Sequence of electrode implantation and outcome of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.
The effect of the variability of electrode placement on outcomes after bilateral deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus has not been sufficiently studied, especially with respect to the sequence of hemisphere implantation.



We retrospectively analysed the clinical and radiographic data of all the consecutive patients with Parkinson's disease who underwent surgery at our centre and completed at least 1 year follow-up. The dispersion in electrode location was calculated by the square of deviation from population mean, and the direction of deviation was analysed by comparing the intended and final implantation coordinates. Linear regression analysis was performed to analyse the predictors of postoperative improvement of the motor condition, also controlling for the sequence of implanted hemisphere.



76 patients (mean age 58±7.2 years) were studied. Compared with the first side, the second side electrode tip had significantly higher dispersion as an overall effect (5.6±21.6 vs 2.2±4.9 mm(2), p=0.04), or along the X-axis (4.1±15.6 vs 1.4±2.4 mm(2), p=0.03) and Z-axis (4.9±11.5 vs 2.9±3.6 mm(2), p=0.02); the second side stimulation was also associated with a lower threshold for side effects (contact 0, p<0.001 and contact 3, p=0.004). In the linear regression analysis, the significant predictors of outcome were baseline activities of daily living (p=0.010) and dispersion of electrode on the second side (p=0.005).



We observed a higher dispersion for the electrode on the second implanted side, which also resulted to be a significant predictor of motor outcome at 1 year.
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Francesco
F
Sammartino
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Vibhor
V
Krishna
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nicolas Kon Kam
NK
King
Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Toronto Western Hospital - UHN, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Veronica
V
Bruno
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Suneil
S
Kalia
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Mojgan
M
Hodaie
Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Toronto Western Hospital - UHN, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Connie
C
Marras
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Andres M
AM
Lozano
Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Toronto Western Hospital - UHN, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Alfonso
0000-0001-5346-0180
A
Fasano
D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D059906:Neuroimaging; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome