Diseases treated by pediatric neurosurgeons
Pediatric neurosurgeons treat brain tumors, congenital anomalies of the skull and spine, and injuries.
The most common diseases in children:
- hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain) - accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain;
- spina bifida (spina bifida) - a congenital pathology of the development of the spinal cord;
- Arnold-Chiari anomaly - a congenital anomaly in the development of the brain, in which part of the cerebellum descends to the upper sections of the spinal cord;
- craniosynostosis - premature fusion of the sutures of the skull;
- encephalocele - a type of craniocerebral hernia;
- cysts in the brain;
- medulloblastoma - a malignant tumor that affects the cerebellum;
- craniopharyngioma - a benign brain tumor;
- ependymoma - a tumor of the posterior cranial fossa, which can metastasize;
- astrocytoma, glioblastoma - malignant neoplasms of the brain, brain stem;
- epilepsy resistant to drug treatment.
The main method of treatment in pediatric neurosurgery is surgery on the brain or spinal cord.
Children are often prescribed sparing operations through a small hole in the skull:
- removal of brain tumors;
- shunting for hydrocephalus is an operation in which an additional pathway for the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is created.
Open surgeries are assigned to a child for:
- removal of brain formations of large size or fuzzy shape;
- correction of defects of the spine or bones of the skull;
- removal of a part of a vertebra in case of Arnold-Chiari anomaly (laminectomy);
- epilepsy surgery.
The decision on the method of treatment is made by the neurosurgeon after a comprehensive diagnosis.
Peculiarities of diagnostics in pediatric neurosurgery
The main examination in pediatric neurosurgery is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is assigned for accurate planning of the operation. This is a safe non-invasive diagnostic without the use of x-rays. MRI creates a detailed image of the brain, allows the neurosurgeon to detect the disease and choose the type of surgical intervention.
During an MRI, children are given a sedative. Such seeding is necessary so that the child remains calm and does not move during the procedure, otherwise the image will be blurry.
Depending on the disease, the child is prescribed:
- consultation with a neurologist;
- consultation with an ophthalmologist;
- consultation with an otorhinolaryngologist;
- blood test (general, biochemical, oncomarkers);
- electroencephalography (EEG);
- radiography;
- lumbar puncture - examination of the cerebrospinal fluid;
- biopsy.
Peculiarities of treatment in pediatric neurosurgery centers abroad
Spain
The leading center for pediatric neurosurgery in Spain is the Teknon Clinic.
A feature of the neurosurgical department of the center is the robotic neuronavigation system Renishaw Neuromate. It forms an image of the brain in several projections and tracks the location of surgical instruments during the operation. This technology reduces the risk of damage to healthy areas of the brain during surgery.
Brain surgeries for children and adults are performed by the best neurosurgeon in Europe, Dr. Bartolome Oliver. He has been engaged in surgical treatment of pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous system for 36 years. The doctor performs 200 operations annually.
Watch a video review about the treatment of a brain tumor in Teknon
Israel
At the Ichilov Medical Center, one of the world's best specialists, Shlomo Konstantini, consults. The professor heads the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Dana Dweck Clinic. He has been operating on small patients for over 30 years. The professor performs sparing operations (method of neuroendoscopy).
Turkey
In the Liv Hospital clinic, the statistics of successful operations is 91%. This is the best indicator in Turkey (the national average is 81%). The leading experts are professors Talat Kiris and Mustafa Kemal Hamamdzhioglu. They perform over 250 brain and spinal cord surgeries annually.
Prices for treatment in pediatric neurosurgery clinics
The cost of pediatric neurosurgical operations abroad depends on the type of pathology, its complexity and stage of development.
What to look for when choosing a clinic?
What to consider when choosing a clinic for treatment?
- specialization of the medical institution;
- specialization of a pediatric neurosurgeon;
- qualifications and experience of a neurosurgeon;
- availability of modern equipment in the clinic (neuronavigation systems);
- possibility of preliminary consultation;
- clinic pricing policy.
Answers to frequently asked questions about pediatric neurosurgery
Can a child with a brain tumor fly?
Most brain tumors are not a contraindication for flying. But before traveling, you should consult a doctor. He knows the characteristics of the disease and the risks associated with it.
Why is it important to choose a clinic with neuronavigation and neuromonitoring?
Intraoperative neuromonitoring is a system that detects and helps prevent damage to brain structures during surgery. It creates an interactive map of brain regions that are responsible for certain bodily functions. In combination with neuronavigation, it increases the success of the operation. The more accurately the equipment works, the more the surgeon will remove the formation or pathological part of the brain and not damage healthy tissues.
How to organize treatment for a child?
To go abroad for treatment, leave a request on the Bookimed website. You will be contacted by a coordinating doctor who will select the best specialized clinic.
For a preliminary consultation with a pediatric neurosurgeon, it is necessary to provide the results of the tests, an MRI scan, and the child's medical records. If necessary, the examination can be carried out already in the clinic.
You receive a treatment program and its cost. If the program is suitable, the coordinating doctor helps arrange the trip. He stays in touch during treatment and after returning home.