Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders

Biography

Biography: Deborah Symons

Abstract

Lubag disease, an X-linked dystonic parkinsonism is a rapidly progressive and disabling neurodegenerative disease affecting mainly male Filipinos with origins from Panay Island. Deep brain stimulators have been used with promising results in Parkinson’s disease. After failed medical management, a deep brain stimulator was inserted for pain management and symptom control in a patient with advanced Lubag disease. Once medically stable from the operative procedure, the patient was transferred to an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program including physiotherapy, occupational therapy upper limb therapy and speech pathology with swallow rehabilitation. Functional independence measure scores were assessed on admission to the rehabilitation unit and on discharge. There were extensive improvements in functional outcomes after intensive inpatient rehabilitation.