ReviewMovement disorders clinical practice2026
Staged Bilateral Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Treating Essential Tremor: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Review in Movement disorders clinical practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUnilateral magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy reduces tremor in essential tremor, yet disability often persists on the untreated side. The added benefit and safety of a staged contralateral lesion remain uncertain.
objectiveThe aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of staged bilateral MRgFUS thalamotomy for essential tremor.
methodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from inception to April 12, 2026 (PROSPERO CRD420251027624). Eligible studies were staged bilateral MRgFUS with Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor outcomes and adverse events, and at least 3 months of follow up. Two reviewers extracted data per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The primary outcome was the standardized mean difference (SMD) in tremor severity from pre- to post-second procedure. Safety outcomes were pooled 3-month adverse event proportions using random effects. Risk of bias was assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions; certainty was graded with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.
resultsNine studies were included in the systematic review, of which seven cohorts (n = 149) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled SMD was -1.91 (95% confidence intervals, -2.19 to -1.63; I
conclusionsStaged bilateral MRgFUS yielded clinically meaningful tremor reduction with predominantly mild adverse events at 3 months. Given very low certainty, findings are hypothesis-generating and support-controlled studies with blinded assessment and longer follow-up.
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