Ultrasound Method for Treating Tremors Proven Effective

-Article Published in The New England Journal of Medicine

 

 

A Yonsei research team, led by Neurosurgeon Jin Woo Chang, joined with eleven international clinical research centers to run a randomized trial on the effectiveness of focused ultrasound thalamotomy to treat essential tremor, the most commonly diagnosed movement disorder. What they discovered is that this MRI-guided method significantly reduces hand tremors in patients with essential tremor. The results of the trial were reported August 25 in The New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals.

 

Speaking of the work with all his collaborators, Dr. Chang said: “We are pleased with the results of the trial, which addressed major issues for patients suffering from essential tremor. It has been difficult for many patients and their families to decide whether to receive treatment for essential tremor, because the main treatment for it often included scalpels and drills. However, with this positive data on the ultrasound procedure, patients can be treated more easily and will be able to return to performing daily tasks with greater ease, while enjoying a better quality of life.” He added: “Procedures utilizing similar MRI methods have been studied for the treatment of other disorders, like Parkinson’s disease, and neuropathic pain, such as often occurs in depression and OCD.”