Chemothalamolysis in the treatment of hemiballismus: simplified Knighton's technique

Abstract

Three cases are reported in which the author used Knighton's simplified technique to make lesions in the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus. This controlled involuntary movements of hemiballismus. One patient died of a myocardial infarction due to marked hypotension and an episode of postoperative bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.