Movement Disorders

The University of Chicago has leading experts in the medical and surgical treatment of movement disorders. We provide deep brain stimulation (DBS) for tremors, Parkinson's disease and dystonia to appropriate patients who have failed medical treatments. Dr. Richard Penn, the neurosurgeon who performs these procedures, has over a decade of experience in this field and was one of the first in the Midwest to test deep brain stimulation for tremors. A specialized team assists Richard Penn, MD, with intraoperative monitoring to record neuronal firing patterns. Nurses with extensive experience using electrical stimulation help after the patient leaves the hospital by adjusting the DBS stimulation.

Spasticity is treated with intrathecal baclofen, surgical rhizotomy, or Botox injections.  The physician who developed the intrathecal drug pump runs the active adult spasticity program in cooperation with a number of rehabilitation centers.  The goal is always to maximize function and decrease pain associated with spasms.

Current research involves the study of Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) infusion for Parkinson's disease and infusion of agonists and antagonists within the subthalamic nucleus of a rat Parkinson's model.

Pain Disorders

Percutaneous cordotomy, developed over thirty years ago at the University of Chicago, is one of the most successful operations for pain relief in cancer patients. This procedure has influenced the approach to pain management by emphasizing the least invasive procedures, including: balloon treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (developed at the University of Chicago), electrical stimulation and implanted drug pumps using intrathecal morphine.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Radiosurgery, which uses focused radiation, is a powerful tool to treat brain and spinal cord tumors, as well as abnormal blood vessels, such as arterivenous malformations. The University of Chicago neurosurgeons have access to both the LINAC and Gamma knife systems, which have been shown to successfully treat a wide range of oncologic and vascular neurologic disease.

The neurosurgery physician contact who specializes in functional neurosurgery is Dr. Penn and he can be contacted at:

Richard Penn, MD
The University of Chicago Hospital
Neurosurgery, MC 3026
5841 S. Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
Tel: (773) 702-2123
Fax: (773) 702-3518