For people with uncontrollable tremor, the simple act of drinking a glass of water, eating, or turning the page of a book can be impossible. Deep brain stimulation is a common treatment, but it involves opening up the brain and longer recovery times. At The Neuro, a less invasive procedure is offering hope of relief from this debilitating condition.
鈥淭here were a lot of things I wasn鈥檛 able to do,鈥� says Ren茅 L茅vesque, who had the procedure for his essential tremor three years ago. 鈥淟ike holding a glass of wine, anything liquid. To cut food, especially meat, was very difficult.鈥�
L茅vesque became one of about 50 patients to receive a life-altering treatment from neurosurgeon and researcher Dr. Abbas Sadikot. Magnetic resonance-guided ultrasound applies high-frequency energy through the skull without an incision, directly to the part of the brain that is causing the hand tremors. The procedure is done inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine so doctors can target the energy precisely. The energy is focussed on a specific region of the brain, destroying the cells that cause the tremors.
鈥淥ur program was made possible after our team at 海角社区 obtained a highly competitive grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation,鈥� explains Dr. Sadikot. 鈥淭his technology allows patients with essential tremor or Parkinson鈥檚 disease to get access to a new alternative treatment. Importantly, it also allows us to continue important research and development into new methods for treating many other neurological conditions that have a serious impact on the lives of our patients.鈥�
A first for Quebec, this pioneering treatment began in 2018 as a collaboration between The Neuro and the Montreal General Hospital, two facilities of the 海角社区 Health Centre (MUHC). Montreal is one of only three cities in Canada where this innovative procedure is available.
鈥淭he successful delivery of this procedure is an example of research that leads to concrete, positive results for patients who need it,鈥� says Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of The Neuro. 鈥淎s the first in Quebec to provide MR-guided ultrasound, The Neuro and the MUHC are improving patient care and laying the foundation for further research in this field which will benefit more patients in the future.鈥�
When L茅vesque visited Dr. Sadikot for an examination, he demonstrated his steady right hand. Dr. Sadikot says eight times out of ten the tremors go away permanently. In L茅vesque鈥檚 case, every day without tremors is a gift.
鈥淚t鈥檚 changed my life,鈥� says L茅vesque. 鈥淏efore the surgery, I wasn鈥檛 able to write. I could no longer work with clients because I couldn鈥檛 write and I need to write a lot in my work. But now my writing has improved 96% from what it was.鈥�
