Radiofrequency ablation for DYT-28 dystonia: short term follow-up of three adult cases

Mutations in the lysine methyltransferase 2B (KMT2B) gene have recently been reported to be associated with childhood-onset generalized dystonia. There have been no studies investigating ablative treatments for the management of this disorder. Three patients underwent either a staged unilateral pallidotomy and contralateral pallidothalamic tractotomy (19-year-old man, 2-year follow-up), a unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy (34-year-old man, 6-month follow-up) or a simultaneous unilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy and ventro-oral thalamotomy (29-year-old man, 6-month follow-up). The average total patient score on the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale-Movement Scale improved from 39.5 to 13.2 (66.6%) after the procedures. No significant complications were identified. Ablative treatments appear to be a promising alternative surgical option for generalized dystonia with KMT2B mutation.