• Manuela Rosa, Emma Scelzo, Marco Locatelli, Giorgio Carrabba, Vincenzo Levi, Mattia Arlotti, Sergio Barbieri, Paolo Rampini, and Alberto Priori.
• Clinical Center for Neurostimulation, Neurotechnology, and Movement Disorders, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
• World Neurosurg. 2017 Jan 1; 97: 64-69.

ObjectiveAdaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) controlled by local field potentials (LFPs) is considered a promising treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The clinical research investigating aDBS functioning is performed using external deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems that require LFP recording through the temporary externalization of DBS leads. Although research examining LFP was first undertaken more than 20 years ago, only a few studies concern lead externalization and LFP recording safety. In the present retrospective study, we assessed the risk of infection related to these procedures.MethodsA total of 105 patients with PD who underwent DBS surgery and lead externalization at our hospital from 2002 to 2014 were included in the present study. The medical records were used to collect clinical data and information concerning surgical site infections. We assessed the infection incidence in our cohort and the risk of infection related to the LFP recording procedure.ResultsThe incidence of infections in patients who underwent lead externalization was 2.8%, which was consistent with the postoperative infectious risk reported in the literature (Wilcoxon signed rank test; P > 0.05). Moreover, the LFP recording procedure did not significantly increase the infection risk (LFP recordings vs. no LFP recordings: 2.5% vs. 4.2%; Fisher exact test; P > 0.05).ConclusionsDBS lead externalization and LFP recording are safe and do not increase the postoperative infection risk in patients with PD who undergo DBS surgery. Our retrospective study supported further clinical research in the field of LFP-based aDBS.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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