Movement Disorder Unit

Movement disorders cover a wide range of illnesses from slow to unintentional movements resulting from the disorder seen in the systems in the brain controlling the movements. The most common of these disorders is the Parkinson disease, which consists of slow motions and tremor. The most common disease resulting from unintentional movements is the familial tremor disorder called benign tremor disroder (essential tremor), which is generally observed at the elderly. Disorders characterized by unintentional contractions affecting different parts of the body are defined as dystonia, korea, athetosis and myoclonus and there are different treatment methods for each of these disorders. Tic disorders, whose features are different, are analysed in cooperation with the department of Psychiatry in addition to this specialized sub-branch of Neurology due to the behavioral change. In addition to this, balance and coordination problems resulting from cerebellum disorders and named as "ataxia" are classified within the category of movement disorders. Our unit serves as a reference center for the diagnosis and treatment of all the above-mentioned movement disorders as well as those which are observed less. For some of these disorders which are familial, the recognized and known genetic causes are analysed. In some cases, detailed electrophysiological diagnostic analyses are carried out by means of special methods. Unintentional contractions in the face, neck, arms and thighs known as dytonia and similar hemifacial spasms are treated directly via Botulismus toxin injections or with EMG. Also, in some cases where no response to medical treatment is obtained, special functional surgical treatment approaches are used in cooperation with the Department of Neurology.