Effects of Directional Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation on Gait and Balance in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Deep brain stimulation of the NST is effective for cardinal motor signs in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), its effects on gait disturbances, especially freezing of gait-FOG, and falls are variable from one patient to another, in part depending on the location of the NST-stimulating contact. The ability to change the shape of the current field, and thus the volume of activated tissue, with a directional stimulation electrode is a new treatment option for NSC SCP patients with Parkinson's disease. In this pilot research program, the main objective is to determine the impact of directional DBS on gait and balance issues for PD patients implanted in the STN, using previously described anatomical and functional data for gait disturbances to guide directional programming. Ten patients with Patients with severe form of Parkinson's disease eligible to deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, will be included in two French sites.