Functional and Spinal Neurosurgery, Catholic University-Rome
Abstract
In experimental
cat models of spinothalamic tractotomy
a thalamic hyperactivity of low threshold mechanoreceptor neurons was observed
3 wks after tractotomy. Motor cortex stimulation
profoundly inhibited this abnormal firing, while sensory cortical stimulation
was ineffective.
On these basis Tsubokawa more than 10 years ago proposed motor cortex stimulation to relief deafferentation pain in humans. More recently this neuromodulation procedure has been utilized for the control of movement disorders particularly in advanced parkinsonism.
The results
reported in the literature are controversial. Personal experience (10
pain patients and 6 PD patients) is too preliminary to allow any conclusion on
both applications, but we believe that uniformity in surgical procedure and in
data collection is mandatory in order to collect meaningfull
informations on this matter.
Aim of this presentation is to discuss our protocols
of MCS.