Brain Surgery

Visit Our Neurosurgery Practice

Meet Our Neurosurgery Care Team

Our Neurosurgery team offers comprehensive surgical treatment, designed especially for children, for the following conditions.

Hydrocephalus 

Hydrocephalus (also called water on the brain) is a congenital birth defect that causes too much cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid around the brain) to build up in a baby’s head. It may also be a result of a brain injury, tumor or infection. Cerebrospinal fluid puts pressure on the baby’s brain, which can cause pain and problems with vision, balance or thinking.

Without surgery, hydrocephalus can cause permanent brain damage. CHKD pediatric neurosurgeons can insert a flexible plastic tube, called a shunt, to help the fluid drain away from the brain. Babies with hydrocephalus can live long and healthy lives with a brain shunt.

Brain Trauma

Children can suffer brain trauma after many common accidents such as bike crashes or falls. Brain trauma can cause serious problems, including bleeding in the brain (hemorrhages), subdural hematomas, epidural hematomas or skull fractures. These conditions require neurosurgery to stop bleeding and prevent permanent brain damage.

Pediatric Brain Cancer

Many types of brain tumors and pediatric brain cancers, including neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, ependymoma and astrocytoma, require careful brain surgery to remove tumor cells. Through our pediatric neuro-oncology program, our neurosurgeons work with expert pediatric oncologists to create an individualized cancer treatment plan for your child’s brain cancer as well as help them stay strong through physical, occupational and speech therapy.