A sine-wave-shaped skin incision for inserting deep-brain stimulators

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Surgical Techniques
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) requires precise electrode placement.
• Skin complications near burr hole sites can occur after DBS electrode implantation.
• The sine-wave-shaped incision is a novel technique to mitigate these complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the sine-wave-shaped skin incision in preventing complications after DBS electrode placement.
• To compare the complication rates between sine-wave incisions and conventional linear incisions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 54 DBS electrode implantations in 27 patients between 2011 and 2013.
• The sine-wave incision was utilized in 26 patients, while one patient received conventional bilateral linear scalp incisions.
• Patient outcomes regarding hardware-linked skin complications were recorded.

Main Results:

• No hardware-linked complications (skin infection, erosion) were observed in patients who underwent the sine-wave incision.
• The single patient with conventional linear incisions developed a skin infection.
• The sine-wave incision demonstrated a 0% complication rate for skin issues.

Conclusions:

• The sine-wave-shaped incision effectively minimizes skin-related complications following DBS electrode placement.
• This technique enhances wound healing by preserving scalp vascular anatomy and reducing tension.
• The sine-wave incision represents an improvement over conventional linear incisions for DBS procedures.