Mumbai: An awake brain surgery performed at Wockhardt Hospitals Mumbai Central has helped a 28-year-old software engineer regain the ability to write and perform everyday tasks after living for nearly eight years with Writer’s Cramp, a rare neurological movement disorder.
The patient had gradually lost the ability to hold a pen due to persistent stiffness and cramping in his hands. What began as discomfort while writing progressed into severe difficulty performing routine activities such as using a computer mouse and eating with a spoon.
He first noticed stiffness and cramping in his right hand while writing. Within minutes, his fingers would tighten and the pen would slip from his grip. Over time, the same problem affected his left hand. Despite these symptoms, his overall hand strength remained normal.
Doctors diagnosed him with Writer’s Cramp, also known as task-specific focal dystonia – a neurological movement disorder in which abnormal brain signals affect precise, repetitive actions while sparing other movements.
The condition can significantly affect professional performance and quality of life. Medications and Botox injections provided only temporary or limited relief.
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Awake Brain Surgery Enables Real-Time Functional Correction
After years of struggle, he approached Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, where Dr Manish Baldia, Consultant – Functional Neurosurgery, recommended a specialised surgical intervention.
Unlike conventional procedures, the awake brain surgery involved a minimally invasive lesioning technique performed while the patient remained conscious, enabling real-time monitoring of functional improvement.
During the procedure, the patient was asked to write, hold a spoon and simulate mouse movements — tasks that triggered his symptoms. This allowed the surgical team to accurately identify and correct the overactive brain circuits responsible for the disorder.
“Awake functional neurosurgery allows us to directly observe improvement during the procedure itself, ensuring accuracy while preserving normal brain function,” said Dr Manish Baldia.
The awake brain surgery results were immediate. Within hours, abnormal hand posturing reduced significantly.
By the following day, the patient could hold a pen confidently, write smoothly and use a computer mouse comfortably for the first time in eight years. He soon returned to work, resuming normal professional and personal activities.
Dr Baldia noted that the procedure is safe, minimally invasive and often performed as a day-care surgery, offering long-term relief for selected patients with Writer’s Cramp, Musician’s Cramp and other focal dystonias when conservative treatments fail.
