Anterior Capsulotomy for Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Tractography and Lesion Geometry study.

INTRODUCTION: A bilateral anterior capsulotomy effectively treats refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated the geometry of lesions and disruption of white matter pathways within the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) in patients with different outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 18 patients with refractory OCD who underwent capsulotomies. Patients were grouped into "responders" and "nonresponders" based on the percentage of decrease in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) after surgery. We investigated neurobehavioral adverse effects and analyzed the overlap between lesions and the ventromedial prefrontal (vmPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal (dlPFC) pathways. Probabilistic maps were constructed to investigate the relationship between lesion location and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients who underwent capsulotomies, 12 were responders (>35% improvement in YBOCS), and six were nonresponders. The vmPFC pathway was more involved than the dlPFC pathway in responders (p = 0.01), but no significant difference was observed in nonresponders (p = 0.10). The probabilistic voxel-wise efficacy map showed a relationship between ventral voxels within the ALIC with symptom improvement. Weight gains occurred in 11/18 (61%) patients and could be associated with medial voxels within the ALIC. CONCLUSION: The optimal outcome after capsulotomy in refractory OCD is linked to vmPFC disruption in the ALIC. Medial voxels within the ALIC could be associated with weight gains following capsulotomy.

Rescue Anterior Capsulotomy after Failure of Nucleus Accumbens Deep Brain Stimulation in Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly disabling mental disorder with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Few psychological treatments and pharmacotherapy are proven to be effective for adult AN. Two invasive stereotactic neurosurgical interventions, deep brain stimulation (DBS) and anterior capsulotomy, are now commonly used as investigational approaches for the treatment of AN. Here, we report the long-term safety and efficacy of rescue bilateral anterior capsulotomy after the failure of bilateral nucleus accumbens (NAcc)-DBS in an 18-year-old female patient with life-threatening and treatment-resistant restricting subtype AN. Improvements in the neuropsychiatric assessment were not documented 6 months after the NAcc-DBS. Rescue bilateral anterior capsulotomy was proposed and performed, resulting in a long-lasting restoration of body weight and a significant and sustained remission in AN core symptoms. The DBS pulse generator was exhausted 2 years after capsulotomy and removed 3 years postoperatively. No relapse was reported at the last follow-up (7 years after the first intervention). From this case, we suggest that capsulotomy could be a rescue treatment for patients with treatment-resistant AN after NAcc-DBS failure. Further well-controlled studies are warranted to validate our findings.

Sustained Relief after Pallidal Stimulation Interruption in Tourette's Syndrome Treated with Simultaneous Capsulotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) combined with anterior capsulotomy offers a promising treatment option for severe medication-refractory cases of Tourette's syndrome (TS) with psychiatric comorbidities. Several patients treated with this combined surgery experienced sustained relief after discontinuation of stimulation over the course of treatment. METHODS: Retrospectively, the medical records and clinical outcomes were reviewed of 8 patients (6 men; 2 women with mean age of 20.3 years) who had undergone bilateral GPi-DBS combined with anterior capsulotomy for medically intractable TS and psychiatric comorbidities. All patients had experienced an accidental interruption or intentional withdrawal of pallidal stimulation during treatment. RESULTS: The widespread clinical benefits achieved during the combined treatment were fully maintained after intentional or accidental DBS discontinuation. The improvement in overall tic symptoms achieved was on average 78% at the follow-up or close to the DBS discontinuation, while it was 83% at last follow-up (LFU). At LFU, most patients had functionally recovered; exhibited only mild tics; displayed minor or no obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, anxiety, or depression; and experienced a much better quality of life. CONCLUSION: Bilateral GPi-DBS combined with anterior capsulotomy appears to result in marked and sustained improvements in TS symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities, which are fully maintained over time, even without pallidal stimulation.

Neuropsychological outcome in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with anterior capsulotomy including repeated surgery.

