High Resolution MRI for Childhood Deep Brain Stimulation

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Ultra-high resolution 7T MRI mapping of basal ganglia connectivity on an individual patient basis for Paediatric Deep Brain Stimulation

  • IRAS ID

    274140

  • Contact name

    Daniel E Lumsden

  • Contact email

    daniel.lumsden@gstt.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 3 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Dystonia is a neurological disorder causing involuntary muscle contractions that twist the body into abnormal postures. Dystonia is painful, interferes with function, and reduces quality of life. The commonest cause of dystonia in childhood is cerebral palsy (CP), which affects 2-3:1000 live births in the UK. The benefits of medications to reduce dystonia are often very limited, and frequently accompanied by significant side effects. For this reason, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is increasingly used in the management of dystonia in childhood. This is a neurosurgical procedure which involves the insertion of electrodes into deep regions of the brain called the basal ganglia. These electrodes are connected to a pacemaker like device, which delivers a continuous electrical stimulation to the brain. Outcomes following DBS in children with CP are more variable then for many other conditions causing dystonia in childhood. Accurate placement of the stimulating electrode within the basal ganglia is key to the success of DBS. For children with CP, it can be difficult to precisely visualise the basal ganglia structures on clinically available Magnetic Resonance imaging scanners. The new generation of 7 Tesla MRI scanners (a much stronger magnetic field strength) allow much higher resolution images of the brain to be collected. For a group of children with CP who are planned to have DBS surgery, we will collect MRI images on both a 3 Tesla and a 7 Tesla MRI scanner, comparing how well they can be used to plan DBS surgery, as well as the information they can provide us on how DBS works to reduce dystonia by measuring connections from the basal ganglia to other parts of the brain. This is an academic study, funded by the Medical Research Council, and jointly sponsored by King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust.

  • REC name

    London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/LO/0410

  • Date of REC Opinion

    8 Jul 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion