Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Your Partner in Neurological Treatments

Lee Health is here to provide support for you and your family with the latest advances in neurosurgery and medical treatments to ensure you receive the best and most caring healthcare possible. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment used for certain aspects of Parkinson's disease. It mainly helps with movement symptoms and side effects from common medications used by Parkinson's patients. DBS can also improve some non-motor symptoms like pain, sleep, and urinary urgency.

Neurosurgical Specialists Near You

Dr. Mandybur has over 25yrs of experience and has performed over 1000 cases of DBS, and has been involved in numerous studies on deep brain stimulation (DBS). Additionally Dr. Mandybur continues to be actively involved in national meetings and societies on the use of DBS.

George Mandybur MD

Lee Physician Group
- Neurosurgery
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Accepting New Patients

What is deep brain stimulation (DBS) and how does it work?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a procedure where electrodes are placed in specific parts of the brain. These electrodes send electrical signals to help control abnormal impulses or affect certain cells and chemicals in the brain. The level of stimulation is managed by a pacemaker-like device implanted in your upper chest. A wire connects this device to the electrodes in your brain, running under your skin.

Deep Brain Stilumation Diagram

A few years ago, Steve Gross was struggling to write due to essential tremors. “It was embarrassing. You know, you're around your friends that you've known for 20 years, and all of a sudden you can't write, or you can't pick up a cup of coffee without two hands. It's not fun.”

Dr. George Mandybur was an early adopter of a surgical procedure called Deep Brian Stimulation or DBS to treat movement disorders like tremors. “Using precision to place a very small electrode in a very precise area in the brain,” said Dr. Mandybur.

He’s able to operate through a hole the size of a nickel. “This is very much like a heart pacemaker, but the wire goes into the head rather than into the heart. Being that way, we can adjust the battery just like the cardiologists adjust the pacemaker, and we can make the system work differently depending on what the patient needs,” said Dr. Mandybur.

Gross went ahead with the procedure and still remembers the first day they turned it on. “I couldn’t believe it. That little device made that big of a difference and now I’m able to write again, fish again, golf again, but I couldn’t do it before,” said Gross.

Now 5 years later, Gross said getting DBS was the best thing he ever did. “Oh my god, unbelievable. I was able to continue my job that I used to do for another six years before I retired.”

You can learn more by searching for neurology on leehealth.org.

Neurosurgery Treatment Centers Serving Southwest Florida

LPG Neurosurgery - Gulf Coast Medical Center

13685 Doctors Way, Suite 350 Fort Myers, FL 33912

Fax: (239) 343-3993

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Phone number (239) 343-3800

Why use deep brain stimulation?

Deep brain stimulation has been FDA approved for Essential Tremors since 1997 and parkinson’s disease in 2001. It has been proven to be an effective treatment for individuals dealing with movement disorders like essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, and dystonia. It may also be used to help reduce seizures in cases of difficult-to-treat epilepsy.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is commonly used to treat conditions such as:

Parkinson's disease
Essential tremor
Dystonia
Epilepsy
Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being studied as a potential treatment for:

Tourette syndrome
Huntington's disease and chorea
Tardive dyskinesias
Dementia
Chronic pain
Cluster headache

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) & Parkinson’s

DBS is considered one of the most significant medical breakthroughs since the creation of levodopa. It works best for individuals who suffer from severe tremors, wearing-off spells, and dyskinesias caused by medications. Studies reveal that its benefits can last for many years. However, it may not be suitable for everyone with Parkinson's, as certain problems like cognitive disfunction, speech, swallow, may not consistently respond to DBS therapy.

Parkinson's Disease and Related Movement Disorders
Parkinson's Disease and related movement disorder signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Learn more here about Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.