Biomedical subjects

A L Törnqvist

Publications and source records attributed to A L Törnqvist.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Deep-brain stimulation in the subthalamic nuclei improves balance performance in patients with Parkinson's disease, when tested without anti-parkinsonian medication.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bilateral deep-brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on balance performance in patients with severe Parkinson's disease (PD), when tested without anti-parkinsonian medication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients (median age 65 years, range 50-77) were included. Assessments were made after 10-12 h withdrawal of medication, before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Postoperative evaluations were performed with DBS on and off. Balance performance was evaluated with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Motor symptoms and postural stability (item 30) were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III). RESULTS: DBS in STN improved balance performance as well as postural stability and motor symptoms significantly (P </= 0.001). Seventy per cent of the patients improved their total score of the BBS with DBS on compared with DBS off. Thus, at 6 months their median improvement was 6 points (q1-q3, 4-11) and at 12 months 4 points (2.5-16). CONCLUSION: DBS in STN improves balance performance in patients with severe PD.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Neurosurgery for movement disorders.

Movement disorders have been treated neurosurgically since the 1930s. Current diagnoses for neurosurgical interventions are Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, multiple sclerosis, and some dystonic disorders such as idiopathic torsions dystonia. By using stereotactic image-guided techniques, targets can be chosen to treat different symptoms: the ventrointermediate nucleus of thalamus for tremor; the internal globus pallidus for dyskinesia, dystonia, rigidity, akinesia, and tremor; and the subthalamic nucleus for all cardinal symptoms in advanced Parkinson's disease, including drug-induced hyperkinesia (secondary to reduced drugs). The surgical approaches can be divided into three main groups: destructive (e.g., lesional surgery), reversible and adjustable (e.g., permanent electro-inhibition/stimulation), and reconstructive (e.g., fetal nerve cell transplantation). Reconstructive procedures, which are not discussed here, are still in the early developmental phase. All the methods have advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is important that the right target and technique be chosen for each patient.

Brain↗