Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess hardware-related complications of DBS and their treatment strategies at a single center in China.

Background: Hardware-related complications of deep brain stimulation (DBS) have been frequently reported in recent years. Studying these cases will allow us to optimize the operative technique and decrease the incidence rate of complications.

Method: This study included all patients who received DBS at Ruijin Hospital in China between March 2011 and March 2019. All hardware-related complications and corresponding treatments were analyzed from medical records.

Results: From March 2011 to March 2019, 1157 patients received DBS treatment at our center; of these, 95 patients experienced seven types of hardware-related complications and seven subsequent treatment methods. Inflammation was the most common complication (65 patients). Other complications included broken hardware (8 patients), hardware failure (6 patients), hardware wear (4 patients), hardware displacement (11 patients), bowstringing (3 patients), and subdural hematoma (1 patient). The corresponding methods applied in response to these complications were debridement (12 patients), replacement (46 patients), extraction (19 patients), medicine (10 patients), lesion surgery (5 patients), revision (2 patients), and drainage (2 patients), respectively. Gender, disease, and manufacturer did not present as risk factors for the incidence rate of these complications.

Conclusion: Hardware-related complications can directly influence a patient’s experience during therapy. No risk factors have been identified, we emphasize the importance of complications report and the exploration of associated risk factors.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/hardware-related-complications-and-relevant-treatment-for-deep-brain-stimulation-experience-of-1157-patients-at-ruijin-hospital-over-8-years/