Posttraumatic hemidystonia treated with unilateral globus pallidus interna stimulation: Long-term follow-up and radiologic features

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Hemidystonia is a unilateral clinical presentation of dystonia, and it is usually refractory to current methods of medical treatment. Recently, deep brain stimulation has given some hope of recovery to dystonic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 30-year-old right-handed man with no abnormal perinatal history or family history of movement disorders was admitted to our institution. The patient had suffered right-sided dystonia for more than three years after severe head trauma sustained four years prior.

RESULTS: We performed a stereotactic implantation of an electrode into the left globus pallidus internus (GPi) and he showed excellent response to pallidal stimulation during long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a unique case of secondary posttraumatic hemidystonia treated with contralateral GPi stimulation with an excellent outcome. Pallidal stimulation can be a good treatment option for posttraumatic hemidystonia in selected cases.