Conditions & Treatments

Developed by neurosurgeons, this resource provides patients and their families trustworthy information on a wide range of neurosurgical conditions and diseases. Learn about disease and injury risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.

Select the treatment or condition you are interested in for more detailed information.

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Patient Content

Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenosis

By:
  • Ryan Stauffer, MHS, PA-CNeurosurgical Physician Assistant Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Last updated: April 26, 2024
The carotid arteries are a pair of large blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the brain.
Patient Content

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

By:
  • Lawrence M. ShuerMD, FAANS
  • Thomas J. WilsonMD
Last updated: April 26, 2024
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common problem affecting hand function, caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist.
Patient Content

Cauda Equina Syndrome

By:
  • Diana Wiseman, MD, MBA, FAANSClinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington
Last updated: April 5, 2024
The collection of nerves at the end of the spinal cord is known as the cauda equina, due to its resemblance to a horse's tail. The spinal cord ends at the upper portion of the lumbar (lower back) spine.
Patient Content

Cavernous Malformations

By:
  • Brian Hoh, MD, FAANS,is the James and Brigitte Marino Family Professor and chair of neurosurgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Hoh specializes in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, including the treatment of cerebral aneurysms, AVMs, cavernous malformations, carotid artery stenosis, stroke and moya moya disease.
Last updated: April 26, 2024
Cavernous malformations are clusters of abnormal, tiny blood vessels and larger, stretched-out, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood and located in the brain.
Patient Content

Central Cord Syndrome

By:
  • Abraham Schlauderaff, MDResident, Neurological Surgery Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine Hershey, Penn.
  • Kevin M. Cockroft, MD, FAANSProfessor, Neurological Surgery, Radiology and Public Health Sciences Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine Hershey, Penn.
Last updated: April 8, 2024
Central cord syndrome (CCS) is an incomplete traumatic injury to the cervical spinal cord – the portion of the spinal cord that runs through the bones of the neck.
Patient Content

Cerebral Aneurysm

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 26, 2024
The word cerebrovascular is made up of two parts – "cerebro" which refers to the large part of the brain, and "vascular" which means arteries and veins. Together, the word cerebrovascular refers to blood flow in the brain.
Patient Content

Cerebrovascular Disease

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: June 21, 2024
The word cerebrovascular is made up of two parts – "cerebro" which refers to the large part of the brain, and "vascular" which means arteries and veins.
Patient Content

Cerebrovascular Imaging

By:
  • Michael Gigliotti, MDPenn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Penn.
  • Scott Simon, MD, FAANSPenn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Penn.
Last updated: June 26, 2024
The majority of cerebrovascular problems can be identified through diagnostic imaging tests. These allow neurosurgeons to view arteries and vessels in and around the brain and brain tissue itself. While technical progress has provided safe, fast, and more accurate diagnosis, it has also led to a wide variety of cerebrovascular imaging techniques from which one […]
Patient Content

Cervical Spine

By:
  • Shashank V. Gandhi, MD
  • Michael Schulder, MD, FAANSDepartment of Neurosurgery Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Manhasset, N.Y.
Last updated: June 20, 2024
The neck is part of a long flexible column, known as the spinal column or backbone, which extends through most of the body.
Patient Content

Chiari Malformation

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 29, 2024
Chiari malformation is considered a congenital condition, although acquired forms of the condition have been diagnosed.