Physicians at Baptist Health Brain & Spine Care are using a game-changing treatment for patients struggling with essential tremor that hasn’t responded well to medications. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFU) uses precisely targeted ultrasound waves to create tiny lesions in the brain, stopping the tremor at its source — without a single incision. HiFU is also being used to treat some patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Justin Sporrer, M.D.
Recently, neurosurgeons at Miami Neuroscience Institute and Marcus Neuroscience Institute, both part of Baptist Health, hit new HiFU milestones, treating 200 and 50 patients respectively. This places them among the most experienced users of the innovative technology in South Florida.
“When someone cannot write their name, eat or drink without spilling, shave safely or do any of the daily tasks most of us take for granted, their quality of life suffers,” said neurosurgeon Justin Sporrer, M.D., director of functional neurosurgery at Miami Neuroscience Institute. “We are here to help.”
Approximately 10 million Americans have essential tremor (ET), a progressive neurological condition that causes uncontrollable shaking. It most often affects the hands, but can also impact the head, voice and legs. Although it’s not life-threatening, it is often extremely disabling.
Timothy Miller, MD
“With HiFU, results are immediate,” said neurosurgeon Timothy Miller, M.D., director of functional neurosurgery at Marcus Neuroscience Institute. “It’s a life-changing option for those with a debilitating disorder.”
Although ET can occur at any age, it is more common as we age. The cause of the movement disorder is unknown, but there appears to be a hereditary link in upwards of half of all patients.
Many patients find it can be controlled at first with medications, but as ET progresses, medications lose their effectiveness. Another treatment option for some patients is deep brain stimulation, which involves surgically placing electrodes in the brain to regulate abnormal signals.
HiFU is an outpatient procedure with long-lasting efficacy. “Most patients experience no side effects. During HiFU, they are awake and real-time MR thermometry allows precise monitoring of tissue heating and lesion formation. Throughout the procedure, we are assessing the patient and having them move or repeat drawing exercises to see the tremor’s improvement,” Dr. Miller said.
For a patient who has ET on both sides of the body, HiFU may be performed twice, once on each side.
“We are excited to offer this innovative treatment to our patients, and we are happy to evaluate your patients to see if they are good candidates,” Dr. Sporrer said.
