Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Hypoxic Myoclonus: A Case Correlating Local Field Potentials to Clinical Outcome.

Abstract

Background: Post-hypoxic myoclonus (PHM) is characterized by generalized myoclonus after hypoxic brain injury. PHM is often functionally impairing and refractory to medical therapies. There are a handful of reports utilizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat medically refractory PHM.

Case report: A 56-year-old woman developed PHM following an anoxic brain injury. Utilizing a stimulating and sensing DBS system, we show clinical improvement in myoclonus at 6 months and correlate it to local field potential (LFP) activity.

Discussion: We present the first case to utilize DBS sensing to correlate LFP activity to myoclonus improvement. Our case contributes to the growing evidence of DBS for PHM.