A groundbreaking procedure at a Long Island hospital is offering new hope to patients who suffer from essential tremor, a nervous system disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking. The treatment relies on focused ultrasound rather than traditional surgery, and doctors say it can bring immediate, often life-changing relief, with the potential to help patients with other conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
One of those patients is James Broughton, a 77-year-old from North Massapequa who had battled essential tremor for years. About two months ago, he underwent the procedure, described by doctors as life-changing, at North Shore University Hospital, where the medical team used focused sound waves to still his shaking hands.
For years, the tremor had disrupted the simplest tasks. On a cruise with his wife, Broughton's hands shook so badly while he was pouring soup that he burned himself. Driving had become a source of embarrassment, he said, as other people would notice his hand trembling on the wheel.
The treatment is known as HIFU, short for high-intensity focused ultrasound. Rather than operating, doctors focus ultrasound beams through the skull to create a tiny lesion at a precise spot in the brain, targeting the source of the tremor without any incision or open surgery.
The procedure lasts about an hour and a half and is guided by an MRI. The patient's head is shaved and he remains awake throughout, as the medical team makes several attempts to zero in on and heat the exact spot. To keep the mood light during the session, Broughton's neurosurgeon played songs, including the classic Hit Me With Your Best Shot.
The results, doctors and patients say, can be striking, with the tremor appearing to vanish almost instantly. According to the hospital, more than ninety-five percent of patients see a greater than ninety percent reduction in their tremor. HIFU is approved by the FDA and covered by insurance, which the hospital hopes will make it accessible to more people.
Essential tremor affects roughly ten million people, and the same procedure is also used to treat tremors caused by Parkinson's disease. Many patients are unaware that the option even exists, and the hospital says it hopes word spreads so that more of them can improve their quality of life.