Patent ID: 8512715

Claim:
A method for treating a neuromuscular defect in a subject, said method comprising the steps of: locating a target nerve; providing a treatment probe, the treatment probe comprising an elongated body member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including an energy delivery mechanism for stimulating or ablating the target nerve, a monitoring mechanism, and a fluid aspiration and delivery mechanism; verifying that the target nerve is an appropriate target for ablation by stimulating and then monitoring the target nerve via the energy delivery mechanism and the monitoring mechanism, respectively; injecting a tumescent fluid into the tissue surrounding the target nerve; and delivering an electric current to the energy delivery mechanism to substantially ablate the target nerve; wherein said step of injecting a tumescent fluid into the tissue surrounding the target nerve protects superficial tissue planes from inadvertent heat damage and enhances electro-mechanical conduction during delivery of electric current to the target nerve; wherein said injecting step and said delivering step are performed using the same treatment probe; wherein delivery of the electric current temporarily or permanently inhibits muscle contraction; wherein the neurological movement disorder is selected from the group consisting of torticollis, blepharospasm, and uncontrolled grimacing.