Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Posttraumatic hyperkinésie volitionnelle was markedly improved by Vim thalamic deep brain stimulation

Yuhei Takado, M.D.1), Takayoshi Shimohata, M.D.1), Kenshi Terajima, M.D.1)2), Shugo Suwazono, M.D.2)3), Shigeki Kameyama, M.D.4), Keiko Tanaka, M.D.1) and Masatoyo Nishizawa, M.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University
2)Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University
3)Department of Neurology, Okinawa Hospital, National Hospital Organization
4)Department of Neurosurgery, Nishi-Niigata Chuo National Hospital

A 69-year-old man presented with hyperkinésie volitionnelle (HV) one year after a brain injury. We considered diffuse axonal injury (DAI) as the cause of HV in this patient. Neither three-dimensional anisotropy contrast magnetic resonance axonography (3DAC-MRX) nor movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) measurements revealed any abnormal findings. These suggest that the cerebellar efferent pathways were intact. Vim deep brain stimulation (DBS) markedly improved HV, which was resistant to clonazepam. This study demonstrated that traumatic brain injury can cause the tremor type of HV even when the cerebellar efferent pathways are intact, and that Vim DBS is an alternative treatment for HV that is unresponsive to drugs.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 46: 638|643, 2006)
key words: hyperkinésie volitionnelle, diffuse axonal injury, three-dimensional anisotropy contrast MR axonography, movement-related cortical potential, deep brain stimulation

(Received: 1-Mar-06)