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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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

Recovering From Brain Surgery…The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

By:
  • Janet CahillPatient
Last updated: July 17, 2024
Neurosurgeon: H. Hunt Batjer, MD, FAANS, and Bernard M. Bendok, MD, FAANS, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago Patient: Janet Cahill, age 54, Cerebral Aneurysm Never in a million years would I believe this […]
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: September 6, 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.
Patient Content

Spinal Cord Injury

By:
Last updated: April 15, 2024
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, as many as 450,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Other organizations conservatively estimate this figure to be about 250,000.
Patient Content

Spinal Cord Stimulation

By:
  • Patient Pages are authored by neurosurgical professionals, with the goal of providing useful information to the public.
  • Brian Anderson, MDChief Resident, 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 15, 2024
Chronic pain develops when the body’s appropriate response to an injury lasts longer than it should. This pain no longer protects the body from injury but becomes harmful on its own.
Patient Content

Spinal Infections

By:
  • Shashank V. Gandhi, MD; Michael Schulder, MD, FAANSDepartment of Neurosurgery Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Manhasset, NY
Last updated: April 15, 2024
Spinal infections can be classified by the anatomical location involved: the vertebral column, intervertebral disc space, the spinal canal and adjacent soft tissues. Infection may be caused by bacteria or fungal organisms and can occur after surgery. Most postoperative infections occur between three days and three months after surgery.
Patient Content

Spinal Pain

By:
  • AANS
Last updated: April 11, 2024
Spinal pain in the lumbar region (lower back) and cervical region (neck) are highly prevalent and are often the causes for many lost work days.