Successful deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus in a patient with adult onset primary axial dystonia

Axial dystonia is a rare manifestation of adult onset primary segmental dystonia. Typically patients present with craniocervical dystonia spreading to the trunk but not to the extremities. Affected patients are disabled predominantly by flexion spasms of the trunk which are worsened on action especially during standing and walking. Response to drug therapy is often poor and local botulinum toxin injections are of limited value in these patients. Here we report a patient with axial dystonia who was successfully treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus bilaterally (GPi). This 39 ye…