Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli, affects millions of individuals worldwide and can significantly impact quality of life. While various treatment modalities have been explored for tinnitus management, many patients remain refractory to conventional therapies. Deep Brain stimulation (DBS), a neuromodulation technique that involves the delivery of electrical impulses to specific brain regions, has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for treatment-resistant tinnitus. In this comprehensive review, we explore the current state of knowledge regarding the use of DBS for tinnitus, including its underlying mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical evidence, patient selection criteria, surgical techniques, outcomes and future directions for research and clinical practice. We discuss the potential of DBS to modulate aberrant neural activity within the central auditory pathway and its effects on tinnitus perception and severity. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges and limitations of DBS for tinnitus, including variability in treatment response, optimal stimulation parameters and long-term efficacy. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the potential role of DBS as a novel therapeutic approach for the management of treatment-resistant tinnitus and underscores the need for further research to optimize its clinical utility.
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Journal of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery received 2 citations as per Google Scholar report
