Pediatric Neurosurgeon

A pediatric neurosurgeon is a doctor who treats medical conditions in a child’s brain, spinal cord and nerves. This makes up your child’s nervous system. Neurosurgeons care for kids of all ages, from newborns to teens.

To do this work, neurosurgeons complete over a decade of education and hands-on training. This includes additional specialized training in caring for children. They also stay current through ongoing education and board certifications to ensure they’re providing the safest, most advanced care possible.

They use their expertise to do surgery when needed, but they can also treat your child without surgery when possible. In addition to managing the nervous system itself, they care for the structures that support it, like:

• Blood vessels
• Protective membranes and soft tissues
• Skull
• Spinal disks
• Spinal vertebrae

What does a pediatric neurosurgeon do?

Pediatric neurosurgeons can do the following:

• Diagnose and treat conditions that affect your child’s nervous system and surrounding structures
• Recommend and provide nonsurgical treatment options
• Perform complex brain and spine surgeries
• Interpret imaging and diagnostic tests
• Collaborate with pediatricians and pediatric specialists to coordinate care
• Provide long-term care and follow-ups through childhood and adolescence

Doctors will diagnose and treat neurological conditions in:

• Fetuses (before birth)
• Babies (after birth)
• Children
• Adolescents and teenagers
• Adults over 18 (sometimes)

What conditions do pediatric neurosurgeons treat?

Neurosurgeons treat a wide range of neurological conditions in children.

They treat pediatric brain and spinal tumors, including:

• Benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors
• Metastatic brain tumors
• Neurofibromatosis
• Pituitary adenomas

They manage congenital conditions (birth defects) that affect your child’s nervous system, including:

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities, like arachnoid cysts or hydrocephalus
• Chiari malformation
• Craniocervical abnormalities (where the skull and spine connect)
• Spina bifida
• Tethered spinal cord

Skeletal or craniofacial conditions that they may treat include:

• Achondroplasia
• Craniosynostosis
• Plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome)
• Scoliosis
• Traumatic injuries

Brain function and neurological disorders that they manage in children may include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy
• Spasticity

Pediatric blood vessel conditions that neurosurgeons treat may include:

• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
• Brain aneurysms
• Cavernomas

This list isn’t exhaustive. If your child needs to see a neurosurgeon, they most likely have symptoms or a condition that affects their nervous system.

When should my child see a pediatric neurosurgeon?

In most cases, your child’s pediatrician or neurologist will refer you to a pediatric neurosurgeon if they need surgery or a more in-depth evaluation.

Just because your child’s provider recommends that they see a neurosurgeon doesn’t necessarily mean surgery is around the corner. Instead, it means:

• Your child will receive a comprehensive neurological exam
• The pediatric neurosurgeon will review your child’s symptoms and medical history
• Your child may get special tests, like a brain scan, to help find the cause

Then, your child’s neurosurgeon will talk with you about the best treatment. Sometimes, other specialists will help decide, too. This may be a nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment or a combination of both.

What can I expect during an appointment with a pediatric neurosurgeon?

Here are some things you can expect your child’s pediatric neurosurgeon to do:

• Use various diagnostic tools to identify neurological issues in your child
• Recommend tests for your child and explain the results to you
• Explain your child’s condition and some of the science behind it
• Create treatment plans
• Refer your child to other specialists, like physical therapists, for certain kinds of treatments
• Tell you how often your child needs appointments or care
• Explain how you can take care of your child at home

How do I prepare for an appointment with my child’s pediatric neurosurgeon?

To make the most of your child’s visit with their neurosurgeon, try to come prepared. Helpful steps include:

• Write down the top concerns or questions you want to discuss.
• Note any changes in your child’s health or symptoms.
• Bring recent test results, including imaging and labs from outside providers.
• Make a list of all medications, supplements and known allergies.
• Consider bringing a friend or family member to take notes.
• Ask if a follow-up appointment is needed for additional concerns.

What questions should I ask my child’s neurosurgeon?

If your child needs surgery, it may be helpful to ask your child’s neurosurgeon the following questions during their appointment:

• What experience do you have with this type of surgery, and how is it performed?
• What are the potential risks and benefits for my child?
• How soon does my child need surgery, and is a second opinion recommended?
• What should we expect during recovery — in the hospital and at home?
• How should we prepare for the surgery as a family?

What is the difference between a neurosurgeon and a pediatric neurosurgeon?

The main difference is the age group each neurosurgeon treats.

While general neurosurgeons usually treat adults, they can treat children. But pediatric neurosurgeons have additional training in caring for developing brains and bodies. This requires a special approach.

They also understand how to communicate with children and adapt care for young patients. This is important for children who may struggle to describe symptoms or cooperate during exams.