MOVEMENT DISORDERS PROGRAM
The Movement Disorder Program, established at MUSC in 1998,
offers the most novel minimally invasive surgical therapies
for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and essential
tremor, as well as other selected movement disorders such
as dystonia, spasticity, torticollis, and hemifacial
spasm. The surgical procedures offered for the treatment
of Parkinson's disease and tremor include thalamotomy , pallidotomy,
and deep brain
stimulation.
All patients referred for consideration of surgery are initially
evaluated and screened by Dr. Kenneth Bergmann, Director of
the newly formed MUSC Parkinson's Center. The patient's history,
neurological status, current and past medications, and overall
condition are reviewed. For patients who have failed medical
therapy, if the initial evaluation suggests that the patient
may benefit from surgery, they are then referred to Dr. Wagner
(neuropsychologist) for baseline testing of cognitive function
(memory and language testing). This testing is repeated at 6
months and 1 year following surgery. Many patients are now evaluated
prior to surgery by Physical and Occupational therapists to
assess the impact of their condition on routine activities of
daily living (many patients also find additional occupational
therapy to be of significant benefit following surgery). Once
it is felt that surgery is appropriate, a MRI is obtained. The
patient is referred to Dr. Istvan Takacs, the functional and
stereotactic neurosurgeon at MUSC for preoperative evaluation
and a detailed discussion of the proposed surgery. In most cases,
the patient is admitted the day before surgery. All patients
remain in the hospital overnight for observation and the majority
are discharged the following morning. Outpatient follow-up is
arranged with both the neurosurgeon and the neurologist. The
pre- and postoperative evaluation is summarized as follows:
Preoperative Evaluation
