Sagittal Thalamotomy for Relief of Motor Disorders in Cases of Double Athetosis and Cerebral Palsy

By a sagittal thalamotomy, which produces one coagulation 2 mm behind the former in the base of the sagittal row of the ventral thalamic nuclei during a flat and divergent approach, athetotic disorders can be reduced in the long run and more completely than by interruptions of the pallido-thalamic system alone. In addition, the accompanying spastic hypertonicity of the legs with increased reflexes and postural disturbances is at first removed and stays improved in half of the cases in the long run; although the increased tendon reflexes and the spastic tone may return, if the legs have to carry the body weight. Sagittal thalamotomy has been especially effective against the combination of athetosis and spasticity in 31 cases; it is able to reduce the rate of recidives of athetotic disorders remarkably without apparent side effects.