Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) is a useful therapeutic alternative in patients with
movement disorders refractory to medical treatment. In fact, with this device very
good results can be obtained, with outcomes comparable to those achieved with medical
treatment.
1
Nevertheless, with this technique, some hardware-related complications are relatively
common.
2
In some cases, technical malfunction, lead migration or skin erosion and infection
require removal of the system. On the one hand, hardware-related pressure under the
scalp may cause erosion of the skin, and on the other hand, the foreign material implantation
increases the contamination risk and subsequent infection. Even though a stimulation
device extrusion may remain uninfected during a prolonged period of exposure, in most
cases clinical signs of infection ensue. The aim of this letter is to describe our
personal management of hardware-related scalp erosion in the DBS context.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- Bilateral deep brain stimulation vs best medical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial.J Am Med Ass. 2009; 301: 63-73
- Operative and hardware complications of deep brain stimulation for movement disorders.Br J Neurosurg. 2006; 20: 290-295
- Methods of scalp revision for deep brain stimulator hardware: case report.Neurosurgery. 2008; 62: 249-250
- Microsurgical reconstruction: a more conservative method of managing large scalp defects?.J Reconstr Microsurg. 2009; 25: 465-474
- Enhancing the outcome of free latissimus dorsi muscle flap reconstruction of scalp defects.Head Neck. 2004; 26: 46-53
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 16, 2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
