Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical option for patients whose symptoms cannot be controlled with medications alone. After magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans have identified the exact areas of the brain that are responsible for the symptoms, the DBS system is surgically implanted to deliver high-frequency electrical stimulation to the targeted area. The stimulation interferes with the abnormal electrical impulses that cause uncontrolled movements.
The DBS system consists of a neurostimulator, an extension and an electrode. Similar to a pacemaker, the battery-operated neurostimulator provides an electrical current and is usually implanted in the chest or abdomen. The extension is an insulated wire that connects the neurostimulator to an electrode that is implanted in the skull. The tip of the electrode is placed within the area of the brain that is producing the symptoms.
Most DBS patients are able to considerably reduce medication dosage, which can help alleviate the side effects of medications. The DBS system also can be adjusted according to symptom expression, and it can even be removed if a more promising treatment is developed.
