King Abdullah Medical City performs first robotic deep brain stimulation

King Abdullah Medical City, a member of the Makkah Health Cluster, has successfully performed its first robotic-assisted deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. The procedure was conducted on a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease, specifically targeting symptoms such as muscle stiffness, motor fluctuations, and involuntary movements.

The surgical team utilized a robotic system to assist in guiding electrodes to the subthalamic nucleus, a deep brain structure responsible for regulating movement. This technology provides a stable and precise platform, integrating brain imaging and surgical planning to ensure accurate electrode placement while protecting sensitive surrounding neural structures and blood vessels.

DBS involves implanting electrodes into specific brain regions connected to a stimulator that delivers programmed electrical pulses to modulate neural circuits. This advanced treatment option is typically reserved for Parkinson's patients who do not achieve sufficient symptom control through medication alone.

The achievement was the result of a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, movement disorder neurologists, neuro-anesthesiologists, radiologists, and technical staff.