Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain
Published on: July 1, 2019
Deep brain stimulation in pediatric dystonia: calls for therapeutic realism over nihilism
Souvik Singha1, Srinivas Dwarakanath2, Ravi Yadav3
1Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, 560029, India.
Insights
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) significantly improves motor function and daily living activities in pediatric dystonia patients. This treatment offers a sustainable therapeutic goal by reducing the disease burden.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric dystonia (PD) severely impacts a child's growth and development.
- Effective treatment strategies are crucial for managing this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the functional outcomes of pediatric patients with dystonia who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients (<18 years) who underwent DBS for dystonia between 2012 and 2020.
- Functional outcomes were assessed using the Burke-Fahn-Marsden-dystonia-rating-scale (BFMDRS).
Main Results:
- Ten pediatric patients were included, with a mean age of onset of 5.75 years.
- Mean motor scores significantly improved from pre-DBS (75.44) to 6-month (57.27) and 12-month (50.38) follow-ups.
- Significant improvements were observed in limb function, feeding, dressing, and walking, with notable reductions in disability.
Conclusions:
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) plays a significant role in reducing the burden of pediatric dystonia.
- DBS can achieve sustainable therapeutic goals for children with dystonia.
Purpose:
Pediatric dystonia (PD) has a significant negative impact on the growth and development of the child. This study was done retrospectively to analyze functional outcomes in pediatric patients with dystonia who underwent deep brain stimulation.
Methods:
In this retrospective analytical study, all the patients of age less than 18 years undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for dystonia between 2012 and 2020 in a single center were analyzed and their functional outcomes were measured by the Burke-Fahn-Marsden-dystonia-rating-scale (BFMDRS).
Results:
A total of 10 pediatric patients were included with a mean age of onset, duration of disease, and age at surgery being 5.75 years, 7.36 years, and 13.11 years, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 23.22 months. The mean pre-DBS motor score was 75.44 ± 23.53 which improved significantly at 6-month and 12-month follow-up to 57.27 (p value 0.004) and 50.38 (p value < 0.001), respectively. Limbs sub-scores improved significantly at both the scheduled intervals. There was a significant improvement in disability at 1-year follow-up with significant improvement in feeding, dressing, and walking components. There was a 27.34% and 36.64% improvement in dystonia with a 17.37% and 28.86% reduction in disability at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the absolute reduction of the motor score and improvement in disability of the patients at 6 months (rho = 0.865, p value 0.003).
Conclusions:
DBS in PD has an enormous role in reducing disease burden and achieving a sustainable therapeutic goal.
More Related Videos
09:46Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Rat Hippocampus After Deep Brain Stimulation of the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus
Published on: March 8, 2015
14:14Targeting Neuronal Fiber Tracts for Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy Using Interactive, Patient-Specific Models
Published on: August 12, 2018
