Deep brain stimulation in neurologic disorders

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective surgical therapy for well-selected patients with medically intractable Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). The purpose of this review is to describe the success of DBS in these two disorders and its promising application in dystonia, Tourette Syndrome (TS) and epilepsy. In the last 10 years, numerous short- and intermediate-term outcome studies have demonstrated significant relief to patients with PD and ET. A few long-term follow-up studies have also reported sustained benefits. When successful, DBS greatly reduces most of parkinsonian motor symptoms and drug-induced dyskinesia, and it frequently improves patients' ability to perform activities of daily living with less encumbrance from motor fluctuations. Quality of life is enhanced and many patients are able to significantly reduce the amount of antiparkinsonian medications required to still get good pharmacological benefit. Overall, adverse effects associated with DBS tend to be transient, although device-related and other postoperative complications do occur. DBS should be considered the surgical procedure of choice for patients who meet strict criteria with medically intractable PD, ET and selected cases of dystonia.