Dystonia characterizes a group of neurological movement disorders characterized by abnormal muscle movements, often with repetitive or sustained contraction resulting in abnormal posturing. Different types of dystonia present based on the affected body regions and play a prominent role in determining the potential efficacy of a given intervention. For most patients afflicted with these disorders, an exact cause is rarely identified, so treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic alleviation. Pharmacological agents, such as oral anticholinergic administration and botulinum toxin injection, play a major role in the initial treatment of patients. In more severe and/or refractory cases, focal areas for neurosurgical intervention are identified and targeted to improve quality of life. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targets these anatomical locations to minimize dystonia symptoms. Surgical ablation procedures and peripheral denervation surgeries also offer potential treatment to patients who do not respond to DBS. These management options grant providers and patients the ability to weigh the benefits and risks for each individual patient profile. This review article explores these pharmacological and neurosurgical management modalities for dystonia, providing a comprehensive assessment of each of their benefits and shortcomings.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized the treatment of neurological disease, but its therapeutic efficacy is limited by the lifetime of the implantable pulse generator (IPG) batteries. At the end of the battery life, IPG replacement surgery is required. New IPGs with rechargeable batteries (RC-IPGs) have recently been introduced and allow for decreased reoperation rates for IPG replacements. The authors aimed to examine the merits and limitations of these devices.

The authors reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent DBS implantation at their institution. RC-IPGs were placed either during initial DBS implantation or during an IPG change. A cost analysis was performed that compared RC-IPGs with standard IPGs, and telephone patient surveys were conducted to assess patient satisfaction.

The authors identified 206 consecutive patients from 2011 to 2016 who underwent RC-IPG placement (mean age 61 years; 67 women, 33%). Parkinson's disease was the most common indication for DBS (n = 144, 70%), followed by essential tremor (n = 41, 20%), dystonia (n = 13, 6%), depression (n = 5, 2%), multiple sclerosis tremor (n = 2, 1%), and epilepsy (n = 1, 0.5%). DBS leads were typically placed bilaterally (n = 192, 93%) and targeted the subthalamic nucleus (n = 136, 66%), ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (n = 43, 21%), internal globus pallidus (n = 21, 10%), ventral striatum (n = 5, 2%), or anterior nucleus of the thalamus (n = 1, 0.5%). RC-IPGs were inserted at initial DBS implantation in 123 patients (60%), while 83 patients (40%) were converted to RC-IPGs during an IPG replacement surgery. The authors found that RC-IPG implantation resulted in $60,900 of cost savings over the course of 9 years. Furthermore, patient satisfaction was high with RC-IPG implantation. Overall, 87.3% of patients who responded to the survey were satisfied with their device, and only 6.7% found the rechargeable component difficult to use. In patients who were switched from a standard IPG to RC-IPG, the majority who responded (70.3%) preferred the rechargeable IPG.

RC-IPGs can provide DBS patients with long-term therapeutic benefit while minimizing the need for battery replacement surgery. The authors have implanted rechargeable stimulators in 206 patients undergoing DBS surgery, and here they demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and high patient satisfaction associated with this procedure.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an approved therapy option for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), essential Tremor (ET), and dystonia. While current research focuses on rechargeable implantable pulse generators (IPGs), little is known about changes of the motor functions after IPG replacement and the consequences of additionally implanted hardware.

To assess changes of the motor functions, the therapy impedances, and the total electric energy delivered (TEED) after elective IPG replacement.

We prospectively acquired the data of 47 patients with PD, ET, and dystonia treated with bilateral DBS. Motor functions were rated prior to and after surgery using the revised Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS-III), the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor-Rating-Scale (FTM-TRS), and the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale (UDRS). Furthermore, the therapy impedances and TEED were assessed at the aforementioned times.

While preoperative motor scores were 48.32 ± 17.16 in PD, 39.71 ± 12.28 in ET, and 18.48 ± 16.30 in dystonia patients, postoperative scores were 47.84 ± 24.33, 32.86 ± 15.82, and 15.02 ± 15.17, respectively. Only in dystonia patients, motor scores significantly differed. Perioperative therapy impedance changes were 142.66 ± 105.35 Ω (Kinetra® to Activa® PC), -68.75 ± 43.05 Ω (Activa® PC to Activa® PC), and - 51.38 ± 38.75 Ω (Activa® PC to Activa® RC). Perioperative TEED changes were - 37.15 ± 38.87 μJ, 2.03 ± 35.91 μJ, and 12.39 ± 6.31 μJ in that first, second, and third group, respectively. Both the therapy impedances and TEED significantly differed between groups.

Although there were no statistically significant changes in the motor functions of all patients after elective IPG replacement, the therapy impedances were significantly higher and TEED was significantly lower after IPG replacement with concurrent Pocket Adapter implantation.

Nonrechargeable deep brain stimulation implantable pulse generators (IPGs) for movement disorders require surgical replacement every few years due to battery depletion. Rechargeable IPGs reduce frequency of replacement surgeries and inherent risks of complications but require frequent recharging. Here, we evaluate patient experience with rechargeable IPGs and define predictive characteristics for higher satisfaction.

