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Surgery & tremor

Surgery and tremor

Surgical intervention in essential tremor has been used for over 50 years, and is used for those patients who have particularly severe/disabling tremor and do not respond to medication.

About 50% of severely affected essential tremor patients have medication-resistant symptoms or are intolerant to medication, so that brain surgery is an option. In order to alleviate tremor in a patient’s right arm, surgery is performed on the left side of the brain and vice versa for the left arm. 

Risks
  • The main risks of this type of surgery, when performed in a neurosurgical centre by a specialist functional neurosurgeon, are a 1/1000 risk of death
  • 3% risk of a bleed within the skull
  • 1% risk of a stroke.
Success of surgery
  • Long-term studies have shown that tremor control can be maintained for up to six years after deep brain stimulation.
  • The effects of deep brain stimulation on the patient’s thought processes, mood state and quality of life after up to 6 years are mainly positive.
More details about surgery
  • Upcoming event

    NTF Christmas Party
    12th Dec 2024 12:00pm
    Celebrate the start of the festive period with our fun event and advent calendar countdown to Christmas. Expect games, team quizzes and social chat with others with neurological tremor including those with essential tremor and orthostatic tremor.

    Why not put on a Christmas jumper, a Santa hat, or wear your sparkly outfit? 

    More info

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