Thalamotomy, surgery to the thalamus, was recommended in the past to control tremor.

It is rarely performed today, and few centers would consider thalamotomy for any patient unless tremor was the only troubling and uncontrolled symptom.

The surgeon destroys part of the thalamus. However, the procedure is complicated by numbness, balance problems, or speech problems in a significant number of cases.

Thalamotomy (thalsm = thalamus + tom = cut + y = procedure) was first introduced to the medical world in the 1950s as an invasive procedure for the control of temors such as those associated with Parkinson's disease. Working on the side of the thalamus opposite the side with the tremors, the positive effects are immediate.

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) is sometimes a perferred procedure since it is not as destructive.

Thalamotomy reduces hand and arm tremors by destroying small amounts of tissue in the thalamus.