Dual-target VIM-PSA deep brain stimulation using octopolar electrodes: surgical technique and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established surgical treatment for essential tremor (ET). Both the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) and the posterior subthalamic area (PSA) are effective tremor targets can be approached through a single trajectory. This technical feasibility report describes a single-trajectory dual-target VIM-PSA DBS surgical protocol using octopolar electrodes and evaluates stereotactic accuracy, anatomical contact distribution, and preliminary surgical safety.

METHODS

Eleven patients with medication-refractory ET underwent bilateral DBS implantation within the framework of an ongoing randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial comparing VIM-DBS and PSA-DBS. Preoperative planning was performed using Brainlab Elements, and postoperative reconstruction was performed using Guide™ XT after fusion of preoperative MRI with one-month postoperative CT. Clinical and electrical data (efficacy outcomes, stimulation thresholds, side-effect thresholds, active contact selection, energy consumption, habituation, patient-reported outcomes, and programming burden) were not assessed in this report.

RESULTS

A total of 22 octopolar DBS leads were implanted. Postoperative reconstruction confirmed anatomical contact distribution across the reconstructed VIM model and the PSA/cZI target region. Mean planned-to-implanted deviation across contacts was 1.28 mm for the left electrodes and 1.50 mm for the right electrodes. One patient developed transient symptomatic perielectrode edema; no intracerebral hemorrhage or any other major surgery-related adverse event was observed during early postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Single-trajectory dual-target VIM-PSA DBS using octopolar electrodes was successfully performed with acceptable stereotactic accuracy and without major surgery-related adverse events in this small cohort. The approach may increase anatomical coverage and postoperative programming options. Clinical data remain to be determined.