As more Parkinson's treatments involving surgery move into phase II clinical trials, (such as CERE120 and GAD gene therapies and Spheramine cell therapy), we can expect increased use of sham surgery in clinical trial designs.

As a placebo control, sham surgery is used. Patients will "go through the motions" of having real surgery, but the brain's dura will not be penetrated. This means there will be some patients that will undergo anesthesia, have IV solutions, have burr holes drilled into their heads, and be surgically prepped, but will not receive the treatment under trial. No one other than the neurosurgeon will know who receives the sham surgery.

What is your view of the use of sham brain surgery in Parkinson’s research?

To read more about sham surgery and reply to a short survey being conducted by the Parkinson Pipeline Project-- go to www.pdpipeline.org and click on "Survey on Sham Surgery" (under "What's New?" ) If preferred, responses can be anonymous.

Thank you. We need and appreciate your opinions.

Peggy
link:
www.pdpipeline.org