Innovative surgery that implants a smart system to treat deep brain stimulation (DBS) for primary tremor The results show high success rates in reducing symptoms over time and improving quality of life Dr. Tamir: “This is a new horizon for patients suffering from Parkinson’s, dystonia and epilepsy”
A groundbreaking operation was performed in Beilinson: For the first time in Israel, an innovative operation was performed in Beilinson from the Clalit Group – transplantation of the SENSIGHT system in a 70-year-old patient who suffered an initial tremor for more than 10 years. The new system implanted in her brain treats deep brain stimulation (DBS) to reduce primary tremor.
The system enables a focused electric current provided as part of the brain treatment to a designated area of the brain which is involved in the creation of the tremor, optimal control of the tremor over time, and bilaterally (for both halves of the body and treatment of tremor of the head and voice).
Controlling the direction of the current also makes it possible to avoid possible side effects (reversals), such as circumcision (sensory disturbance), speech disturbance and disturbance in balance. In addition, the system also allows for prolonged electrical recording from the depths of the brain. This record allows for follow-up in the clinic after surgery on the brain activity that predicts the severity of the tremor, and the degree of improvement in the tremor. Activation of the system causes an improvement of about 90% in the severity of the tremor, over time.
The newly implanted system makes it possible to offer patients with a primary horizon a new horizon – reversible and safe treatment, which brings maximum control of the tremor of the hands and head, automatically and with long-term effectiveness.
According to Dr. Idit Tamir, director of the Beilinson Functional Neurosurgery Unit: “Primary tremor is diagnosed in about 5% of the population, in young people and adults alike. “It is sometimes severe and causes a severe limitation in function – difficulty holding a cup of coffee, a tablespoon of soup or a fork, difficulty shaving, writing, typing and other daily activities that most of us do without thinking and without effort.”
According to Tamir, “Many patients are ashamed and embarrassed by the tremor, also due to many comments received from the environment and the need to explain and even apologize for their situation at work and in social settings, which causes avoidance and social isolation from the environment.
“Following my surgery my patient will be able to eat at the restaurant again without being ashamed that the food is falling off the cutlery, tell a story to her grandson without her voice shaking, sign a check at the bank without having to explain to the clerk that she has no Parkinson’s. Do not think twice after each exit from the house. “This is another step up in neurosurgical treatment for neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s, dystonia and epilepsy,” Dr. Tamir concluded.
The surgery to implant the SENSIGHT system was performed at Beilinson Hospital, by a dedicated and skilled team led by Dr. Idit Tamir. The team included anesthesiologists, neurologists, and electrophysiologists.