AANS Member Reports Positive Preliminary Results on Noninvasive Deep Brain Treatment for Essential Tremor at CNS Meeting

In a presentation at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons on Oct. 3, 2011, University of Virginia neurosurgeon W. Jeffrey Elias, MD, FAANS, reported that preliminary results of a pilot clinical trial indicate that MR-guided focused ultrasound has the potential to safely and effectively control essential tremor (ET), a common neurological condition that affects 10 million Americans.

Results from the study’s first 10 patients showed a 78 percent improvement in contralateral tremor scores in the hand, as assessed with the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Patients’ functional activities scores improved by 92 percent, as measured in the ‘Disability’ subsection of the CRST. Outcomes and complications were comparable to other procedures for tremor, including stereotactic thalamotomy and deep brain stimulation.

“So far, this noninvasive treatment has been life-changing for patients,” said Dr. Elias, the study’s principal investigator and Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at UVA. “All now have improved ability to use their dominant hand to perform tasks that they couldn’t do before treatment, such as writing legibly, drinking and eating without spilling, and buttoning clothes. It has been exciting to see their immediate improvements.”

To read more about the study, click here to read the full release.