Tag: Motor cortex stimulation

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Positioning of epidural electrode for motor cortex stimulation in general anesthesia based on intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring to treat refractory trigeminal neuropathic pain

Acta Neurochirurgica (2023) 165:3403–3407

Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) represents a treatment option for refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Usually, patients need to be awake during surgery to confirm a correct position of the epidural electrode above the motor cortex, reducing patient’s comfort.

Method Epidural cortical mapping (ECM) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were intraoperatively performed for correct localization of motor cortex under general anesthesia that provided comparable results to test stimulation after letting the patient to be awake during the operation.

Conclusion Intraoperative ECM and MEPs facilitate a confirmation of correct MCS-electrode position above the motor cortex allowing the MCS-procedure to be performed under general anesthesia.

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Invasive Motor Cortex Stimulation for Trigeminal Facial Neuropathic Pain Syndromes

clinical_significance_of_invasive_motor_cortex

Neurosurgery 79:655–666, 2016

Invasive neuromodulation of the cortical surface for various chronic pain syndromes has been performed for .20 years. The significance of motor cortex stimulation (MCS) in chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) syndromes remains unclear. Different techniques are performed worldwide in regard to operative procedure, stimulation parameters, test trials, and implanted materials.

OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical experiences of a single center with MCS, surgical approach, complications, and follow-up as a prospective, noncontrolled clinical trial.

METHODS: The implantation of epidural leads over the motor cortex was performed via a burr hole technique with neuronavigation and intraoperative neurostimulation. Special focus was placed on a standardized test trial with an external stimulation device and the implementation of a double-blinded or placebo test phase to identify falsepositive responders.

RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with TNP were operated on, and MCS was performed. In 26 of the 36 patients (72%), a significant pain reduction from a mean of 8.11 to 4.58 (on the visual analog scale) during the test trial was achieved (P , .05). Six patients were identified as false-positive responders (17%). At the last available follow-up of 26 patients (mean, 5.6 years), active MCS led to a significant pain reduction compared with the preoperative pain ratings (mean visual analog scale score, 5.01; P , .05).

CONCLUSION: MCS is an additional therapeutic option for patients with refractory chronic TNP, and significant long-term pain suppression can be achieved. Placebo or double-blinded testing is mandatory.

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Motor cortex stimulation and neuropathic pain: how does motor cortex stimulation affect pain-signaling pathways?

Motor cortex stimulation and neuropathic pain- how does motor cortex stimulation affect pain-signaling pathways?

J Neurosurg 124:866–876, 2016

Neuropathic pain is often severe. Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is used for alleviating neuropathic pain, but the mechanism of action is still unclear. This study aimed to understand the mechanism of action of MCS by investigating pain-signaling pathways, with the expectation that MCS would regulate both descending and ascending pathways.

Methods Neuropathic pain was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats. Surface electrodes for MCS were implanted in the rats. Tactile allodynia was measured by behavioral testing to determine the effect of MCS. For the pathway study, immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate changes in c-fos and serotonin expression; micro–positron emission tomography (mPET) scanning was performed to investigate changes of glucose uptake; and extracellular electrophysiological recordings were performed to demonstrate brain activity.

Results MCS was found to modulate c-fos and serotonin expression. In the mPET study, altered brain activity was observed in the striatum, thalamic area, and cerebellum. In the electrophysiological study, neuronal activity was increased by mechanical stimulation and suppressed by MCS. After elimination of artifacts, neuronal activity was demonstrated in the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) during electrical stimulation. This neuronal activity was effectively suppressed by MCS.

Conclusions This study demonstrated that MCS effectively attenuated neuropathic pain. MCS modulated ascending and descending pain pathways. It regulated neuropathic pain by affecting the striatum, periaqueductal gray, cerebellum, and thalamic area, which are thought to regulate the descending pathway. MCS also appeared to suppress activation of the VPL, which is part of the ascending pathway.

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Subdural motor cortex stimulation

Subdural motor cortex stimulation

Acta Neurochir (2014) 156:2289–2294

Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is considered to be an effective treatment in some types of chronic refractory neuropathic pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate and confirm the feasibility, efficacy and security of our surgical technique for subdural motor cortex stimulation (SDMCS) on 18 consecutive cases with follow-up of at least 3 years.

Methods Our population consists of 18 consecutive patients (12male) between 2000 and 2010,with a mean age of 63 years (11–91). The mean follow-up was 86 months (20–140 months). We identified the central sulcus by using classical anatomic landmarks and neuronavigation (BrainLab system; BrainLAB, Inc., Redwood City, CA). An elongated craniotomy (3 cm in length, 1 cm in width)was performed followed by linear opening of the dura mater. An eight-polar plate electrode (Specify Lead, 3998;Medtronic,Minneapolis,MN) was then slipped smoothly through this linear opening. In patients with interhemispheric electrodes (patients 2 and 17), we performed a parasagittal craniotomy of 4 cm length and 2 cm width.

Results At last follow-up assessment, 14 patients had a favourable outcome (77.7 %): 10 patients with excellent relief of pain (>80 %), 1 with good relief of pain (60–80 %) and 3 with satisfactory relief of pain (50–60 %). Four patients showed bad results (<50 %). We did not observe any late complications specific to SD MCS.

Conclusion We report an efficacy at least as good as ED MCS, with no complications specific to SD MCS, even with prolonged follow-up. The data are insufficient to actually prove a lower energy use in SD MCS.

Keywords Neuropathic pain , Neurostimulation , Motor cortex stimulation, Subdural

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