Turkish Neurosurgery 2019 , Vol 29 , Num 5
Microelectrode Recording for Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Patients with Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: Advantage or Loss of Time?
Ersoy KOCABICAK1,3,4,Onur ALPTEKIN4,Dursun AYGUN2,Onur YILDIZ2,Yasin TEMEL3
1Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Samsun, Turkey
2Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Samsun, Turkey
3Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht, The Netherlands
4Maastricht University Medical Center, Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHENS), Maastricht, The Netherlands
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.23307-18.3 AIM: To investigate the effect of using microelectrode recording (MER) on the length of time required to carry out a deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure of the subthalamic nucleus in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

MATERIAL and METHODS: The time required to include MER in the DBS operation was calculated for the first and second sides in 24 patients with PD. The number of microelectrodes used on each trajectory for the first and second sides, and the percentage of permanent electrodes implanted on each trajectory for the first and second sides, were quantified.

RESULTS: The average times taken to use MER were 23.4 ± 6.2 minutes, 17.4 ± 6.5 minutes, and 41.2 ± 6.3 minutes for the first side, second side and total procedure, respectively. In 75% of patients, the permanent electrode was implanted at the planned target site for the first side, and in 61% of patients for the second side.

CONCLUSION: MER extends the time required to carry out the DBS procedure. However, during surgery, it provides real-time information on the electrodes’ neurophysiological locations and helps the surgical team choose an alternative target if the planned target does not produce satisfying results. Keywords : Microelectrode recording, Subthalamic nucleus, Deep brain stimulation, Parkinson’s disease

Corresponding author : Onur ALPTEKIN, Ersoy KOCABICAK, onur_alptekin@hotmail.com; ersoykocabicak@gmail.com