naturally biased to include patients with more severe dystonia than our current case; they offer some of the only available insight into the variable effects of DBS target selection on the dystonic features associated with tremor (Table 1)
Summary
Clinical Vignette: A 64-year-old female with essential tremor (ET) presents for evaluation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy. A unilateral right Vim target was selected to address the more severe left-hand postural and action tremor, despite the presence of mild dystonic hand posturing.
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