Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory Atypical Tremor after Encephalitis of Unknown Etiology: A Case Report

Tremor associated with encephalitis is usually transient and rarely becomes chronic and refractory. Treatment for such tremor using deep brain stimulation (DBS) has not yet been reported. We report an uncommon case of chronic tremor after encephalitis of unknown etiology and its outcome treated with thalamic DBS. A 47-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of medically refractory tremor after non-infectious and probable autoimmune encephalitis. The patient showed an atypical mixture of resting, postural, kinetic, and intention tremor. The tremor significantly disabled the patient’s activities of daily life (ADL). The patient underwent bilateral thalamic DBS surgery. DBS leads were placed to cross the border between the ventralis oralis posterior (Vop) nucleus and ventralis intermedius (Vim) nucleus of the thalamus. Stimulation of both the Vop and Vim using the bipolar contacts controlled the mixed occurrence of tremor. The ADL and performance scores on The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale (TETRAS) improved from 47 to 0 and from 44 to 9, respectively. The therapeutic effects have lasted for 24 months. Administration of combined Vop and Vim DBS may control uncommon tremor of atypical etiology and phenomenology.