Combined Stimulation of the Substantia Nigra and the Subthalamic Nucleus for the Treatment of Refractory Gait Disturbances in Parkinson's Disease: A Preliminary Study

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is efficient for the treatment of motor symptoms (i.e., tremors) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Gait disorders usually appear during advanced stages of idiopathic Parkinson's disease in up to 80% of patients and have an important impact on their quality of life. The effects of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus on gait and balance are still controversial. For this reason, alternative targets have been considered, such as stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus and the pars reticulata of substantia nigra, involved in the integration of the functional connections for gait. Due to the proximity of the subthalamic nucleus to the substantia nigra, their combined stimulation is feasible and may lead to better outcomes, improving axial symptoms. Our objective was to prospectively compare simultaneous stimulation of both structures versus conventional subthalamic stimulation in improving gait disorders. In ten patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation leads (eight linear contacts) were implanted, and gait analysis was performed 6 months after surgery in off-stimulation and after 4 weeks of dual or single subthalamic stimulation. An improvement in gait parameters was confirmed with both stimulation conditions, with better results with combined substantia nigra and subthalamic stimulation compared with conventional subthalamic stimulation. Further studies are needed to determine if this effect remains after long-term dual-target stimulation.

Automated summary

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is an efficient treatment for motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease, but its effects on gait and balance remain controversial. Researchers have considered alternative targets, such as the pedunculopontine nucleus and the pars reticulata of substantia nigra, to improve gait disorders. Compared to conventional subthalamic stimulation, combined stimulation of the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus leads to better outcomes in improving gait.