AIM: Anterior capsulotomy (AC) is one of the last therapeutic options for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) refractory to conservative treatments. Several forms of cognitive dysfunction have been identified after assessment of neuropsychological outcomes in OCD patients; however, few studies focused on cognitive changes in OCD patients after surgery. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of AC on cognitive performance and mood status in patients with refractory OCD. METHODS: A total of 12 patients underwent bilateral AC between 2012 and 2019 at our institution. The patients (n = 12, female : male 5:7; mean age 39.7 years; duration ≥5 years) were assessed before and 6 months after intervention. The diagnosis of treatment-refractory OCD was based on recommended criteria for surgical treatment. Patients were assessed using a neuropsychological battery and questionnaires focused on anxiety-depressive symptomatology. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale was administered as a measure of severity of OCD symptoms. RESULTS: We detected a significant decrease of OCD, and anxiety and depressive symptomatology assessed by Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory (P < 0.05) 6 months after AC in eight patients, and a partial decrease in four patients. Four patients underwent repeated AC with more pronounced improvement achieved after the first procedure. We did not detect decline in cognitive performance in any patients, but did find better visual memory performance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AC reduced OCD and anxiety-depressive symptoms, and did not appear to influence cognitive performance, even after repeated surgery.

Deep Brain Stimulation of Nucleus Accumbens with Anterior Capsulotomy for Drug Addiction: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Drug addiction is one of the most prevalent and costly health problems worldwide. Over the past decade, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has increasingly been used for the treatment of drug addiction. Simultaneous DBS of nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) has successfully been used for preventing heroin relapse. However, the excessive energy consumption speeds up battery depletion, which puts a burden on patients. By comparison, anterior capsulotomy is usually more convenient for patients and its clinical efficacy is similar to that of ALIC DBS. Accordingly, NAc DBS combined with anterior capsulotomy may also be an effective, yet more convenient, intervention for drug addiction and relapse prevention. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 28-year-old man with a polysubstance use disorder (bucinnazine, morphine, and hypnotics) for 13 years. After bilateral NAc DBS combined with bilateral anterior capsulotomy, his craving for the three drugs decreased markedly, and he remained abstinent throughout the follow-up period of approximately 1-year. Moreover, psychiatric and neuropsychological assessments showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, sleep, quality of life, and most aspects of cognitive functioning. His overall health status was also improved. CONCLUSIONS: NAc DBS combined with anterior capsulotomy is a promising surgical treatment for drug addiction.

Psychosurgery in the History of Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery.

The paper invites to reappraise the role of psychosurgery for and within the development of functional stereotactic neurosurgery. It highlights the significant and long-lived role of stereotactic neurosurgery in the treatment of severe and chronic mental disorders. Stereotactic neurosurgery developed out of psychosurgery. It was leucotomy for psychiatric disorders and chronic pain that paved the way for stereotactic dorsomedial thalamotomy in these indications and subsequently for stereotactic surgery in epilepsy and movement disorders. Through the 1960s stereotactic psychosurgery continued to progress in silence. Due to the increased applications of stereotactic surgery in psychiatric indications, psychosurgery's renaissance was proclaimed in the early 1970s. At the same time, however, a public fearing mind control started to discredit all functional neurosurgery for mental disorders, including stereotactic procedures. In writing its own history, stereotactic neurosurgery's identity as a neuropsychiatric discipline became subsequently increasingly redefined as principally a sort of "surgical neurology," cut off from its psychiatric origin.

Hyperopic shift caused by capsule contraction syndrome after microincision foldable intraocular Lens implantation: case series.

BACKGROUND: Increasing interest in microincision cataract surgery has led to the use of more flexible intraocular lens (IOL). Flexible IOL may cause more IOL deformation and refractive error when capsule contraction syndrome (CCS) occurred. In this retrospective observational case series study, the aim was to report four cases of hyperopic shift caused by CCS after phacoemulsification with microincision foldable intraocular lens implantation. CASE PRESENTATION: All of four patients underwent phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implantation of an Akreos MI60 (Bausch and Lomb) IOL from 2010 to 2016 in our clinic. These patients had been diagnosed with CCS and had undergone Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy. The mean age of the patients with CCS was 66.8 ± 6.7 years and the mean time for development of CCS after the cataract surgery was 9.3 ± 6.9 months. The mean spherical equivalent (SE) value at the time of the CCS diagnosis was 0.88 ± 0.91 D, which had shown a hyperopic shift compared to the SE value of - 0.91 ± 1.29 D after cataract surgery. The mean SE decreased by - 0.47 ± 1.14 D after Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy. The mean age, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and preoperative SE were not significantly different between the patient with CCS and the patients without CCS. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of IOL implantation with flexible materials in microincision cataract surgery, CCS can cause a hyperopic shift. Refractive error caused by CCS can be effectively corrected by Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy.