We contacted all patients implanted with rechargeable IPGs at a single center in a survey-based study. We analyzed patient satisfaction with respect to age, diagnosis, target, charging duration, and body mass index. We tabulated hardware-related adverse events.

Dystonia patients had significantly higher satisfaction than Parkinson's disease patients in recharging, display, programmer, and training domains. Common positive responses were "fewer surgeries" and "small size." Common negative responses were "difficulty finding the right position to recharge" and "need to recharge every day." Hardware-related adverse events occurred in 21 of 59 participants.

Patient experience with rechargeable IPGs was largely positive; however, frustrations with recharging and adverse events were common. Dystonia diagnosis was most predictive of high satisfaction across multiple categories, potentially related to expected long disease duration with need for numerous IPG replacements.

A new rechargeable dual-channel deep brain stimulation (DBS) system has been introduced for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. However, the clinical value of the device, which has a high cost, remains unclear.

We conducted a cost-minimization analysis using a national database of health insurance claims in Japan. DBS-related costs were compared between rechargeable and non-rechargeable devices and estimated across a 20-year period.

Although the price of rechargeable DBS was higher than that of non-rechargeable DBS, we observed total cost-savings of 8.4 million yen across 20 years by considering costs related to implantation surgery, frequency of replacement, and risk of complications.

In this study, real-world evidence indicated that rechargeable dual-channel DBS is a reasonable choice for saving total medical costs. Price revisions should consider cost-effectiveness findings for medical devices.

Implantable pulse generator (IPG) replacement is considered a simple procedure, but in case of extension cable damage or IPG pocket infection, it can dramatically affect a patient's quality of life. Higher risk of infection has been reported after IPG replacement procedures rather than after primary deep brain stimulation lead implantation, and some authors suggested that the IPG pocket capsule could play a pivotal role in causing it. In this technical note we present a capsulectomy technique adopted in IPG replacement procedures.

Between July and October 2015, we carried out ten outpatient IPG replacement procedures at the chest and abdomen under local anesthesia for battery depletion using the PEAK PlasmaBlade(TM). All patients were followed for at least 2 months to rule out any hardware malfunction and infection.

All ten procedures were uneventful. No extension cable damage occurred. No IPG pocket infection occurred, also not in the follow-up. Mean surgical time was 30 min.

Complete capsulectomy is not feasible with basic surgical instruments, and the PEAK PlasmaBlade(TM) pencil appears to be a helpful tool in carrying out the procedure.

Movement disorder surgery has evolved throughout history as our knowledge of motor circuits and ways in which to manipulate them have expanded. Today, the positive impact on patient quality of life for a growing number of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease is now well accepted and confirmed through several decades of randomized, controlled trials. Nevertheless, residual motor symptoms after movement disorder surgery such as deep brain stimulation and lack of a definitive cure for these conditions demand that advances continue to push the boundaries of the field and maximize its therapeutic potential. Similarly, advances in related fields - wireless technology, artificial intelligence, stem cell and gene therapy, neuroimaging, nanoscience, and minimally invasive surgery - mean that movement disorder surgery stands at a crossroads to benefit from unique combinations of all these developments. In this minireview, we outline some of these developments as well as evidence supporting topics of recent discussion and controversy in our field. Moving forward, expectations remain high that these improvements will come to encompass an even broader range of patients who might benefit from this therapy and decrease the burden of disease associated with these conditions. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a cost-effective strategy for the treatment of different neurologic disorders. However, DBS procedures are associated with high costs of implantation and replacement of the internal pulse generator (IPG). Different manufacturers propose the use of rechargeable IPGs. The objective of this study is to compare the implantation costs of nonrechargeable IPGs versus the estimated costs of rechargeable IPGs in different categories of patients to evaluate if an economic advantage for the health care system could be derived.

The study looked at 149 patients who underwent a surgical procedure for IPG replacement. In a hypothetical scenario, rechargeable IPGs were implanted instead of nonrechargeable IPGs at the time of DBS system implantation. Another scenario was outlined in a perspective period of time, corresponding to the patients' life expectancy. Costs were calculated, and inferential analysis was performed.

A savings of €234,194, including the cost of management of complications, was calculated during a follow-up period of 7.9 years. In a comprehensive life expectancy period of 47 years, a savings of €5,918,188 would be obtained (P < 0.05). Long-term group data point out that a relevant savings would be expected from implantation of rechargeable IPGs in dystonic patients (P < 0.05) and patients with Parkinson disease (P < 0.05), and a savings is projected to occur in other categories of patients (P < 0.05).

Implantation of rechargeable IPGs presents clinical advantages compared with nonrechargeable devices. A huge economic savings can be realized with the implantation of rechargeable IPGs in categories of patients implanted with IPGs for DBS.

Selecting the appropriate treatment for dystonia begins with proper classification of disease based on age, distribution, and underlying etiology. The therapies available for dystonia include oral medications, botulinum toxin, and surgical procedures. Oral medications are generally reserved for generalized and segmental dystonia. Botulinum toxin revolutionized the treatment of focal dystonia when it was introduced for therapeutic purposes in the 1980s. Surgical procedures are available for medication-refractory dystonia, markedly affecting an individual's quality of life.