• Parkinson’s patient plays the clarinet during brain surgery to monitor movement in real time
• Surgery shows immediate improvement, giving the patient hope to resume her favorite activities

A British operating room witnessed an extraordinary scene as music and surgical precision came together, a woman with Parkinson’s disease played her clarinet while undergoing delicate brain surgery

The patient, Denise Beacon, underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS), a modern technique in which electrical electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain to control motor symptoms such as tremors and slowed movement

Purpose: Immediate feedback on surgery success

Beacon remained awake and played her instrument for medical reasons, serving as a live auditory indicator for surgeons to monitor the accuracy of the procedure and the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation

Doctors confirmed that they asked her to play the clarinet during the multi-hour operation to observe her finger movements and ability to perform musically

When the stimulation was activated, the medical team noticed an immediate improvement in Beacon’s hand movements, allowing her to play more smoothly

Beacon expressed her joy, saying she felt instant improvement in her mobility and ability to play her beloved instrument, restoring hope that she could return to other favorite activities such as swimming and dancing

This type of surgery, which requires the patient to remain awake under local anesthesia, represents a breakthrough in treating motor disorders that no longer respond to conventional medication