On June 8, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center became the first hospital in Central Florida to provide an incisionless brain surgery to treat essential tremor (ET) and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease that is unable to be controlled with medication.

ET is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by tremor, often in the hands, trunk, voice, legs or arms. ET severely impacts patients’ abilities to perform daily activities. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million Americans, which is 10 times the number of people living with Parkinson’s disease. Tremors are the primary symptom of ET and affect about 10% of patients.

Employing focused ultrasound, guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the contemporary, scalpel-free therapy targets soundwave energy into the brain. This process treats the tissue causing tremors. This is an incisionless procedure and does not require anesthesia. Many patients experience instant improvement in hand tremor with minimal reported complications.

“For patients who qualify, MRI-guided focused ultrasound provides an incisionless treatment option, performed on an outpatient basis with short recovery time and often immediate results,” said Dr. Nizam Razack, neurosurgeon at UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. “Not only are we the first hospital in Central Florida to offer focused ultrasound for essential tremor, we’re also one of the very few centers nationally capable of providing the procedure. By expanding access to this treatment here in our region, we can help restore independence and provide relief for individuals suffering from debilitating and progressive tremors.”

Jen Stratton, one of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center’s first patients, underwent the procedure on June 4. Stratton was diagnosed with ET at the age of six. The most predominant tremor is in her hands, but she finds that if she is really nervous, she experiences tremor throughout her body. Throughout her personal and professional life, she has made adjustments for the tremor, but it has presented her with unique struggles. She hopes to encourage others with the same debilitating condition to believe that there is hope. 

This procedure was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 as an alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS is a more invasive form of treatment. Benefits of MR-guided focused ultrasound include:

• Quicker recovery time with patients returning to activities within days
• Reduced risk of infection due to the incisionless procedure
• Substantial and nearly instant reduction in hand tremors

“When we opened UCF Lake Nona Medical Center in March, we made a commitment to the residents of Lake Nona and surrounding communities to not only increase access to excellent, patient-centered care in the region but also to bring innovative technology, treatments and tools to Greater Orlando,” said Wendy Brandon, CEO of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. “The launch of our incisionless brain surgery program demonstrates that commitment. We are proud to bring this revolutionary procedure to Central Florida and look forward to the tremendous impact it will have on improving the lives of our patients.”

To learn more, please visit ucflakenonamedicalcenter.com/service/neurological-services.