title: Morphological and chemical analysis of a deep brain stimulation electrode explanted from a dystonic patient.
abstract: Deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for different types of dystonia; nevertheless dystonic movements could provoke hardware-related complications, including fractures or electrodes displacement. This study focuses on a morphological and structural analysis of a malfunctioning electrode removed from a dystonic patient. In this case, high impedance values and worsening of symptoms were observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were performed on the explanted electrode. The qualitative and quantitative data collected from the damaged electrode were compared with a new electrode, used as a control. The SEM analysis of the damaged electrode revealed fissurations and crack-like forms of the outer jacket tubing, degeneration of the internal core and wires stretching. The EDX analysis permitted to appreciate an increase of chemical elements, especially sodium, suggesting an alteration of the electrode-brain interface. This study shows the qualitative and quantitative alterations of a malfunctioning electrode and, to reduce the rate of hardware-related complications, it suggests the development of more reliable polymers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravagnan
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Benedictis
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zorzi
authors.forename: Gero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongiorno
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cordella
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzini
mesh_terms: D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012086:Reoperation; D055815:Young Adult
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