Single-center experience of utilization and clinical efficacy of segmented leads for subthalamic deep brain...

Segmented electrodes for deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) enable directional current steering leading to expanded programming options.

This retrospective study covering a longitudinal period of up to 7 years compares the efficacy of segmented and non-segmented leads in motor symptom alleviation and reduction of dopaminergic medication in PD patients treated in a specialized center and assesses the long-term use of directional steering in clinical routine.

Demographic data and clinical scores before surgery and at 12-month follow-up (12MFU) as well as stimulation parameters at 12MFU and last follow-up (LFU) were assessed in all patients implanted with segmented leads between 01/2016 and 12/2019 and non-segmented leads in a corresponding time-period. Patients were classified as very good (>60 %), good (30-60 %) and poor (<30 %) responders according to DBS-induced motor improvement.

Clinical data at 12MFU was available for 61/96 patients with segmented (SEG) and 42/53 with non-segmented leads (N-SEG). Mean DBS-induced motor improvement and reduction of medication at 12MFU did not differ significantly between SEG and N-SEG groups or in a subgroup analysis of steering modes. There was a lower proportion of poor responders in the SEG compared with the N-SEG group (23% vs. 31%), though not statistically significant. At LFU, the percentage of patients set at directional steering increased from 54% to 70%.

Efficacy in reduction of motor symptoms and medication does not differ between electrode types for STN-DBS at 12 months follow-up. The use of directional steering increases over time and may account for a lower proportion of poor responders.