That's a really important question, and your surgical history is definitely something your neurologist needs to know about in detail before any DBS discussion moves forward.
Having spinal hardware (rods from T10 to S1) and a prior history of a drug-resistant hospital-acquired infection are both significant factors that Show Full Answer
That's a really important question, and your surgical history is definitely something your neurologist needs to know about in detail before any DBS discussion moves forward.
Having spinal hardware (rods from T10 to S1) and a prior history of a drug-resistant hospital-acquired infection are both significant factors that could affect DBS candidacy and risk. Here's why this matters for DBS:
- Existing implanted hardware can complicate the placement of DBS components, including the wires that run under the skin from the brain to the chest device
- A history of resistant infection raises red flags for surgeons, as DBS surgery involves implanting foreign materials (electrodes, wires, and a pulse generator) — all of which can become sites for infection
- Infection is already a known risk of DBS surgery even without prior infection history, so a past resistant bug could elevate that risk further
The good news is that your prior infection *did* clear up, which matters. However, your surgical team would likely want to review your full infection history carefully. It would be worth asking your neurologist for a referral to a DBS surgical team who can review your complete medical history — spinal hardware, infection records, and all. They can give a much clearer picture of your personal risk level. Don't be shy about asking them direct questions about how your history specifically affects the risk.
September 4
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