Neurosurgery

We perform cerebrovascular neurosurgery to treat complex problems with the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the brain and central nervous system.

Cerebrovascular neurosurgery treats:

• Complex aneurysms
• Blood vessel malformations of the brain
• Ischemic diseases (insufficient blood flow to the brain which may cause stroke or brain damage)

Our cerebrovascular neurosurgery services are offered at our Los Angeles Medical Center.

Neurointerventional surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure we use to diagnose and treat diseases related to blood vessel problems in the head, neck and central nervous system. Our surgeons perform minimally-invasive surgery through a small incision (no bigger than a nickel) to reduce your post-op pain and speed your recovery.

Neurointerventional surgery treats:

• Stroke
• Brain aneurysms
• Brain tumors
• Blood vessel malformations in the brain and spine
• Narrowed arteries in the head and neck
• Severe nose bleeds
• Compression fractures of the spine

Our neurointerventional surgery services are offered at our Los Angeles Medical Center.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of very precise radiation therapy we use to treat many brain and spine disorders. Despite its name, radiosurgery is not “surgery” as we usually think of it. There’s no incision or cutting involved. Instead, radiosurgery enables us to target tumors and other neurological problems with pinpoint precision…and no scalpels.

Radiosurgery treats:

• Blood vessel malformations
• Tumors of the brain and nerves
• Functional disorders of the brain and spine
• Trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain of the face)

Our Radiosurgery Program was established in 1989, making it one of the oldest and most experienced programs in the western United States. We are located at the Los Angeles Medical Center.

Skull base surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure to evaluate, diagnose and treat a growth or abnormality located on the underside of the brain, the base of the skull or the upper vertebrae of the spine. Our surgeons perform most skull base surgeries through a small incision (no bigger than a nickel) to reduce your post-op pain and speed your recovery.

Skull base surgery treats:

• Benign or cancerous growths
• Trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain of the face)
• Cerebral aneurysm
• Artery and vein malformations

Our Skull Base Surgery Center is located at our San Diego Medical Center.

A traumatic injury to the brain or spinal cord is usually caused by a violent blow or jolt. Common causes of traumatic injuries are car or motorcycle accidents, falls, violence and sports injuries. Immediate surgical intervention following a moderate to severe traumatic injury can mean the difference between permanent disability and good recovery.

Our neurosurgeons are on call to respond to trauma situations with surgery to:

• Control bleeding in and around the brain
• Monitor and control pressure within the skull
• Ensure adequate blood flow to the brain

Our neurosurgeons work with our trauma surgeons and intensive care teams to bring the very latest research findings to the operating room and post-op recovery process.

Surgery is among the many services we offer patients with spine-related problems. Spine surgery is constantly advancing to make procedures easier on patients and yield better results.

We perform many spine surgeries through a small incision (no bigger than a nickel) to reduce your post-op pain and speed your recovery.

Spine surgery treats:

• Spinal disorders, including degenerative conditions
• Scoliosis and other deformities
• Trauma
• Tumors

Our Spine Surgery Department is located at our Los Angeles Medical Center.

Our functional neurosurgery program offers a variety of surgical treatments for movement disorders, epilepsy and pain.

Movement Disorders include Parkinson’s disease, tremors and dystonia. Our state-of-the-art treatment generally involves deep brain stimulation, using the Medtronic Activa system. Our movement disorders team at our Los Angeles Medical Center is one of the three busiest centers in the United States when it comes to the number of patients we see.

Epilepsy Surgery is an alternative for children and adults whose seizures can’t be controlled by medicine or other treatments. The main types of epilepsy surgery are:

• Resective brain surgery
• Vagus nerve stimulation

Epilepsy surgery is performed at the Los Angeles Medical Center by neurosurgeons who specialize caring for patients with epilepsy.

Pain Surgery may ease the pain of certain neurological conditions including trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain of the face), phantom limb pain, stroke and headache. Pain surgery services include:

• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Spinal cord stimulation

Pain surgery is done primary at our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department located at the Los Angeles Medical Center.

Minimally invasive cranial surgery (sometimes called “keyhole” surgery) is a procedure to remove brain tumors through a small incision usually behind the ear. The narrow surgery opening minimizes damage to the scalp, brain, blood vessels and nerves close to the tumor.

Minimally invasive cranial surgery is performed at our Los Angeles Medical Center.