SpecialtyCare is honored to be joining the World Federation of Neurology and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society this July 22, 2020, to celebrate World Brain Day! The goal of this day is to share vital information about the onset, treatment, and prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, and stand beside both those living with the disease and their caregivers. As a participant in about 1 of every 8 Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgeries across the country, we are committed to raising awareness, sharing research, and providing high-quality care when it comes to supporting patients battling this disease. 

What is Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS?

Deep brain stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure used for the medical treatment of numerous neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, obsessive compulsive-disorder, and dystonia. An electrode is implanted in the brain at a specific target, depending on the patient’s condition. An internal pulse generator (IPG) is implanted below the collarbone and connected via an extension wire to the electrode. This IPG generates the electrical impulses that alleviate the patient’s symptoms.

In many circumstances, DBS is utilized for patients whose symptoms have not responded well to medications or for those whose medications no longer adequately control their symptoms. Most patients will continue taking some medication following DBS, but experience a significant reduction in their symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation:

DBS surgery can provide important symptom relief in patients with moderate disability from Parkinson’s disease who still retain some benefit from other medications and who are considered well cognitively. Some people with severe Parkinson’s disease have symptoms that can’t be controlled by medication. Other practical methods of relieving symptoms, such as DBS, can help. The results of recent clinical trials found that DBS improves the overall quality of life and functioning of patients in the earlier stages of Parkinson’s disease.

SpecialtyCare’s Experience with DBS Services: 

SpecialtyCare’s experience in Deep Brain Stimulation dates back to 2001. Today, we assist in about 1 in every 8 DBS procedures performed in the U.S. Our highly-trained specialists are integrated members of the surgical team, providing guidance to the entire surgical team before, during, and after the DBS implant surgery.

Since 2017 alone, our team has been part of:

  • Successful DBS implants in over a dozen different subcortical brain regions for the treatment of more than 10 brain-related disorders
  • Over 1000 movement disorder-related procedures with STN, GPi and ViM nucleus targets
  • Thousands of framed and frameless (including but not limited to CRW, Leksell, NexFrame, Starfix, robot- driven) DBS procedures
  • Surgeries involving single pass and multiple-pass microelectrode recordings
  • Numerous state-of-the-art scientific research studies, which are advancing the field of Neuromodulation

Our Team

The members of SpecialtyCare’s Neurosurgical and Neurodiagnostic Services division support nearly 110,000 procedures annually. This market-leading volume means that our clinicians provide exceptional quality and trusted experience when it matters most. As part of this team, our Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) group is comprised of PhD-trained neurophysiologists who perform over 1000 procedures in 80 hospitals annually. These specialists have extensive experience in microelectrode recording (MER) and stimulation mapping for DBS procedures. Our unmatched expertise and consistent, exceptional performance enables surgeons to achieve optimal treatment results for their patients.

“It’s a privilege for our DBS team to help so many people suffering from Parkinson’s disease,” said Mark Nolt, PhD, Director of Operations for SpeciatyCare’s DBS services. “While DBS is not a cure, it can greatly improve a patient’s quality of life.”

Click here to learn more about the World Federation of Neurology, World Brain Day 2020, and how to get involved. 

Click here to learn more about our Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Services