FORT WAYNE, IND. – JULY 27, 2023 – A new treatment using focused ultrasound waves is helping patients in northeast Indiana by reducing involuntary tremors that impact their daily functioning.
Parkview Health is the only health system in northern Indiana offering focused ultrasound to patients afflicted by essential tremors. The treatment first became available in January through the Parkview Neurosciences Movement Disorders team.
Essential tremors are a movement disorder characterized by involuntary shaking. Tremors can present as rhythmic shaking or twitching that typically starts in the fingers or hands. The tremors can grow in intensity over time and spread to other parts of the body, including the head, torso or feet. Tremors can create challenges in completing everyday activities, such as grasping and lifting, and can even impact speech.
Parkview’s focused ultrasound treatment uses sound waves directed by MRI to precisely target a portion the thalamus, a central hub in the brain and the area responsible for causing essential tremors. The minimally invasive treatment can help immediately reduce tremors and lead to continuing improvement with minimal side effects. Ultrasound treatments require no anesthesia, incisions, ionization or radiation and can be completed as an outpatient procedure.
In order for the procedure to be successful, patients must complete a thorough pre-surgery evaluation with Tara Kimbason, MD, Parkview Physicians Group (PPG) – Neurology, who is fellowship-trained in movement disorders. If a patient meets the criteria, their procedure is performed utilizing the coordinated efforts of Dr. Kimbason and William Young, MD, PPG – Neurosurgery, who has received specialized surgical training for movement disorders. Additionally, Parkview’s radiology and nursing teams assist during the procedure.
“We are developing a unique program at Parkview for the treatment of these complex and debilitating conditions,” said Fen Lei Chang, MD, medical director, Parkview Neurosciences. “It is truly a team effort, combining the expertise of Neurology’s Dr. Kimbason and Neurosurgery’s Dr. Young, along with support from others on our multidisciplinary care team. We are very excited by our early results and look forward to seeing improved quality of life for our patients.”
The new treatment has already helped patients like Beverly Zuber, a grandmother with a family history of essential tremors. After first noticing shaking in her head, she began to suffer more severe tremors affecting her hands and voice, making it difficult to pour water into a glass or color with her grandchildren.
After having limited results with medications, Zuber was one of Parkview’s first patients to receive focused ultrasound treatment. During the procedure, doctors mapped Zuber’s brain via MRI and used the focused sound waves to blast cells responsible for her tremors. While Zuber was conscious on the bed, doctors were able to interact with her during the procedure to test her responses and ensure the treatment was not impacting other parts of her brain.
Following her focused ultrasound treatment, Zuber showed immediate improvement, with increased steadiness that continued to grow over time.
“I wanted to have tea parties with my granddaughters. I wanted to, most of all, color with all the grandkids. I wanted to blaze a trail for my family. I wanted to present options or make it more accessible in Fort Wayne. I didn’t have a choice, so I went for it,” Zuber said. “Having the focused ultrasound gave me back my right hand and this is just one more stride, one more option, one more miracle for people like me.”
Strong candidates for focused ultrasound treatment are those who are suffering from debilitating tremors in their extremities and have tried at least two different anti-tremor medications without positive results. Patients who have newly developed tremors are generally not good candidates and should consult with their neurologist about other available treatments to try first.
For more information about focused ultrasound, visit Parkview Neurosciences online at parkview.com/focusedultrasound or call 260-425-6780. The website includes a video about Zuber’s experience and an overview of the focused ultrasound treatment.