Anomalies of the Vertebral Column
Many children with unusual and difficult dysplasias or segmentation abnormalities of the vertebral column are seen and treated each year by either the Division of Neurosurgery alone or in conjunction with the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery. All of the necessary support services to bring about successful treatment of these complex problems are available to our neurosurgeons.
Arachnoid Cysts
Modern imaging techniques have revolutionized our ability to diagnose and treat central nervous system (CNS) problems. This includes arachnoid cysts, which can cause raised intracranial pressure or impairment of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) pathways to produce hydrocephalus.
Our neurosurgeons have extensive experience treating such cysts of the brain and spinal cord. When possible, we try to treat the cyst with fenestration before resorting to CSF diversion by shunting techniques.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Our physicians evaluate and treat brachial plexus injuries following difficult childbirth or after sustaining a traumatic injury.
Children with these injuries, as well as injuries of other peripheral nerves, may be seen by a range of pediatric specialists, including:
- Neurosurgeons
- Neurologists (with EMG testing capability)
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Plastic surgeons
- Rehabilitative specialists
Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Optimal treatment of brain tumors requires a sophisticated, coordinated multidisciplinary treatment approach.
Each year, surgeons from the Division of Neurosurgery perform about 100 operations for tumors on the brain or spine. Our patients receive excellent post-operative care within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Childrens Hospital physicians are leading participants in the Children’s Oncology Group, a nationwide research collaborative that promotes the investigation of new treatments for these devastating diseases.
Chiari Malformation and Spinal Cord Syringes
Advances in MRI has made it possible to non-invasively diagnose, at an early stage, many problems that previously were detected only after considerable disability had developed.
A case in point is Chiari malformation and hydrosyringomyelia. Patients often present in the pediatric age group with scoliosis, but routine screening by orthopaedic surgeons reveals a number of children with Chiari malformation and syrinx formation.
Our program has had excellent results with decompression, only rarely needing to place a syrinx to pleural shunt to treat the condition. Progression of scoliosis usually stops and often even reverses, preventing the need for any additional therapy.
Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Reconstruction
Craniosynostosis can vary from involvement of a single suture, such as the sagittal, to multiple sutural involvement, such as Apert and Crouzon Syndromes.
If only the calvarium (upper skull) is involved and surgery is required, the neurosurgical team will correct the problem. If the face is involved, then the full craniofacial team will participate. A comprehensive Craniofacial Program is available to address these particular anomalies.
Our neurosurgeons also see children and adolescents who have positional plagiocephaly or functional unilamboid synostosis, who do not require surgical intervention. Following evaluation, we refer patients for use of the headband to correct the deformation as required.
Diaphragmatic Pacing
Division neurosurgeons work along with pulmonologists and pediatric surgeons to insert diaphragmatic pacing for children with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's curse) who would benefit from this mode of therapy.
An innovative endoscopic thoracotomy technique allow placement of the electrodes without a thoracotomy – providing for more rapid patient recovery and earlier discharge from the hospital.
Head and Spinal Cord Trauma
Infants and children with extensive and often life-threatening trauma injuries receive expert care in our hospital's Emergency Department.
After initial assessment and diagnostic studies, the patient may be transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit or to the operating room, as indicated. Our neurosurgeons have considerable experience in caring for such severely injured patients.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is one of the most common problems faced in pediatric neurosurgery. Division physicians have extensive experience in all aspects of hydrocephalus, which we share with the medical community through presentations and publications.
Neonatal units from all over the Los Angeles metropolitan area refer pre-term infants who develop hydrocephalus associated with intraventricular hemorrhage. Patients are carefully evaluated for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) diversion, which is undertaken only if absolutely necessary. We believe the best way to avoid shunt problems is to not insert a shunt.
Our physicians insert or revise approximately 300 shunts a year.
We also provide counseling for pregnant women who have been diagnosed in utero as having a fetus with hydrocephalus.
Division physicians are conducting research into the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus, particularly as related to CSF drainage pathways.
In Utero Neurosurgical Conditions
Pregnant women from the southern California region who have been diagnosed in utero with a neurosurgical condition are routinely referred to us for consultation.
Medically Intractable Epilepsy
Our physicians participate in the hospital’s comprehensive epilepsy program, which evaluates patients with medically intractable epilepsy for possible surgical intervention.
Assessment techniques may include:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan)
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT Scan)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG Test)
- Videotelemetry
In selective patients in whom surgical intervention is indicated, subdural electrodes are placed for seizure monitoring and treatment. Additional seizure procedures include partial or complete functional hemispherectomy.
Neurocutaneous Syndromes
Our surgeons treat children with neurosurgically-related problems associated with:
- Neurofibromatosis
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Sterge-Weber disease
- von Hippel-Lindau
- Phakomatosis (less common forms)
All applicable pediatric specialty services – including genetics, orthopaedics and neurology – are available to treat other conditions associated with these disorders.
Neuroendoscopy
Some patients may benefit from a minimally invasive surgical approach, compared to a more extensive surgical option. Division neurosurgeons have the appropriate instrumentation and experience to evaluate and treat these patients.
Spasticity Surgery
We offer comprehensive evaluation of children with a spasticity who might benefit from selective dorsal rhizotomy, in participation with experts from orthopaedics, neurology and physical therapy.
For selected patients, we call upon the hospital’s state-of-the-art John J. Wilson, Jr. Motion Analysis Laboratory to help determine the appropriateness of performing such a surgical procedure.
Vascular Malformations
Although uncommon, arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and aneurysms can cause life-threatening and/or devastating neurologic impairment following hemorrhage.
Our ability to treat these lesions by direct surgical approach or endovascularly has been enhanced by the availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography. In addition, neuroradiologists and anesthesiologists can properly and safely sedate patients, contributing to patient comfort and superior imaging studies.
We employ intraoperative angiography to assure that the AVM has been completely excised or that the aneurysm has been properly clipped.
We also have significant experience in re-vascularization techniques for children with Moya-Moya disease.
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