For the past three years, Parkinson’s disease has stolen neurology patient Vicki Clowes’ smile and robbed her of the ability to walk, but the 65-year-old’s smile and freedom to move has returned thanks to new deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology at Cabrini Health.

“I’ve got my smile back,” a beaming Vicki said. “For the past three years, the muscles in my face had frozen, so I couldn’t smile, and my speech was badly impacted. The use of my legs had deteriorated so much that I could hardly walk. It felt like I had heavy stones in my legs all of the time, and I could barely move them. Even walking just a few metres became too much.”

But it’s a different story for the grandmother of six from Tatura in regional Victoria, who was one of the first people to take advantage of new technology that allows for the more accurate delivery of DBS, with fewer complications, shorter surgery time, and the added bonus of being asleep for the surgery.

“As soon as I woke up from my surgery, I raised my leg to see if the surgery had worked, and sure enough, I could feel the difference instantly,” Vicki said. “And now, just six weeks after my surgery, I’ve got my life back.”

Cabrini Malvern is the first hospital in the southern hemisphere to acquire the new technology, which was funded by generous Cabrini Foundation donors.

Cabrini neurologist, Associate Professor Wesley Thevathasan, and neurosurgeon, Mr Kristian Bulluss, work in tandem during the complex surgery to deliver the DBS implantation with sub-millimetre accuracy using the new Stereotactic Ultralight System (SUSy) technology, and an intraoperative Airo CT scanner. The system means best possible outcomes are achievable for patients with movement disorders, which include Parkinson’s disease, dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions) and essential tremors.

“This is a game-changer,” A/Prof Thevathasan said. “With deep brain stimulation, electrode placement is all about location, location, location. We need an incredible degree of accuracy – ideally within one millimetre. Beyond a millimetre, the benefit can start to decay and beyond two millimetres, it often means we have to come back and revise the electrode into a better position.

“With this technique, the patient gets an optimal outcome. What we’re expecting for our patients with movement disorders is real transformation, far better function, and improved quality of life.”

Vicki, who showed early signs of Parkinson’s about 10 years ago, is testament that DBS can be transformative for people living with movement disorders. Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. It affects about 10 million people worldwide, and about 50 Australians are diagnosed with the disease every day.

Mr Bulluss said the innovative design of this new technology has the additional benefit of allowing patients to be asleep during surgery, which is far less traumatic than the current technique that usually requires patients to be awake.

“This new frame is made from carbon fibre instead of metal, which means our view of the brain isn’t obscured on the scanner we use during the procedure, which means our patient doesn’t need to be awake,” Mr Bulluss said.

“Greater visibility of the electrode placement is critical for accurately delivering deep brain stimulation. So, not only are we able to deliver the electrode with sub-millimetre accuracy to brain structures the size of a grain of rice, there’s also less chance of brain trauma, a reduced likelihood that a repeat procedure is required, and shorter operation times, meaning recovery post-surgery is better.”

For Vicki, who was able to go away on a short holiday with her husband Ken for the first time in what felt like a long time, the surgery has not only restored the use of her legs and seen her smile return so soon after surgery, she now also has her life back.

“I can’t quite believe the difference it’s made to my life, and my family’s lives,” she said. “I didn’t want to be a grandparent who couldn’t be involved in my grandchildren’s lives. I can go to their footy and netball games again, and we can make plans again. Last week, Ken and I walked the full length of the Welshpool Pier, and back again – about 1.5 kilometres. I couldn’t have dreamed of ever walking that far without this surgery.

“I’m so grateful and now I can’t take the smile off my face.”

Story originally covered by 10News First.

Read the media release on Cabrini’s new deep brain stimulation technology.