Deep Brain Stimulation Program

 

The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program at Boston University Medical Campus is a collaborative medical and surgical program offered by the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, and Dystonia.  This multidisciplinary program combines the efforts of the departments of neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychiatry, behavioral medicine, anesthesiology, and nursing. Neurosurgical interventions for Parkinson’s disease and tremor have been offered at BUMC since 1996.

A multi-step screening process is used to carefully select patients for this procedure. Some patients who may be candidates for surgery include: 1) patients who do not have good movement control despite optimized medical therapy and 2) patients who have dyskinesia or other side effects which limit the use of Parkinson’s medications.

In the selection process patients are referred by their neurologist for a screening neurological consultation by the neurological DBS program team members. Patients are evaluated with a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing and movement testing with videotaping.  A meeting is also scheduled with the neurosurgeon who provides information on DBS and determines eligibility for surgery.

After DBS surgery, follow up neurological care and adjustments of medications and DBS neurostimulators is conducted by our team. To learn more about the Deep Brain Stimulation program, click here.

DBS Personnel

Neurosurgery

Movement Disorder Neurologists

Movement Disorder Nurses