Spinal solution

A new approach to treating Parkinson's Plus Syndrome, a first in India

- Prathima Nandakumar

Mary (name changed), a 65-year-old from Europe, arrived in Bengaluru in a wheelchair, grappling with the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's Plus Syndrome (PPS). Having endured years of fruitless medical consultations across France, England and Africa, she found herself at Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, where she was diagnosed and given relief through an innovative treatment.

PPS, a variant of Parkinson's disease, presents a unique set of challenges including early-onset dementia, hallucinations and balance issues, making traditional medication ineffective. Mary's case was particularly severe, marked by a loss of bladder control, speech impediment, and a near-complete loss of mobility. Traditional treatment avenues exhausted, the medical team swiftly formulated a novel approach—high cervical spinal cord stimulation.