Pediatric Neurosurgery Program

Endoscopic craniosynostosis repair is a minimally invasive surgery to safely treat young children (usually less than 6 months old) with a condition known as craniosynostosis that affects the skull. Our pediatric neurosurgeons and craniofacial plastic surgeons work together on these procedures.

Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is a minimally invasive surgery that uses the nasal and sinus openings to reach the base of the brain and skull. We use this procedure to diagnose and treat tumors and infections.  Our sinus surgeons from the Department of Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat) help us perform these operations.

Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses up to 20 electrodes on a child’s brain tissue to find out where their seizures begin.

Stereotactic laser ablation (SLA), or laser interstitial thermal ablation (LITT), is a minimally invasive procedure that destroys lesions (damaged tissue caused by injury or disease) in the brain, including tumors and tissue that cause seizures.

Fetal myelomeningocele closure is surgery to close an unborn baby’s spinal canal if it hasn’t properly closed during pregnancy. The condition is called myelomeningocele and it’s one of the most serious forms of spina bifida. A team of our surgeons perform this surgery months before the baby’s due date.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is surgery that reduces spasticity, or tightness, in the muscles of the legs. We usually use it to help children with cerebral palsy and spasticity (a type of muscle tightness) in the legs. Many of these children have trouble walking due to the tightness of their muscles. During SDR surgery, tiny sensory nerves that exit the spinal cord are stimulated, and the ones that cause the most abnormal movements in the legs are cut. SDR surgery tests and cuts nerves to help children walk without losing any strength in their leg muscle.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) offers certain babies with hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain) a chance to avoid having a shunt for life. This surgery helps drain excess fluid and reduces how much the brain produces.

ROSA is a neurosurgical assistance robot that helps our team be more precise. It also reduces surgery time, make smaller incisions, lowers infection risk, uses less pain medication and may help kids avoid shaving their head before surgery.