Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery Using a Mobile Intraoperative CT Scanner

Introduction Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is widely used for the treatment of movement disorders. Precise placement of electrodes is critical for treatment success. The aim of this study was to analyze the accuracy of the intraoperative computer tomography (CT) images compared to that of a traditional fixed CT for patients undergoing DBS procedures. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the charts from 30 patients who underwent DBS. In group 1, 10 patients underwent electrode implantation surgery using a fixed CT scanner for pre- and post-operative (OP) images. In group 2, 20 patients underwent surgery using an intraoperative CT scanner for pre- and post-operative images, as well as a fixed CT scanner for post-operative images. We compared the average pre-operative localizer box registration error acquired in these two groups. We also analyzed, in group 2, the final electrode position given on each post-operative CT images. We compared the average Euclidean distances between each set of cartesian coordinates to assess target accuracy between both scanning methodologies. Results Thirty patients had ages ranging from 40 to 88 years, with a median of 69 years old. In the 20 patients who utilized an intraoperative CT scanner pre-operatively in group 2, the mean error, given by the Medtronic software (Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies, Minneapolis, MN) with the Leksell frame on, was 0.37. For the 10 pre-operative scans with the stealth fixed CT scanner in group 1, the mean error was 0.44 (p = 0.13). In group 2, the average of the 20 Euclidean distances for each target, in those 20 patients who had post-operative images with both scanners, was 0.36. Conclusion We concluded that the accuracy of the intraoperative CT scanner is comparable to the gold standard fixed CT scanner for DBS electrode planning and placement, as well as for positioning confirmation after the electrodes are in place.