The Suitability of Different Subtypes and Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for Treatment with Anterior Capsulotomy: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVE: Anterior capsulotomy (AC) is sometimes used as a life-saving treatment for patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (Tr-OCD). Most of the previous studies have assessed only total symptoms and have concluded that AC is a safe and effective procedure. Few of these studies have focused on meticulously investigating the variety of results obtained from patients with different subtypes of OCD. This study reviewed the long-term effects of AC on patients with OCD and analyzed the dissimilarity between particular subtypes of the disease in order to determine which groups are more suited to surgical treatment. METHODS: For this retrospective evaluation, we selected 54 consecutive patients from a total of 63 people with Tr-OCD between 2005 and 2014 who had undergone AC by thermocoagulation at our department. Preoperative and follow-up assessments were conducted at multiple time points (before surgery and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months after surgery). The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to quantify the symptoms of OCD. According to different elements (clinical manifestation, comorbidity, and whether a patient was more compulsive or more obsessive), we classified patients into various subtypes and analyzed the variation in symptom improvement and adverse effects. RESULTS: The mean Y-BOCS, HAMD, and HAMA scores were, respectively, 27.03, 23.30, and 21.46 preoperatively and 8.50, 7.07, and 7.42, respectively, at 36 months after surgery. Most patients (n = 43, 79.6%) were shown to have been at least partially responsive to surgical treatment at their long-term follow-up. Six patients demonstrated no obvious improvement (Y-BOCS score decreased by <35%), and 5 patients developed recurrences of their conditions. The following subtypes demonstrated better results: contamination/cleaning; obsessions/checking; compulsive behavior dominant; pure OCD; and OCD with Tourette's -syndrome. The subtypes of aggressive/sexual, obsessive thought dominant, compulsive behavior with obsessive thoughts, OCD comorbidity with bipolar disorder, OCD comorbid with severe depression, and OCD comorbid with psychiatric symptoms showed good outcomes. However, surgery was ineffective for patients with the subtypes of symmetry/ordering, hoarding, pure obsessive thoughts, and OCD with obsessive slowness. CONCLUSIONS: AC is effective in reducing symptoms of OCD. By comparing differently classified follow-up results, we found that patients with most subtypes/dimensions of OCD showed good outcomes. How-ever, patients categorized into the OCD subtypes of pure -obsessive thoughts, symmetry/ordering, hoarding, OCD with obsessive slowness, and OCD comorbid with psychiatric symptoms should take into account these results before undergoing AC.

Circular YAG laser anterior capsulotomy for anterior capsule contraction syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate circular neodymium: YAG laser incision in cases of anterior capsular contraction syndrome (ACCS) by comparing it to radial Neodymium: YAG laser incision as for efficacy and safety. SETTINGS: Ophthalmology Department, Benha University Hospitals. METHODS: The study was done on 74 eyes of 66 patients with symptomatic ACCS. Eyes were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. Group I were treated by circular YAG laser anterior capsulotomy. Group II were treated by radial YAG laser anterior capsulotomy. All cases passed a full ophthalmic examination before laser capsulotomy, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after laser. RESULTS: BCVA at the 1st week and the 1st month after the capsulotomy did not show any significant difference between the two groups; however at the 3rd and 6th months, the circular group showed better visual acuity than the radial group (p 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). All post-YAG UCVA and BCVA were significantly higher than pre-YAG UCVA and BCVA in both groups. IOL decentration occurred in two cases in radial group. Circular group had significantly higher percentage of contraction relief (94.4%) than the radial group (66.7%) with p value 0.003. CONCLUSION: Circular Nd:YAG anterior capsulotomy is more effective and safe than radial capsulotomy in 1-year follow-up.

[Biomechanical properties of the anterior lens capsule after manual and femtolaser capsulotomy]. / Biomekhanicheskie pokazateli perednei kapsuly khrustalika posle manual'noi i femtolazernoi kapsulotomii.

PURPOSE: To comparatively evaluate the mechanical stability of the edge of central fragment of anterior lens capsule after manual and femtolaser capsulotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mechanical tests were performed on the central fragments of the anterior lens capsules obtained intraoperatively after manual and femtolaser capsulotomy (15 and 13 samples, respectively). The conditions of the developed method of mechanical testing are as close to in vivo as possible. The method allows evaluation of the mechanical response mainly from the edge of the sample, reception of the averaged response from the four edges of the capsule, and almost eliminates the effect of additional edge notches in samples obtained by manual capsulotomy. RESULTS: After manual capsulotomy, the maximum force and elongation of the anterior capsule sample at maximum tensile strength were significantly higher than similar characteristics of the samples after femtolaser capsulotomy. CONCLUSION: The obtained results correspond with the morphological studies of capsule edge structure after manual and femtolaser capsulotomy. The edge of the anterior capsule after femtolaser capsulotomy has form, in rough approximation, close to one of a postage stamp perforation, which is the consequence of micro-irregularities (microfractures) in the areas irradiated by pulsed laser, and wider area of deepithelization compared to the manual technique.

