Background: Deep brain stimulation is frequently used to reduce tremor in patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Essential Tremor, and trauma induced tremor. While deep brain stimulation has been shown to be effective in reducing tremor specific characteristics, carryover to gait and functional outcome measures have been less extensively studied. The purpose of this case report is to describe the gait and fall related outcomes for a patient with tremor after fourth ventricle and brainstem tumor resection following treatment with bilateral deep brain stimulation of the nucleus ventralis intermedius. Case Description: The patient is a 30-year-old male who, following resection and radiation of an ependymoma in the fourth ventricle with brainstem involvement, developed severe tremor with ataxia. At the time of the initial encounter, he had received continuous physical therapy over the past four years and his main concerns were axial and peripheral tremor as well as impaired gait. Intervention: Three years following completion of radiation the patient underwent bilateral ventral intermedius deep brain stimulation secondary to continued tremor and diminished gait quality. Outcome Measures: The patient was evaluated using a static balance test, self-selected walking speed, five time sit to stand, six-minute walk test, and the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia scale. Discussion: Difficulty was noted in controlling tremor related characteristics in this patient following tumor resection for three years. While deep brain stimulation improved subjective appendicular and axial tremor severity as well as ataxia, limited effectiveness was seen in measures of fall risk, gait speed, need for assistance, and ambulation in four months after deep brain stimulation placement which were primary goals of the patient.
Dissertation
The Effects of Bilateral Nucleus Ventralis Intermedius Deep Brain Stimulation for Tremor on Functional Outcome Measures: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Summer 2020
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Effects of Bilateral Nucleus Ventralis Intermedius Deep Brain Stimulation for Tremor on Functional Outcome Measures: A Case Report
- Creators
- Bailey Wetherell - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Laura Frey Law (Advisor)Michael Petrie (Advisor)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Summer 2020
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 9 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2020 Bailey Wetherell
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984201417702771
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