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

Occipital Neuralgia

By:
  • Julie G Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANSChair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College Dr. Pilitsis specializes in neuromodulation with research interests in treatments for movement disorders and chronic pain.
  • Olga Khazen, BSResearch Coordinator Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College
Last updated: April 30, 2024
Occipital Neuralgia is a condition in which the occipital nerves, the nerves that run through the scalp, are injured or inflamed.
Patient Content

Osteoarthritis

By:
  • Stephen Magill, MD, PhDNeurosurgical Resident, University of California San Francisco
Last updated: April 30, 2024
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and affects middle-aged or older people most frequently.
Patient Content

Parkinson’s Disease

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called
Patient Content

Pituitary Adenomas

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 30, 2024
The pituitary is a small gland attached to the base of the brain (behind the nose) in an area called the pituitary fossa or sella turcica.
Patient Content

Pituitary Gland and Pituitary Tumors

By:
Last updated: June 26, 2024
The pituitary is a small gland attached to the base of the brain (behind the nose) in an area called the pituitary fossa or sella turcica. The pituitary is often called the “master gland” because it controls the secretion of most of the hormones in the body. A normal pituitary gland weighs less than 1 gram […]
Patient Content

Positional Plagiocephaly

By:
  • Angela V. Price, MD, FAANSDepartment of Pediatric Neurosurgery Dallas
  • Assistant Professor, UTSWDepartment of Pediatric Neurosurgery Dallas
Last updated: April 30, 2024
Positional plagiocephaly is a condition in which specific areas of an infant’s head develop an abnormally flattened shape and appearance.
Patient Content

Scoliosis

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 30, 2024
Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It is most often diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence.
Patient Content

Shaken Baby Syndrome

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Shaken Baby Syndrome (also known as Shaken Impact Syndrome) is a serious form of abuse inflicted upon a child.
Patient Content

Spasticity

By:
  • Julie G Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANSChair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Dr. Pilitsis specializes in neuromodulation with research interests in treatments for movement disorders and chronic pain.
  • Olga Khazen, BSResearch Coordinator, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College
Last updated: June 26, 2024
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement.
Patient Content

Spina Bifida

By:
  • Neel T. Patel, MD Neurosurgery Resident Penn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, Penn.
  • Elias B. Rizk, MD, FAANS Associate Professor of Neurosurgery Penn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, Penn.
  • Scott D. Simon, MD, FAANSAssociate Professor of Neurosurgery Penn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, Penn.
  • Dr. Simonspecializes in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery and his research interests include cerebrovascular device design and retro-viral delivered gene therapy for neural regeneration.
Last updated: April 15, 2024
Spina bifida occurs during the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy when a portion of the fetal spinal cord fails to properly close. As a result, the child is born with a part of the spinal cord exposed on the back.