title: An 8-Year Follow-up on the Effect of Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation on Pain in Parkinson Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pain is a common and distressing feature in Parkinson disease (PD). The major indication of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) is motor complications in advanced PD; however, pain reduction after STN DBS has been noted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term effect of STN DBS on pain in PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients who underwent STN DBS at the Movement Disorder Center at Seoul National University Hospital from June 1, 2005, through March 31, 2006, were studied. The assessments of pain were performed preoperatively and 8 years after surgery. Because 13 of the total 24 patients had additional 2-year postoperative data, the serial change between the preoperative and the 2- and 8-year follow-ups after surgery was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Motor symptoms were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Hoehn and Yahr staging scale. The severity of pain was scored according to an ordinal scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (maximal pain) in 7 parts of the body (head, neck, trunk, and the upper and lower extremities on each side of the body). For each body part, the quality of pain was grouped into 1 of 4 categories: dystonic, musculoskeletal, radiculoneuritic, and central.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen of the 24 patients (67%) experienced pain at baseline when not taking medication (off-state). All off-state pain at baseline improved or disappeared at 8 years after surgery. The number of body parts with pain was 21 at baseline and decreased to 11 at 8 years after the surgery. The mean (SD) and median scores of the off-state pain were 6.2 (2.5) and 7.0 at baseline and improved to 3.5 (2.2) and 2.5 at 8 years after the surgery, respectively. However, new pain developed in 18 of 24 patients (75%) during the 8-year follow-up period. The number of body parts with newly developed pain was 47, and the mean (SD) and median scores for new pain were 4.4 (3.0) and 3.0, respectively. The types of new pain at 8 years were musculoskeletal in 11 patients, central in 4 patients, radiculoneuritic in 3 patients, and dystonic in 1 patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pain associated with PD is improved by STN DBS, and the beneficial effect persists after a long-term follow-up of 8 years. In addition, new pain, especially the musculoskeletal type, developed in most patients, becoming a long-term distressing problem.
authors: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yu Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Han-Joon
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Beom S
authors: BS
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyeyoung
authors: H
authors: Park
authors: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woong-Woo
authors: WW
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sun Ha
authors: SH
authors: Paek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome