Mercyhealth physician performs hospital’s first VIVISTIM surgical procedure

Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville is advancing innovative neurosurgical care with Brandyn Castro, MD, neurosurgeon, who performed the hospital's first VIVISTIM surgical procedure, offering new hope for patients working to regain movement and independence following a stroke.

VIVISTIM is a neurostimulation therapy designed to help improve upper-extremity motor function in people experiencing arm and hand weakness following a stroke. The system works by pairing targeted electrical stimulation with rehabilitation exercises, helping the brain and muscles work together to reinforce movement pathways.

For patients living with the effects of a stroke, even everyday activities - such as reaching, grasping, eating, or dressing - can become challenging. VIVISTIM is designed to complement rehabilitation by helping patients work toward improved mobility and function in the affected arm and hand.

"Bringing the level of complex, innovative neurosurgical care typically associated with academic medical centers to the communities we serve is at the heart of what we are building at Mercyhealth," said Dr. Castro. "I want our patients to have access to advanced surgical techniques, evolving technology and comprehensive neurosurgical care without having to travel far from home. VIVISTIM is an exciting example of that commitment. Until now, many patients recovering from stroke have relied primarily on physical and occupational therapy to regain function in a weakened arm or hand. VIVISTIM gives us another tool to enhance that rehabilitation by using neurostimulation to help reinforce the brain's pathways for movement. Bringing this technology to Janesville, Wisconsin, means patients can access this innovative approach to stroke recovery without having to travel to an academic center."

The introduction of VIVISTIM at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville reflects Mercyhealth's commitment to bringing advanced treatment options closer to home for patients throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

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