Clinical improvements following bilateral anterior capsulotomy in treatment-resistant depression.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a programme of lesion surgery carried out on patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). METHOD: This was a retrospective study looking at clinical and psychometric data from 45 patients with TRD who had undergone bilateral stereotactic anterior capsulotomy surgery over a period of 15 years, with the approval of the Mental Health Act Commission (37 with unipolar depression and eight with bipolar disorder). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after surgery was used as the primary outcome measure. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was administered and cognitive aspects of executive and memory functions were also examined. We carried out a paired-samples t test on the outcome measures to determine any statistically significant change in the group as a consequence of surgery. RESULTS: Patients improved on the clinical measure of depression after surgery by -21.20 points on the BDI with a 52% change. There were no significant cognitive changes post-surgery. Six patients were followed up in 2013 by phone interview and reported a generally positive experience. No major surgical complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: With the limitations of an uncontrolled, observational study, our data suggest that capsulotomy can be an effective treatment for otherwise TRD. Performance on neuropsychological tests did not deteriorate.

[Morphological and clinical aspects of anterior capsulotomy in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery]. / Morfologicheskie i klinicheskie aspekty perednei kapsulotomii v fakokhirurgii c primeneniem femtosekundnogo lazera.

The review covers morphological and clinical aspects of femtosecond laser-assisted anterior capsulotomy in cataract surgery. Literature data suggests that femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy is more accurate in size, shape, and centration than manual. Femtosecond laser-assisted anterior capsulotomy improves the accuracy of IOL positioning within the capsular bag.

Benefits of stereotactic radiosurgical anterior capsulotomy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Anterior capsulotomy (AC) is a therapeutic option for patients with severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The procedure can be performed via multiple techniques, with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) gaining popularity because of its minimally invasive nature. The risk-benefit profile of AC performed specifically with SRS has not been well characterized. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to characterize outcomes following stereotactic radiosurgical AC in OCD patients. METHODS: Studies assessing mean Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores before and after stereotactic radiosurgical AC for OCD were included in this analysis. Inverse-variance fixed-effect modeling was used for pooling, and random-effects estimate of the ratio of means and standard mean differences were calculated at 6 months, 12 months, and the last follow-up for Y-BOCS scores, as well as the last follow-up for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)/BDI-II scores. A generalized linear mixed model was used to generate fixed- and random-effects models for categorical outcomes. Univariate random-effects meta-regression was used to evaluate associations between postoperative Y-BOCS scores and study covariates. Adverse events were summed across studies. Publication bias was assessed with Begg's test. RESULTS: Eleven studies with 180 patients were eligible for inclusion. The mean Y-BOCS score decreased from 33.28 to 17.45 at the last-follow up (p < 0.001). Sixty percent of patients were classified as responders and 10% as partial responders, 18% experienced remission, and 4% had worsened Y-BOCS scores. The degree of improvement in the Y-BOCS score correlated with time since surgery (p = 0.046). In the random-effects model, the mean BDI at the last follow-up was not significantly different from that preoperatively. However, in an analysis performed with available paired pre- and postoperative BDI/BDI-II scores, there was significant improvement in the BDI/BDI-II scores postoperatively. Adverse events numbered 235, with headaches, weight change, mood changes, worsened depression/anxiety, and apathy occurring most commonly. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgical AC is an effective technique for treating OCD. Its efficacy is similar to that of AC performed via other lesioning techniques.

