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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Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome

By:
  • Omar Zalatimo, MD MPH MHA FAANSDirector, Functional Neurosurgery LifeBridge Health Baltimore
Last updated: April 10, 2024
Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a neurologic disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column.
Patient Content

Traumatic Brain Injury

By:
  • Nitin Agarwal, MD
  • Rut Thakkar
  • Khoi Than, MD, FAANS
Last updated: March 27, 2024
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, the head suddenly and violently hitting an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue.
Patient Content

Trigeminal Neuralgia

By:
  • Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhDChair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College
  • Olga KhazenResearch Coordinator, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College
Last updated: April 10, 2024
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity.
Patient Content

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 10, 2024
The vagus nerve is one of 12 pairs of cranial nerves that originate in the brain and is part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body functions. The nerve passes through the neck as it travels between the chest and abdomen and the lower part of the brain. It is connected to motor functions in the voice box, diaphragm, stomach and heart and sensory functions in the ears and tongue. It is connected to both motor and sensory functions in the sinuses and esophagus.
Patient Content

Vertebral Compression Fractures

By:
  • Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANS is a professor of neurosurgery and of neuroscience at Albany Medical College and chair for the department of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics. To date, she has served as chair of the AANS/CNS Section on Pain as well as chair of the AANS/CNS Section for Women in Neurosurgery. Dr. Pilitsis maintains an NIH sponsored research program focused on device optimization for neuromodulation and has published over 120 journal articles, four books and numerous chapters. She serves as functional neurosurgery section editor for Operative Neurosurgery and is on the editorial board of Neuromodulation.
Last updated: June 18, 2024
Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) occur when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses, which can lead to severe pain, deformity and loss of height. These fractures more commonly occur in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine), especially in the lower part.