Thalamotomy for essential tremor . . . and other stories
BMJ 2024; 387 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2658 (Published 05 December 2024) Cite this as: BMJ 2024;387:q2658
Self-experimentation
Self-experimentation has a long history in medicine and physiology. In 1903, for example, the neurologist Henry Head had his radial nerve severed to investigate the tempo of recovery of sensation (https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/sir-henry-head). In the same tradition, virologist Beata Halassy recently injected herself with oncolytic viruses that she grew in her own laboratory. She was treating a recurrence of breast cancer at the site of a previous mastectomy. After two months the tumour had shrunk and could be surgically excised (Vaccines doi:10.3390/vaccines12090958).
Thalamotomy for essential tremor
Unilateral ultrasound ablation of ventralis intermedius nucleus of the thalamus is an effective treatment for disabling essential tremor. The problem of course is persisting contralateral …
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