Anterior capsulotomy combined with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for tardive dystonia.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been reported as a therapy option for the motor dysfunction of severe tardive dystonia (TD). The major psychiatric diseases, however, are contraindications to DBS treatment in TD patients. METHODS: Six severe, medically refractory TD patients undergoing bilateral anterior capsulotomy combined with bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS treatment were studied retrospectively at two time points: pre-operation, and 1-3 years post-operation. Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) was used to assess the dystonia and disability. Depressive, anxiety, psychiatric symptoms, and Quality of Life (QoL) were evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-14), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. RESULTS: After receiving the combination treatment for 25 ± 11.6 months (range, 12-41 months), significant clinical symptom improvements were reported in TD patients. BFMDRS motor and disability scores were ameliorated by 78.5 ± 32.0% (p = 0.031) and 76.5 ± 38.6% (p = 0.031), respectively. The HAMD-17 and HAMA-14 scores were reduced by 60.3 ± 27.9% (p = 0.007) and 60.0 ± 24.6% (p = 0.009), respectively. Furthermore, the PANSS scores of the comorbidity schizophrenia TD patients decreased by 58.1 ± 6.0% (p = 0.022), and the QoL improved by 59.7 ± 14.1% (SF-36, p = 0.0001). During the research, there were no notable adverse effects or problems. CONCLUSION: Bilateral anterior capsulotomy combined with bilateral STN-DBS may be an effective and relatively safe treatment option for severe TD comorbid with major psychiatric disorders.

Ventral targeted anterior capsulotomy for treatment-resistant depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A treatment method with cases.

BACKGROUND: Ablative surgery using bilateral anterior capsulotomy (BAC) is an option for treatment resistant depression (TRD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (TROCD). The location and extent of the lesion within anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) remains uncertain. Accumulating evidence has suggested that the lesion should be located ventrally while limiting the dorsal extent. Our center is now targeting specific fiber tracts within the lower half of the ALIC. METHOD: Presurgical diffusion tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to identify individual fibre tracts within the ventral aspect of the ALIC in the last two patients who underwent BAC at our center. One patient had TRD and the other had both TROCD and TRD. Radiofrequency-induced thermal lesions were created in the identified targets with lesion volumes between 20 and 229 mm3 (average 95 mm3). FINDINGS: Both patients were responders with neither experiencing significant side effects including compromised executive functions. LIMITATIONS: The generalizability of our findings is limited because the outcome is based on two subjects. CONCLUSION: This work suggests that BAC can be individually tailored and more limited to the ventral aspect of the ALIC and is effective and safe for TRD and TROCD. Accumulating data also suggests that to be clinically effective the length of the capsulotomy should be about 10mm. BAC's use may increase with the growing utilization and mastery of magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound.

Exploring anterion capsular contraction syndrome in cataract surgery: insights into pathogenesis, clinical course, influencing factors, and intervention approaches.

Anterior capsular contraction syndrome (ACCS) is a challenging complication that can occur following phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Characterized by capsular bag wrinkling, intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt, ACCS can have negative effects on visual outcomes and patient satisfaction. This review aims to investigate the pathogenesis, clinical course, influencing factors, and intervention approaches for ACCS after cataract surgery. By understanding the underlying mechanisms and identifying factors that contribute to ACCS, surgeons can enhance their ability to predict and manage this complication. Various intervention strategies are discussed, highlighting their importance in reducing complications and improving surgical outcomes. However, further research is needed to determine optimal prevention and management strategies through long-term follow-up and comparative analyses. Advancements in this field will ultimately lead to improved visual outcomes and optimized cataract surgery for patients.

Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment-Refractory Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) generates a large proportion of global disease burden. Stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRA) may be beneficial for selected patients with its most debilitating and refractory forms, but effect size is uncertain. (2) Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis on SRA for MDD was carried out. Patient-level data were extracted from articles reporting validated depression measures (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)), pre- and at least six months post surgery. To accommodate different outcome measures, the standardised mean difference (SMD) between both scores was used as the principal effect size. Data were synthesised using a random-effects model. (3) Results: Five distinct studies were identified, comprising 116 patients (64 included in meta-analysis). Effect size comparing post- vs. pre-operative scores was 1.66 (CI 1.25-2.07). Anterior cingulotomy (two studies, n = 22) and anterior capsulotomy (three studies, n = 42) showed similar effect sizes: 1.51 (CI 0.82-2.20) vs. 1.74 (CI 1.23-2.26). Multiple procedures were performed in 30 of 116 (25.9%) patients. Based on patient-level data, 53% (n = 47) were responders (≥50% improvement), of which 34% reached remission (MADRS ≤ 10 or BDI ≤ 11). BDI mean improvement was 16.7 (44.0%) after a second procedure (n = 19). (4) Conclusions: The results are supportive of the benefit of SRA in selected patients with refractory MDD.

