Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) delivers electrical current to the deep structures of the brain. It has come to replace the once more common ablative procedures such as pallidotomy and thalamotomy to be an adjustable, neuromodulative procedure. It is used to treat a number of movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia. Targets include the subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus, and thalamus. Many research studies have looked at DBS for the treatment of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and pain syndromes. Most recently, DBS has been at the forefront for the treatment of epilepsy.
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Cortical stimulation has been used to treat pain patients for various syndromes from post stroke pain to neuropathic pain. It has become most widely used in the treatment of epilepsy. Investigative reports are looking at cortical stimulation for the treatment of movement disorders, depression, and stroke.