Deep Brain Stimulation

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Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a procedure used to reduce uncontrollable movements and related problems in patients with movement disorders. It can help patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor, especially when medication is not effective. DBS is also an experimental treatment for certain other medical conditions, including some psychiatric disorders. For many patients, DBS can be lifechanging.

How DBS is performed

Doctors perform DBS in a hospital operating room. They implant a pair of electrodes in the brain and a control generator in the chest. These work together to provide continuous stimulation to a targeted area of the brain. Doctors personalize DBS stimulation settings for each patient, to give the best chance of success and minimize side effects.

Guided by MRI and CT imaging scans, the surgeon drills two holes in the skull and places electrodes into the brain. The electrodes are placed near specific areas associated with their condition. The wires are guided from the electrodes under the skin to the chest, where they are attached to small, battery-powered generators. There is a small risk of infection or bleeding with the procedure.

Depending on the case, doctors may have patients remain awake or asleep for the procedure. If the patient’s feedback is required during the procedure, they will remain awake, with their head numbed by local anesthesia. The patient’s head is shaved and supported by a frame to keep it still during the procedure.

Why choose UAB Medicine

UAB Medicine is one of the leading and largest centers for DBS in the nation, performing about 100 such procedures annually, and we have a long and successful track record. Our neurologists are consistently named among the top doctors in the United States. Because UAB Medicine is a major center for research, patients may have access to promising new treatments not available at other medical centers.