New Delhi: A 46-year-old patient suffering from abnormal movements (dystonia) affecting her eyes, face, jaw and neck got a new lease of life after undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) implantation in Kochi.


This is for the first time that a DBS surgery using advanced brain sensing technology has been conducted in Kerala.    


According to the hospital, the patient was directed to its Movement Disorder Clinic and doctors suggested DBS.


DBS is a neurosurgical procedure first introduced in US in 1987 and involves the implantation of a neuro-stimulator (brain pacemaker) in the patient's body which, through wires connected to the head, sends electrical impulses to specific areas in the brain.


As per the hospital release as quoted by news agency PTI, "This technology allows capturing of brain signals from the implanted leads and can help in adjusting settings for the best response."


The hospital further said that the Amrita Institute was the first centre in Kochi to start a regular DBS program in the year 2017 and the only one in India routinely doing robotics-assisted DBS surgery.


"The neurosurgical robotic assistant (ROSA) allows for more rapid guidance in the DBS electrode placement with high precision. With these latest advancements in DBS surgery, Amrita has become a leading international referral centre for DBS therapy," the release said.


Talking about the medical condition, Dr Saraf Udit Umesh, an Assistant Professor with the Department of Neurology, Amrita Hospital, said dystonia is a movement disorder characterised by abnormal twisting movements of limbs, trunk or the whole body.


"It can occur due to different causes and in most cases, it is not very responsive to medical management. Botulinum toxin treatment is usually advised, but it has its own limitations. And hence, DBS is a good option for medically refractory dystonia," Umesh said, adding, “She was having the illness for almost five to six years. Initially, she only had neck pain, and even underwent a cervical spine surgery considering it as a spondylosis issue. However, her symptoms worsened gradually over the last one year and then she developed forceful eye closure and jaw closure, along with abnormal neck posturing.”


The surgery lasted for around three hours and the patient responded well within a week and now can lead a more normal life, the hospital said.