Bilateral gamma knife radiosurgery in severe essential tremor: a prospective trial.
BrainOct 5, 2026
Jean Régis, Valentin Mira, Serge Pinto et al.
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In 30 seconds
This phase II prospective trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of staged bilateral Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) of the ventral intermedius thalamic nucleus in 33 patients with severe essential tremor. The study found a significant mean improvement of 74.4% in upper limb tremor among responders, with only one adverse event reported, indicating a favorable safety profile.
Key findings
- Tremor severity score improved by 58.5% post-surgery.
- Disability score decreased by 84.8% after treatment.
- Quality of life significantly improved at 12 months.
- Only one adverse event was reported during the study.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that staged bilateral VIM-GKS may provide significant tremor relief and improve quality of life in patients with severe essential tremor, offering a potential treatment option for those unresponsive to medication.