Turkish Neurosurgery
VIM Line Technique for Determining the Ventral Intermediate Location
Achmad Fahmi1, Heri Subianto2, Priya Nugraha3, Muhammad Hamdan3, Asra Al Fauzi2, Anggraini Dwi Sensusiati4, Budi Utomo5, Riyanarto Sarno6, Agus Turchan2, Mohammad Hasan Machfoed3, Takaomi Taira7, Abdul Hafid Bajamal2
1Universitas Airlangga, Post Graduate Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya,
2Universitas Airlangga, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya,
3Universitas Airlangga, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya,
4Universitas Airlangga, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya,
5Universitas Airlangga, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Surabaya,
6Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November, Department of Informatics, Surabaya,
7Tokyo Women’s Medical University Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.31961-20.2

Aim:To prove that the VIM line technique using a mathematical model can be used to determine the location of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM).Material and Methods:Eleven patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were assessed. To determine the VIM location, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging and stereotactic protocol 128-slice computed tomography were used. The VIM line technique was performed by drawing a line from the end-point of the right external globus pallidus to that of the left external globus pallidus in the intercommissural plane. PD severity was measured using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).Results:A mathematical model was constructed to describe the VIM line technique for determining the VIM location. UPDRS scores before and after thalamotomy showed a significant decreasing trend (P = .003).Conclusion:The VIM line technique using the mathematical model can be considered a referential method to determine the VIM location. Its effectiveness was demonstrated by decreased UPDRS scores in patients after VIM thalamotomy.

Corresponding author : Achmad Fahmi