Breakthrough implant surgery may help patients to control agony caused by major injury.

The “deep brain stimulation” operation involves drilling two tiny holes in the skull so that two electrodes can be implanted deep in the brain. The electrodes are wired to a brain “pacemaker,” a device that sends out low voltage electrical signals to the brain.

The implants are thought to affect the functioning of the sensory pathways in the brain. Following an injury to the nerves, the brain may no longer get signals from a particular part of the body, creating an area of “silence.”

Metronic Neurostimulation System Components and Implantation