Concurrent excitatory and inhibitory effects of high frequency stimulation: an oculomotor study.

OBJECTIVE To describe a reversible neurological condition resembling a crossed midbrain syndrome resulting from high frequency stimulation (HFS) in the midbrain. METHODS Postoperative evaluation of quadripolar electrodes implanted in the area of the subthalamic nucleus of 25 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) successfully treated by HFS. RESULTS Four of the 25 patients experienced reversible acute diplopia, with dystonic posture and tremor in the contralateral upper limb when the white matter between the red nucleus and the substantia nigra was stimulated. The motor signs resembled those caused by lesions of the red nucleus. The ipsilateral resting eye position was "in and down" (three patients) or "in" (one patient). Enophthalmos was seen. Abduction was impaired and vertical eye movements were limited, but adduction was spared. The movements of the controlateral eye were normal. The ocular signs could be best explained by sustained hyperactivity of the extrinsic oculomotor nerve. Simultaneous tonic contraction of the superior rectus, the inferior rectus, and inferior oblique may cause the enophthalmos and partial limitation of upward and downward eye movements. Antagonist tonic contraction of the ipsilateral medial rectus severely impairs abduction. CONCLUSION This crossed midbrain syndrome, possibly resulting from simultaneous activation of oculomotor nerve and lesion-like inhibition of the red nucleus suggests that high frequency stimulation has opposite effects on grey and white matter.