Neurosurgery & Neurology
At Littleton Adventist Hospital we are committed to providing a range of healthcare services within our Neuroscience Program.
Our team at Littleton Adventist Hospital provides various treatment options for a variety of complex disorders that can affect the brain and central nervous system.
We offer a full-range of neurodiagnostic testing while our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team crafts specific plans to help each patient through the recovery process. Our priority is to care for and treat our patients so that they are able to return to their full health, and continue living an active life.
We provide our patients with the resources necessary to fully understand their options and assist them to create a customized plan of treatment. The Neuroscience Program at Littleton Adventist Hospital offers advanced technology and techniques to include non-surgical and physical therapy, giving our patients the benefit of a smooth recovery.
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Dr. David VanSickle talks about DBS |
Can Deep Brain Stimulation Improve Your Quality of Life?If you or a loved one suffers from Parkinson's disease and your medication therapy alone is not enough to keep tremors under control, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an option you may want to consider.
DBS has been used in more than 80,000 Parkinson's patients since 1995, and it has been proven to be more effective than treatment with medication alone. There is no average or ideal age for patients to receive DBS. A good candidate for DBS has:
During DBS surgery, a lead (also called an electrode) is implanted in the brain and then connected to a neurostimulator (battery pack) implanted under the skin near the collarbone. Impulses from the neurostimulator interfere with and block the electrical signals that are responsible for Parkinson's symptoms. Neurosurgeon Dr. David VanSickle, one of Colorado's premier experts on deep brain stimulation believes overall, DBS achieves significant results in most Parkinson's patients. "Medication use is typically reduced by half. The procedure reduces the motor symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, including tremors, stiffness, pradykinesia (slowness of movement), gait problems, ad dyskinesia (tics), allowing patients significants gains in movement and control." DBS is not a cure for Parkinson's disease. It's benefit, according to VanSickle is in the quality of life it affords patients. "It can allow them to return to or continue working, participate in family activities more actively or if they live alone help them maintain their independence." Patients who have the procedure still need continued medical care after surgery with their primary care physician and/or neurologist. In addition to treating patients with Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation has been approved for use with patients suffering essential tremor, dystonia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Research is being conducted into the use of this procedure for extreme, intractable depression, epilepsy, chronic pain, Tourette's syndrome and some drug addictions as well. To learn more about DBS visit southdenverneurosurgery.org. |
