About Functional Neurosurgery
Functional neurosurgery is one of the most rapidly expanding and innovative areas of neurosurgery. Functional neurosurgery procedures can be used both to correct malfunctions of the brain and to restore cerebral function utilizing stimulation or lesioning.
UVa's success in this area is due in large part to comprehensive interdisciplinary teams organized to diagnose and treat specific disorders, including the following conditions:
Epilepsy. Recent advances make procedures such as temporal lobectomy a safe cure for seizures. UVa is a Fourth-Level Center for Epilepsy - the highest designation available from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Epilepsy surgery is integrated with UVa's F.E. Dreifuss Comprehensive Epilepsy Program to address all surgical and nonsurgical diagnostic and treatment modalities. Epilepsy surgery performed on patients at a young age can spare them the psychological toll of frequent seizures and the side effects of long-term epilepsy medications. Surgery also can cure seizures before they impair a child's memory, concentration, motor skills, problem solving and behavior. More information on epilepsy treatment.
Movement disorders. UVa has extensive experience using the latest deep-brain stimulation (DBS) technology to improve motor function for patients with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor or dystonia. Many patients with Parkinson's initially respond well to drug treatment but later develop a tolerance to or side effects from the medications. At this stage, delivering small electrical impulses to the globus pallidus or subthalamic nucleus can offer dramatic improvements in motor symptoms. DBS can be considered early in the course of the disease, given its relatively low risk and significant symptom control. Patients ranging in age from early 20s to mid 80s have had good outcomes following an operation that involves three implanted components: typically an electrode placed through a small hole in the skull and into the brain; a lead extension that extends behind the ear to the front of the chest; and an implanted pulse generator now available with two channels so it can stimulate both sides of the brain. More information pertaining to movement disorders.
Spasticity disorders, especially cerebral palsy. Spasticity is another area where comprehensive disease management is key. UVa's diagnostic and treatment program for cerebral palsy patients, as well as for children with a delayed motor development or abnormalities of movement and muscle tone, is staffed by a multidisciplinary group of physicians, therapists and device specialists. UVa's first-line treatments are noninvasive, and are focused upon physical therapy, bracing and medications. For patients who have more systemic or advanced problems, neurosurgical treatments including deep-brain stimulation, baclofen delivered by pump to nerve sites, or selective dorsal rhizotomy are utilized. All operative interventions are performed in our new state-of the-art operating room suites where both neurosurgical and orthopaedic surgical capabilities reaching a new technological level.
View dramatic before and after video of a young spasticity patient following functional neurosurgery.
