What is DBS surgery?

What is DBS surgery?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that uses implanted electrodes and electrical stimulation to treat movement disorders associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia and other neurological conditions.

What are electrodes in the brain?

The electrode, or lead, is a thin, insulated wire inserted through a small opening in the skull and implanted into a specific brain area. The extension wire is also insulated and passed under the skin of the head, neck and shoulder, connecting the electrode to the internal pulse generator (IPG).

Where is deep brain stimulation target?

There are three areas in the brain that can be targets for deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. They are the subthalamic nucleus, the globus pallidus internus, and the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus.

Is your head shaved for DBS surgery?

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about DBS: WILL THEY BE SHAVING MY HEAD? The incisions are small, about 2 inches on the top of the head, 1 inch behind the ear, and 2.5 inches below the collarbone. Typically only a small area near the incision on the top of the head requires shaving.

Can you drive after deep brain stimulation?

The majority of patients resumed driving shortly after DBS surgery. Three months preoperatively, 66 of the 110 patients (60.0%) were active drivers, but 64.7% of patients expected at that time to be able to drive postoperatively. 50.9% of all patients resumed driving within a postoperative period of 3 months.

Do they always shave your head for brain surgery?

If you do need to have your hair shaved, you might have part of your head shaved, or the whole head. This is usually done when you’re under anaesthetic in the operating room. Do not shave your own head before you come to hospital for your operation. This could increase the risk of a wound infection.

How do brain electrodes work?

An EEG is a test that detects abnormalities in your brain waves, or in the electrical activity of your brain. During the procedure, electrodes consisting of small metal discs with thin wires are pasted onto your scalp. The electrodes detect tiny electrical charges that result from the activity of your brain cells.

Where is the DBS electrode implanted?

In Stage I, the DBS electrode is implanted into the target structure which depends on the clinical condition being treated. The two deepest targets are in the basal ganglia, which lie at the base of the brain. In Dystonia, the focus is on the Globus Pallidus (GP), and in PD the target is the Sub Thalamic Nucleus (STN).

How is DBS placed correctly?

These anatomical and electrode scale factors combine so that accurate DBS placement requires direct confirmation of the electrode tip being placed centrally within the target so that the electrode tip is at the base of the target which means that a portion of the electrode remains above and outside of the target.

What is deep brain stimulation (DBS)?

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been approved for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Essential Tremor and Dystonia for a decade in the United States and more recently to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD).

What are the stages of DBS surgery?

Typically, DBS surgeries are performed in two stages, one to implant each component. In Stage I, the DBS electrode is implanted into the target structure which depends on the clinical condition being treated.