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Recent publications have demonstrated that deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease still exerts beneficial effects on tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia for up to 10 years after implantation of the stimulator. However with the progression of Parkinson's disease, features such as cognitive decline or "freezing" become prominent, and the presence of an implanted and functioning deep brain stimulator can impose a profound burden of care on the clinical team and family. The authors describe their experience in treating 4 patients who underwent removal of the implanted device due to either progressive dementia requiring full-time nursing or due to infection, and who subsequently underwent a unilateral pallidotomy.

Original publication

DOI

10.3171/2013.8.FOCUS13293

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neurosurg Focus

Publication Date

11/2013

Volume

35

Keywords

Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Antiparkinson Agents, Cognition Disorders, Combined Modality Therapy, Deep Brain Stimulation, Device Removal, Disease Progression, Electrodes, Implanted, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pallidotomy, Parkinson Disease, Quality of Life, Retrospective Studies, Salvage Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Wound Infection