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Pediatric Neurosurgery

Comprehensive Care for Brain, Spinal Conditions

The University of Virginia Children’s Hospital provides leading-edge surgical treatment for pediatric patients from across the U.S. with brain and spinal conditions, including a unique surgical approach developed by UVA physicians.

Brain Surgery

UVA neurosurgeon John Jane Sr., M.D., Ph.D., FACS, led development of cranial vault reconstructions, the standard treatment for craniosynostosis. A UVA team featuring neurosurgeon John Jane Jr., M.D., plastic surgeon Kant Lin, M.D., and pediatric geneticist Stephen Braddock, M.D., perform about 20 cranial-vault reconstructions annually. The team also offers endoscopic-assisted minimally invasive reconstructions in select infants.
UVA also treats children and adults with craniopharyngiomas, a difficult-to-access brain tumor because of its location near critical brain structures, including the carotid artery and optic nerves. Working with UVA’s neuroendocrinologists and rhinologists, UVA neurosurgeons can offer endoscopic removal of these tumors through the nose depending on the tumor’s location, avoiding craniotomies in many patients. John Jane Jr. also performs endoscopic third entircoloscopies to treat patients with hydrocephalus who otherwise are typically treated by inserting a shunt. Additionally, UVA’s state-of-the-art Gamma Knife Perfexion treats brain tumors and vascular malformations in the brain and cervical spine.
UVA also performs surgical procedures to diagnose and treat focal epilepsy. Areas of epileptic focus identified through a diagnostic procedure can be resected, says UVA neurosurgeon Jeff Elias, M.D. He meets weekly with UVA’s pediatric epileptologists, neuropsychologists and neuroradiologists to determine which patients may benefit from surgery.

Spinal Surgery

UVA treats all complex craniocervical and spinal abnormalities, including congenital and developmental spinal conditions, along with neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. UVA orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons perform decompression, instrumentation and fusion procedures, including 40 to 60 spinal reconstructions annually. UVA orthopaedic surgeon Mark Abel, M.D., and neurosurgeon Chris Shaffrey, M.D., have worked together for 15 years on these cases. Their combined approach is crucial, because complex pediatric spine conditions often involve both the bony column and neural elements.
“Our teamwork results in safer, better spinal corrections,” Abel says.
UVA neurosurgeon Justin Smith, M.D., Ph.D., performs minimally invasive procedures intended to reduce tissue destruction and blood loss, improve cosmesis and shorten recovery times. Instead of cutting through muscle, a series of tubes dilates through muscle to access the spine for procedures such as decompression and intradural tumor resection. The amount of bone and supporting ligaments that must be removed for resection is minimized, reducing the risk of developing instability. Some cases requiring instrumentation can also be accomplished with minimally invasive procedures. Spondylolisthesis can be corrected through minimally invasive placement of an interbody graft and percutaneous pedicle screws. Smith is also working to develop less invasive ways of treating pediatric spinal deformities.
To refer pediatric neurosurgery patients, call UVA Physician Direct at 800.552.3723.