An eight-year-old girl from Cheshire, named Hayley, has made medical history as the first child to undergo a groundbreaking brain surgery designed to alleviate symptoms of her Dystonic Cerebral Palsy. Dystonia, a chronic neurological disorder, triggers involuntary and often painful muscle spasms.

In January, a team at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool conducted an advanced deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure involving the placement of minute electrodes, as tiny as a grain of rice, into Hayley's brain region controlling movement. These electrodes are linked to a battery implanted under the skin, which sends electrical pulses to modify the problematic signals causing dystonia. This innovative surgery is aimed at reducing Hayley's pain and improving her communication abilities.

The electrodes also collect real-time data on brain activity, allowing surgeons to adjust stimulation settings for optimal results, a feature enhanced by the new BrainSense technology from Medtronic. Consultant Neurosurgeon Jonathan Ellenbogen highlighted the importance of this capability, especially for non-verbal patients like Hayley, in customising treatments.

Hayley, born prematurely at 24 weeks, has severe communication challenges due to her uncontrollable movements. Her father, Gareth, expressed the difficulties in understanding her needs, noting that traditional communication methods like Makaton or Sign Language are not viable. They hope the surgery will enable better head control, allowing Hayley to use eye-tracking technology for communication.