J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1978 Dec;7(2):357-362.

Thalamic Multiple Nuclei Stimulation or Nucleotomy for Relief of Intractable Pain

• Choi CR
• Park KY
• Han SJ
• Song JU

Abstract

Between Jan. and Aug. 1978, 14 of our standard combined stereotaxic thalamic bipolar stimulation and thalamotomies were carried out in 13 patients suffering from intractable pain, 8 were male and 5 were female ranging in the age from 31 to 67 years. Pain was caused by postoperative arachnoiditis in 4 cases. Three patients had central pain consequent to thalamic hemorrhage. Two patient, were suffered from neuralgia, and one patient had severe phantom pain. Three patient suffered from central pain due to malignancy. Our standard targets in thalamotomy for relief of intractable pain consisted of pulvinar, dorsomedial, centromedial, parafascicular and limitans nuclei. All cases had excellent or good results. One patients developed mental confusion after Lt. Thalamotomy but in a week return to normal state. We had no mortality. On the basis of our results we consider the use of our standard target to be most suitable for relieving intractable pain.

MeSH Terms

Arachnoid
Arachnoiditis
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Male
Mortality
Neuralgia
Pain, Intractable*
Phantom Limb
Pulvinar