Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus for a patient with drug resistant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: 1 year follow-up

Drug-resistant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (DR-JME) remains a significant challenge in neurology. Traditional management strategies often fail to achieve satisfactory control, necessitating innovative treatments.

This case report aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) in a patient with DR-JME.

We describe the treatment of a patient with DR-JME using STN-DBS. The patient underwent implantation and received high-frequency stimulation (HFS) at the STN.

One year post-implantation, the patient demonstrated a substantial reduction in motor seizure frequency by 87.5%, with improvements in quality of life and seizure severity by 52.0% and 46.7%, respectively. No adverse events were reported during the follow-up period.

This case represents the first report of favorable outcomes with STN-DBS in a patient with DR-JME, suggesting that long-term HFS of the STN may be a promising treatment option for patients suffering from this condition.