Focused ultrasound, a state-of-the-art procedure available at Regional One Health’s East Campus, helps patients get relief for severe hand tremors caused by essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease.
The FDA recently approved the procedure for treating both sides of the body rather than just one.
Focused ultrasound is a non-surgical procedure with no incision and no hospital stay, and clinical studies have shown it to be highly safe and effective.
For the past several years, Regional One Health has been helping patients with essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease reclaim their independence by making the state-of-the-art focused ultrasound treatment available right here in the Mid-South.
Now, there is more good news for patients who have difficulty performing day-to-day tasks due to a hand tremor: the FDA recently approved focused ultrasound for both sides of the body. The new FDA approval is expected to benefit many patients, as it is common for essential tremor to impact both sides of the body.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help patients who are dealing with tremors in both hands,” said Dr. Douglas Taylor, the neurosurgeon who leads Regional One Health’s focused ultrasound team.
“Before, patients who were experiencing tremors in both hands would have to choose which one to address. Now, we can give patients who qualify the option of treating both hands.”
During a focused ultrasound, patients lie on a treatment table as the upper half of their body moves in and out of an MRI over 2-3 hours. There is no incision and no hospital stay.
Focused ultrasound treats tremors non-surgically, meaning there is no incision and no hospital stay. Instead, it uses safe ultrasound energy guided by MRI technology to identify the exact spot in the brain responsible for tremor and then treat it via a tiny ablation.
Patients must be 22 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of essential tremor or tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease, and must have tried medication without success. Patients also undergo a screening process that includes a CT scan of their skull to make sure they are a good candidate.
Before the focused ultrasound procedure, patients have their head shaved and are fitted with a helmet to help ultrasound waves pass through their skull. Then, during the procedure, patients lie on a treatment table as the upper half of their body moves in and out of the MRI several times over the course of 2-3 hours.
While in the MRI, Dr. Taylor locates the exact spot in the brain to treat and then performs several sonifications, or applications of ultrasound energy. Patients are awake and alert the whole time and are asked to perform simple tasks, like touching their finger to the doctor’s finger or drawing a spiral, to make sure the procedure is working. Most patients go home the same day with immediate and lasting tremor relief.
Patients are required to wait at least nine months between their focused ultrasound procedures. Also, they cannot have experienced clinically significant dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), abnormal speech, or moderate to severe gait abnormalities following their first procedure.
Patients who have a second focused ultrasound can expect a similar experience and results as the first time around. A clinical study that followed patients for six months shows a second focused ultrasound is likely to provide the same benefits as the patient’s first procedure.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Douglas Taylor leads Regional One Health’s focused ultrasound team. “We’re thrilled to be able to help patients who are dealing with tremors in both hands,” he said.
According to Insightec, the manufacturer of Regional One Health’s focused ultrasound system, “Data from the study showed a significant reduction in tremor following treatment of the second side. These results were immediate and sustained through at least six months of follow-up, consistent with results in Insightec’s sponsored study of treatment of the first side.”
“There was a significant improvement in functional disability, which suggests a clinically meaningful effect in activities of daily living, like eating, drinking and writing. The majority of adverse events were mild, with a similar safety profile to treatment of the first side.”
On average, patients receiving a second focused ultrasound experienced a 66 percent reduction in tremor and 73 percent improvement in function.
Most side effects were mild and transient, clearing up within three days. Common side effects include mild fatigue, headache, dizziness, clumsiness and difficulty with speech.