A woman with Parkinson’s disease played her clarinet while undergoing brain surgery so surgeons could see and hear the immediate impact of their work.
Denise Bacon, 65, experienced instant improvement in her finger movements as the doctors stimulated her brain with an electrical current.
The retired speech and language therapist underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) after suffering symptoms of the disease, including slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014 and it has affected her ability to walk, swim, dance and play her clarinet.
Ms Bacon stayed awake throughout the four hour operation at King’s College Hospital, London, and only received a local anaesthetic to numb her scalp and skull.
The surgical procedure uses electrodes implanted in the brain and is suitable for some patients with disorders such as Parkinson’s.
It led to instant results on the operating table, with Ms Bacon demonstrating more dexterity in her fingers, allowing her to play the clarinet easily.
Professor Ashkan, the neurosurgeon who performed the DBS, said: ‘Holes half the size of a five pence piece were made in Denise’s skull after a frame with precise co-ordinates was placed on Denise’s head, acting as a sat nav to guide us to the correct positions within the brain to implant the electrode.
Denise Bacon, 65, experienced instant improvement in her finger movements as the doctors stimulated her brain with an electrical current
‘Once the electrodes were in place on the left side of Denise’s brain, the current was switched on and an immediate improvement was noted in hand movements on her right side.
‘The same happened on her left side when we implanted electrodes on the right side of her brain.
‘As a keen clarinettist, it was suggested Denise bring her clarinet into the operating theatre to see whether the procedure would improve her ability to play, which was one of Denise’s main goals for the surgery.
‘We were delighted to see an instant improvement in her hand movements, and therefore her ability to play, once stimulation was delivered to the brain.’
Ms Bacon, from Crowborough, East Sussex, played clarinet in the East Grinsted Concert Band until she had to stop five years ago due to her symptoms.
She said: ‘I remember my right hand being able to move with much more ease once the stimulation was applied, and this in turn improved my ability to play the clarinet, which I was delighted with.
‘I’m already experiencing improvements in my ability to walk, and I’m keen to get back in the swimming pool, and on the dance floor to see if my abilities have improved there.’
Ms Bacon opted for a rechargeable type of pulse generator battery that is implanted in her chest, which can last up to 20 years before it requires replacing.
This monitors her brain activity and can help automatically adjust electrical stimulation when needed.
Professor Ashkan said: ‘Deep brain stimulation is one of the most effective, evidence-based and long-lasting therapies to control the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, improving tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement.
‘Modern advances in DBS technology are now allowing us to personalise the therapy to the needs of our patients, with a positive impact on their quality of life.’
Dr Katherine Fletcher, research communications lead at Parkinson’s UK, said: ‘Deep Brain Stimulation can offer people living with Parkinson’s, better control of symptoms when medications are no longer as effective.
‘It’s incredible to hear how this life-changing treatment is not only helping individuals with symptoms, but regain the ability to do the things they love.
‘Parkinson’s UK is proud to have played a role in the development of DBS, and we’re committed to funding further research to advance this treatment and others to improve even more lives in the future.’