Effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation in Iraqi Patients with Parkinson Disease

Abstract

Background: Surgical treatment for advanced Parkinson disease (PD) is considered when medical therapy
fails to control the symptoms.
Objective: Assessment of effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in controlling motor manifestations
of advanced PD.
Patients and Method: Twenty patients (14 male and 6 female) whom fulfill the requirements for DBS
surgery, were included in this study. All patients were on Levodopa (L-dopa), procyclidine, pramipexol, and
amantadine medications. The study conducted between March 2017 and March 2018 in the neurosurgical
teaching hospital and neuroscience hospitalin Baghdad/Iraq. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating
Scale(UPDRS) was used before and after surgery.
Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
Conclusion: Most disabling axial symptoms of gait and postural instability, that failed to respond to medical
therapy, will show effective response to the bilateral STN stimulation in advanced PD cases.