Dec 29, 2020 But adverse events were frequent and persistent, trial shows Focused ultrasound subthalamotomy improved motor function in Parkinson’s disease, but it also led to multiple adverse events that persisted in some patients, a small randomized double-blind trial found. “Focused ultrasound subthalamotomy in one hemisphere improved motor features of Parkinson’s disease in selected patients with asymmetric signs,” wrote Raul Martinez-Fernandez, MD, PhD, of CEU San Pablo University in Mostoles, Spain, and co-authors in . “Adverse events included speech and gait disturbances, weakness on the treated side, and dyskinesia.” Patients with asymmetric Parkinson’s disease who had motor signs not fully controlled with medication and who were not candidates for deep-brain stimulation surgery were randomized to focused ultrasound subthalamotomy on the side opposite their main motor signs (n=27) or a sham procedure (n=13).