Medical College of Wisconsin Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program

Our movement disorders team provides comprehensive surgical care for the full range of movement disorders. Patients with Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, and Dystonia may be candidates for surgical treatments. Our neurosurgeons offer deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound thalamotomy and pallidotomy to treat these disorders.

DBS involves the surgical placement of electrodes into specific areas of the brain, connected to an implanted generator placed under the skin below the collar bone. The generator provides electrical impulses to the brain to help control movement symptoms, including tremor, stiffness, and slowness, and potentially reduce medication use. Our neurosurgeons perform these procedures awake and asleep, using the most advanced techniques available.

FUS is a novel surgical procedure that involves the creation of a small lesion in the areas of the brain typically treated with DBS. During the procedure, the head is shaved to allow ultrasound waves to pass through the skin, ultrasound waves are focused on the area to be treated, and a lesion created. The procedure is performed as a same-day surgery and tremor control is typically immediate. Program start estimate: Fall 2025.

Evaluation for surgery involves detailed assessment by our movement disorders specialists and neurosurgeons. Patients will typically undergo clinical evaluation, imaging with advanced MRI sequences and CT scans, and neuropsychological assessment. Our multi-disciplinary team meets to discuss the evaluation and provide an individualized care plan for every patient. Our goal is to provide the best care possible.