New technique for deep brain stimulation surgery proves accurate and safe

This article is a little bit old, but I hadn't heard of the DBS evolution before so I offer it up, here. For anyone considering DBS, I'm getting the sense it is worthwhile doing some research about who has done it most successfully, with fewest complications, and best post-installation programming of the control unit.

 As an aside I should relay that I had a conversation with a fellow who was in his 70s and who had serious tremors from Parkinson's. He is ecstatic about the success of his DBS surgery which she had done in Zürich, Switzerland, claiming that they have the best track record of anyone. His claim was that they had the most advanced surgical techniques as well as the highest accuracy in electrode placement and control-unit programming. He told me that he's back to bike riding, and he's riding 1000 miles a year. Apparently, he had been to the point of not being able to ride a bicycle at all.

-Bob

Date:June 5, 2013

Source: Oregon Health & Science University

Summary:

The surgeon who more than two decades ago pioneered deep brain stimulation surgery in the United States to treat people with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders has now developed a new way to perform the surgery -- which allows for more accurate placement of the brain electrodes and likely is safer for patients.

The success and safety of the new surgical technique could have broad implications for deep brain stimulation, or DBS, surgery into the future, as it may increasingly be used to help with a wide range of medical issues beyond Parkinson's disease and familial tremors.

The new surgery also offers another distinct advantage: patients are asleep during the surgery, rather than being awake under local anesthesia to help surgeons determine placement of the electrodes as happens with the traditional DBS surgery.

A study detailing the new surgical technique is being published in the June 2013 edition of the Journal of Neurosurgery, and has been published online at the journal's website.

See the rest of the story:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130605190604.htm