CLINICAL DIVISIONS

Movement Disorders

For over 20 years, the Movement Disorders Division has evaluated and treated all aspects of movement disorders and conditions including Parkinson’s Disease, other parkinsonisms (i.e., Parkinson plus, multiple system atrophy, progressive suparnuclear palsy [PSP], etc.); systonias including spasmodic torticollis, writer’s cramp, and blepharospasm; Tourette’s Syndrome and other tic disorders; Huntington’s Chorea and other choreas; Myoclonic disorders; essential tremor and other froms of tremor as well as other movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome. Our division offers consultation services as well as continuous specialty care for patients affected with Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders.

Through the guidance of neurologist Bruno V. Gallo, M.D., assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgeon James M. Schumacher, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery, the departments of neurology and neurosurgery now offer state-of-the-art functional stereotatic neurosurgery for deep brain stimulation (DBS).

The DBS procedure helps patients with essential tremors, Parkinson’s disease and dystonia by using the FDA approved Activa® device by Medtronic. (Activa® was first approved in 1997 for the treatment of essential tremor and subsequently received FDA approval for Parkinson’s disease in February 2002.)

The device consists of a pacemaker-like battery and software that is implanted in the chest just below the collarbone. A thin lead wire is tunneled under the skin running through the neck, to the top of the head, under the scalp, and into the brain. The device sends electrical current to the lead wire to help patients the symptoms of Parkinson disease and other movement disorders.

The device does not result in brain lesions and it allows the neurologist to program or change parameters on an outpatient clinic setting once implanted. Patients also have the ability to turn the device on and off. The device’s battery can be replaced without subsequent need for further brain surgery and is covered by most major insurance plans, including Medicare.

The division also participates in numerous multi-center clinical trials that evaluate new medications for these disorders, such as anti-parkinsonian and anti-dystonic agents.

The division works in close cooperation with the Department of Neurological Surgery to offer comprehensive evaluations to determine advisability of surgical treatments (including deep brain stimulation) and participates in the peri-operative and post-operative care.

The division participates in the educational activities of the Department of Neurology and the University of Miami School of Medicine by organizing conferences and teaching sessions for resident, fellows, and students.