Man plays trombone during brain surgery

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) - A unique surgical procedure performed by a Wisconsin doctor was recently documented in an academic journal for hitting all of the right notes. Literally.

Brian Rust needed a deep brain stimulation procedure in order to fix his hand tremors.

The operation required small holes drilled into his skull, and Rust needed to be fully awake the entire time.

Rust brought something unusual with him into the operating room to help his surgeon, Dr. Wendell Lake, ensure he was targeting the correct parts of his brain.

He brought his trombone.

Dr. Lake said he would never forget such a groundbreaking and out of the ordinary operating room experience.

“I have had patients do these basic battery of tests before, like writing, or drawing, drinking from a cup, but this was the first time we had a musical instrument,” Lake said.

Since the surgery, Rust has fully recovered and is back to playing his favorite instrument.

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