Infections in deep brain stimulation: Shaving versus not shaving

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure with potential infection risks.
• Patient preference strongly favors avoiding cranial hair shaving due to aesthetic and psychological concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare infection rates in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgeries between patients who had their cranial hair shaved and those who did not.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a nonshaving protocol in DBS procedures.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study followed 43 patients undergoing DBS surgery without cranial hair shaving.
• Infection rates were compared to historical data from patients who underwent shaving.
• Minimum follow-up duration was six months.

Main Results:

• One infection (2.32%) occurred in 43 nonshaven patients with a mean follow-up of 16 months.
• The infection involved the implanted DBS hardware and was treated with antibiotics.
• No significant increase in infection rates was observed compared to shaving.

Conclusions:

• Nonshaving of cranial hair in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is a safe alternative to shaving.
• The study supports a protocol change to nonshaving based on comparable infection rates and patient preference.