Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion criteria A patient will be eligible for inclusion in this trial if all of the following criteria apply: * Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial. * Willing and able to follow pre and post-operative procedures in Oxford. * Aged 21 years or above. * Diagnosed as having central post stroke pain of 2 years' minimum duration refractory to best medical/non-medical treatment * Mean usual VAS (or NRS) pain score \> 6/10 despite input from a multidisciplinary pain team. Exclusion criteria A patient will not be eligible for the trial if any of the following apply: * Contraindication for elective general anaesthesia, for example but not limited to severe cardiovascular disease, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, etc. * Previous implantation of a DBS device with device still in situ. * Contraindication to MRI * Contraindication to neurosurgery, e.g. Bleeding disorders, not able to stop anticoagulation safely for perioperative phase (approx. 10 days, 5 days pre-operatively, 5 days postoperatively) Major psychiatric or cognitive disorder that may affect mental capacity that is untreated or may otherwise affect the participant's ability to engage in the trial * Active skin-based infection or colonisation with a multi-drug resistant organism e.g. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) * Requires regular MRI investigations post-operatively * Likely to require diathermy, ultrasound or transcranial magnetic stimulation post DBS device insertion * Not tolerant of awake surgery * Unable to cooperate with device recharging * Pregnancy or planned pregnancy * In the investigator's opinion unable to comply with the protocol