Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract-Targeted Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Stroke Spasticity and…

StudyStereotactic and functional neurosurgery· Jul 2026

Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract-Targeted Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Stroke Spasticity and Dystonia: preliminary experience.

Paweł Sokal, Magdalena Jabłońska, Maciej Broda, Milena Świtońska

Stereotactic & FunctionalStudyTreatmentQ2IF 2.2

Dystonic features improved most with low-frequency deep brain stimulation after stroke

Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract-Targeted Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Stroke Spasticity and Dystonia: preliminary experience.

Paweł Sokal … Milena Świtońska

Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery · Jul 2026 · Q2 in Surgery

Background

Post-stroke motor impairment with spastic hemiparesis remains a significant therapeutic challenge, as conventional rehabilitation and pharmacological strategies often fail to achieve sustained functional recovery.

Methods

The study reports the first three cases of chronic post-ischemic stroke-related spastic hemiparesis and dystonic features treated with deep brain stimulation (deep brain stimulation) targeting the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract at the level of the dentate nucleus after unsuccessful botulinum toxin therapy and intensive rehabilitation.

Results

43.9%

dystonia eased most at low-frequency stimulation, the largest gain of any setting tested

More results

Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Limb scores progressively improved as stimulation frequency decreased, with mean improvements of 12.3% at 130 Hz, 14.7% at 70 Hz, and 18.4% at 30 Hz.

A partial decline was observed during the stimulation-off phase (12.2%).

More results

Functional performance (Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory) showed the greatest improvement at 30 Hz (11.9%) and decreased to 6.6% during the stimulation-off period.

Distal spasticity remained largely unchanged.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Preliminary findings suggest that dentato-rubro-thalamic tract-targeted cerebellar deep brain stimulation, particularly at lower frequencies, may offer a promising adjunctive treatment for post-stroke spasticity and motor impairment refractory to conventional therapies.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These initial observations from an ongoing clinical trial require confirmation in larger cohorts with extended follow-up.

Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract-Targeted Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Stroke Spasticity and Dystonia: preliminary experience.

Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract-Targeted Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Stroke Spasticity and Dystonia: preliminary experience.

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