A single thalamic target for deep brain stimulation to treat hemi-body pain syndrome.

Abstract

Patients experiencing hemi-body pain represent a difficult problem when using the thalamus as a DBS target given its anatomical topology. A 50-year-old HIV positive male underwent a right unilateral thalamic DBS to treat his severe left hemi-body central post-stroke pain following years of unsuccessful medication therapy. The final active contact of the electrode corresponded to stimulation of the nucleus ventrocaudalis parvocellularis internis, which has provided prolonged pain relief. To our knowledge this was the first time this pattern of pain was treated by a single thalamic DBS electrode, suggesting stimulation in this region may be a feasible target for achieving relief from chronic severe hemi-body pain.