Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for movement disorders, but its long-term efficacy may be undermined by hardware complications such as lead fractures. These complications increase healthcare costs and necessitate surgical revisions. The frequency, timing, and clinical factors associated with lead fractures remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to determine the incidence, timing, and clinical factors associated with lead fractures in a large cohort of DBS patients over a 10-year period. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 325 patients who underwent bilateral DBS implantation at the National Centre for Neurosurgery from 2013 to 2023. The analysis specifically focused on 17 patients who experienced lead fractures during the long-term follow-up period. Results: Among the 325 patients, lead fractures were identified in 17 patients (5.23%), affecting 18 electrodes. The majority of cases involved patients with Parkinson’s disease (76.5%) or dystonia (23.5%), with an average age of 59.17 ± 8.77 years. Nearly all patients with lead fractures had a history of trauma. Additionally, two cases were associated with active engagement in sports, particularly activities involving movements like pulling up on a horizontal bar, while Twiddler’s Syndrome was identified in two other cases. All electrode fractures required surgical revision. Conclusions: Lead fractures, while rare, remain a significant complication in DBS systems. Precise surgical techniques, early detection, and advancements in DBS hardware design may help to mitigate this risk. Future innovations, such as durable leads or wireless systems, may improve long-term outcomes in DBS therapy for movement disorders.

Background: A vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare congenital cerebral vascular condition with a high mortality rate if left untreated. This study describes the long-term outcomes of patients with VGAM, who were treated with endovascular embolization. Methods: This retrospective analysis focused on VGAM patients who underwent one or more endovascular embolization sessions between January 2008 and December 2022. The study included newborns and children under 18 years. Data encompassed clinical and demographic characteristics, types of endovascular embolization, treatment complications, mortality rates, and long-term outcomes. Results: Out of 22 VGAM cases, the majority were boys (86.36%), and the average age of the participants was 38 months, ranging from 25 days to 17 years. Endovascular embolization using liquid embolizing agents was the most common intervention (50%), and around 73% of patients underwent multiple sessions. Some patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) due to persistent hydrocephalus. In long-term outcomes, four patients (18.2%) showed developmental delays, and 16 patients (72.7%) had a positive outcome. Conclusions: Combining endovascular therapy with a comprehensive management strategy significantly reduces mortality rates and improves the possibility of normal neurological development in patients.

Safety and efficacy of flow diverter stents in the treatment of bifurcation cerebral aneurysms: single-center experience - Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Background and Objectives: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between arteries and veins, lacking a normal capillary network. Seizures are a common clinical manifestation in patients with brain AVMs, ranking as the second most frequent presentation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of seizure activity in patients with brain AVMs following surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: This study included 27 patients with brain AVMs who underwent microsurgical AVM resection for symptomatic epilepsy. All surgical interventions were performed at JSC “National Centre for Neurosurgery” between 2008 and 2020. Results: Over an average follow-up period of 98.07 ± 45.6 months, 82 patients with brain AVMs underwent open microsurgical resection at the National Centre for Neurosurgery. Among them, 27 patients presented with seizures and had complete follow-up information, qualifying them for inclusion in this study. The participants had a mean age of 32.59 ± 9.06 years, with 13 of them being women. The Spetzler–Martin grading system was used to classify the AVMs: 6 patients had grade 1, 13 had grade 2, 7 had grade 3, and 1 had grade 4. More than half of the patients experienced generalized seizures. Microsurgical removal of the AVMs resulted in seizure remission for all patients. Only one patient experienced postoperative hemorrhage during the follow-up period. Additionally, one patient developed acute postoperative anemia, which resolved with a favorable outcome. Conclusions: Microsurgical resection of brain AVMs, when performed with careful patient selection, leads to a significant reduction in seizure activity. It is a safe and effective treatment option for symptomatic epilepsy associated with brain AVMs.

Twiddler’s syndrome is an uncommon complication of deep brain stimulation, arising from the inadvertent rotation of the implanted pulse generator, which results in lead coiling, displacement, or fracture. This results in stimulation failure and symptom recurrence, often necessitating surgical revision. While well-documented in cardiac devices, Twiddler’s syndrome remains infrequent in operations. Early diagnosis through radiographic imaging and impedance abnormalities is crucial for prompt intervention. We report two cases of Twiddler’s syndrome in patients with movement disorders: a 73-year-old male with Parkinson’s disease and a 55-year-old female with multifocal dystonia, both of whom had bilateral deep brain stimulation with left-sided dual-channel implanted pulse generator. After years of effective symptom control, both patients presented with worsening motor symptoms. Device examination revealed abnormal impedance readings, and imaging confirmed extensive lead coiling. Surgical revision was performed, including lead replacement and implanted pulse generator repositioning under the pectoralis fascia. Both patients demonstrated significant symptom improvement postoperatively, with restored impedance levels and functional recovery. Twiddler’s syndrome is a rare but critical complication of deep brain stimulation, leading to hardware failure and clinical deterioration. Early diagnosis through imaging and impedance monitoring is essential. Preventive strategies, including secure implanted pulse generator fixation and careful pocket sizing, are key to minimizing risk and improving patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: The case describes the management of a giant and recurrent aneurysm in a patient. The treatment involved a combination of microsurgical protective low-flow, followed by high-flow revascularization and parent artery occlusion. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient presented with severe headaches and progressive visual impairment. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a giant saccular intracranial aneurysm in the left internal carotid artery. The examination also revealed hypoplasia of the right anterior cerebral artery and a fetal-type left posterior cerebral artery originating from the neck of the aneurysm. Considering the location and size of the aneurysm, a combination of endovascular and microsurgical approaches was applied. A protective low-flow procedure was followed by high-flow revascularization and occlusion of the parent artery. After 12 months, the aneurysm recanalized through the graft. To address the recurrence of giant complex aneurysms, endovascular embolization was performed through the radial artery grafts. These interventions showed positive midterm outcomes for the patient's giant aneurysm. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of complex giant aneurysms, it is important to consider both endovascular and microsurgical approaches as complementary, rather than mutually exclusive. Endovascular embolization using radial artery grafts may be used when dealing with retrograde recanalization and the challenges associated with accessing the aneurysm.