Delineation of the thalamic nuclei with a microelectrode in stereotaxic surgery for parkinsonism and cerebralpalsy
✓ Extracellular thalamic recording with semi-microelectrode during 103 cases of stereotaxic surgery identified the upper and lower borders of the thalamus and the anterior limit of the sensory area. In adults the upper border of the thalamus was found 13 to 21 mm above the intercommissural line and the lower border within 1 mm above and below the intercommissural line. In children under 10 years with cerebral palsy, the upper border was comparable to that in adults while the lower border was about 1 mm below the intercommissural line. In adults the inferior border determined by the thalamocortical evoked potential was always about 2 to 3 mm above the intercommissural line. The anterior limit of the sensory nucleus, which seemed to be specifically related to the neurons activated by muscle compression and active or passive joint movement, was 3 to 4 mm behind the perpendicular line at the midpoint of the intercommissural line. The target point was determined by using these physiological findings combined with radiological control. This method has produced improved operative results in the treatment of parkinsonism.