Radiofrequency Lesioning for Movement and Psychiatric Disorders-Experience of 107 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency lesioning (RFL) though used since the 1950s, had been replaced by DBS in the 1990s. The availability of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for lesioning has renewed the interest in RFL. OBJECTIVE: This paper analysis RFL in contemporary Functional Neurosurgery for various indications and its outcome. Complication rates of RFL are compared with the same author's experience of DBS. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients underwent RFL between 1998 and 2019. Indications included Parkinson's Disease (PD), tremors, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). The surgeries performed include thalamotomy (29), pallidotomy (49), subthalamotomy (23), and anterior capsulotomy/nucleus accumbens lesioning (6). Appropriate rating scales were used for preoperative and postoperative evaluations. RESULTS: There was a 25% recurrence rate of tremors for PD after thalamotomy. Writer's cramp rating scale improved from a mean of 10.54-1.6 in task specific dystonia (TSD) patients, after thalamotomy. In PD patients, after pallidotomy, contralateral motor Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and dyskinesia scores, improved by 41 and 57%, respectively, at 1-year. Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale in hemidystonia patients improved from 18.04 to 6.91, at 1-year. There was 32 and 31% improvement in total and motor UPDRS, respectively, in the subthalamotomy patients, at 2-year. All patients of OCD were in remission. There were three deaths in the pallidotomy group. Postoperative, dysarthria, confusion, hemiparesis, dyskinesia, and paraesthesia occurred in 12 patients, of which, 7 were transient. CONCLUSION: RFL is a useful option in a select group of patients with tremors and dystonia. It is our preferred treatment option for TSD and OCD.

Bilateral Anterior Capsulotomy for the Treatment of Refractory Somatic Symptom Disorder: A Case Report.

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a form of mental illness that causes one or more distressing somatic symptoms leading to a significant disruption to everyday life, characterized by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to these symptoms. While SSD is characterized by significant discomfort in some parts of the body, these symptoms are not related to any known medical condition and therefore it cannot be diagnosed using any medical instrument examination. Currently available treatments for SSD, including drug therapy and psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy), usually improve psychiatric symptoms, but the results are often disappointing. Furthermore, SSD is often comorbid with anxiety and depression (75.1 and 65.7%, respectively). Importantly, interventions targeting the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC; e.g., deep brain stimulation and thermal ablation) can effectively treat various mental disorders, such as refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and eating disorders, suggesting that it may also be effective for treating the depressive symptoms associated with SSD comorbidity. In this report, a 65-year-old woman diagnosed with SSD accompanied with depression and anxiety underwent bilateral anterior capsulotomy. The patient complained of nausea and vomiting, swelling of the hilum of the liver for 14 years, weakness of the limbs for 13 years, and burning pain in the esophagus for 1 year. Psychiatric and neuropsychological assessments were conducted to record the severity of the patients' symptoms and the progression of postoperative symptoms. The patient's somatization, depression, and anxiety symptoms as well as quality of life improved significantly and steadily; thus, anti-depressive and anti-anxiety medication were stopped. However, the patient developed new somatization symptoms, including dizziness, headache, and sternal pain, 10 months after the operation. Therefore, the patient resumed taking flupentixol and melitracen in order to control the new symptoms. This study shows that bilateral anterior capsulotomy appears to be a complementary treatment for refractory SSD with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, postoperative use of anxiolytic and antidepressant medications may be useful for controlling future somatization symptoms.

Treatment Outcomes of Gamma-Knife Radio Surgery in Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disease that has negative effects on functionality, and 10% of the patients do not respond to first-line treatments. Gamma-knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been used in patients with treatment-resistant OCD, but the data on long-term outcomes are still unsatisfactory. Methods: In this study, 12 patients who underwent GKRS between 2005 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Anterior capsulotomy was performed using two 4-mm isocenters at the midputaminal point of the anterior limb of the internal capsule on each side with a maximum radiation dose of 140-180 Gy. Patients were followed up with the Yale-Brown Obsession and Compulsion Scale (Y-BOCS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) on the first, third, and sixth months. Results: After the procedure, a 35% reduction was observed in the overall Y-BOCS scores, and full response rate was 50%. There was a 49.5% decrease in the MADRS scores and a 57.8% decrease in the BPRS. Conclusion: GKRS is an effective and non-invasive procedure with favorable side effects in treatment-resistant OCD with selected patients.