Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-stroke Recovery

Introduction: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for stroke survivors, offering promising avenues for motor recovery and symptom management. This review compiles and analyzes studies that investigate the effects of DBS in stroke rehabilitation, encompassing various target regions and stroke-related complications.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed to identify relevant studies published between 2013 and 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving stroke survivors who received DBS interventions, examining outcomes related to motor function, pain relief, dystonia management, and quality of life. Studies were critically appraised for methodological quality and relevant data extracted and analyzed.

Results: The review encompasses a range of DBS target regions, including the cerebellum, globus pallidus internus (GPi), ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS), subthalamic nucleus (STN), ventrocaudal nucleus (VCN) of the thalamus, zona incerta, pallidum, ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPLa), thalamus, and ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM). Studies reported varying degrees of success in motor function improvement, pain relief, dystonia management, and quality of life enhancement. DBS interventions targeting specific brain regions demonstrated particular efficacy in addressing corresponding stroke-related complications.
Limitations include heterogeneity in study designs and populations, a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), short- to medium-term follow-up, variability in DBS target locations, small and selective samples, and ethical considerations surrounding DBS.

Conclusion : While the reviewed studies indicate the potential benefits of DBS in stroke rehabilitation and the management of post-stroke complications, the limitations should be considered. Future research should focus on conducting well-designed RCTs with larger and diverse populations, standardized outcome measures, and extended follow-up periods to comprehensively evaluate the long-term efficacy of DBS in stroke survivors.