Complications After Deep Brain Stimulation: A 21-Year Experience in 426 Patients

In-Ho Jung; Kyung Won Chang; So Hee Park; Won Seok Chang; Hyun Ho Jung; Jin Woo Chang

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.819730

Complications After Deep Brain Stimulation: A 21-Year Experience in 426 Patients

Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Apr 7:14:819730. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.819730. eCollection 2022.

Authors

In-Ho Jung^{1

2}, Kyung Won Chang¹, So Hee Park¹, Won Seok Chang¹, Hyun Ho Jung¹, Jin Woo Chang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, South Korea.

Abstract

Background: Deep brain stimulation is an established treatment for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. However, various complications that occur after deep brain stimulation are a major concern for patients and neurosurgeons.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze various complications that occur after deep brain stimulation.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with a movement disorder who underwent bilateral deep brain stimulation between 2000 and 2020. Among them, patients requiring revision surgery were analyzed.

Results: A total of 426 patients underwent bilateral deep brain stimulation for a movement disorder. The primary disease was Parkinson's disease in 315 patients, followed by dystonia in 71 patients and essential tremor in 40 patients. Twenty-six (6.1%) patients had complications requiring revision surgery; the most common complication was infection (12 patients, 2.8%).

Conclusion: Various complications may occur after deep brain stimulation, and patient prognosis should be improved by reducing complications.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; complication; deep brain stimulation; dystonia; essential tremor; intracerebral hemorrhage; movement disorder; postoperative infection.