Pediatric Neurosurgery Programs and Clinics

The neurosurgeons at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh collaborate with a number of other specialties in order to bring the best possible, state-of-the-art care to our patients through a number of programs and clinics. Following is information on some of these services.

Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program

The Section of Trauma in the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery coordinates services for injured children at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, which operates the region’s only Level I (highest level) Regional Resource Pediatric Trauma Center. The goal of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program is to provide optimal care between the time of injury and discharge. Subspecialists in all pediatric medical and surgical disciplines are readily available to provide definitive care.

Brachial Plexus Clinic

The Brachial Plexus Clinic provides multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of children with all types of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries. Through education and clinical and basic science research, this comprehensive center is at the forefront of understanding the pathophysiology of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries and their treatment

Brain Tumor Management

Pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors are complicated. However, close collaboration among neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists can make complex cases more manageable to treat, and can lead to more successful outcomes. Years of experience help our specialists detect, diagnose, and treat children with even the most complex pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors

Cerebrovascular Anomalies

Cerebrovascular anomalies are conditions characterized by malformed blood vessels that can lead to hemorrhages, strokes, blood clots, and other complications. Our multidisciplinary approach—drawing on years of experience from varied subspecialties—provides children with a comprehensive team approach to recovery.

Cleft-Craniofacial Center

The Cleft-Craniofacial Center at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh takes a team approach to evaluating and treating patients with a wide variety of congenital or acquired craniofacial conditions. A team of skilled specialists from a variety of disciplines work in harmony to identify a child’s needs and provide the appropriate treatment. Team members strive to achieve optimal appearance, speech, hearing and psychosocial development at the earliest possible age.

Epilepsy Program

The Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, led by Taylor Abel, MD, provides the region’s most comprehensive and leading edge neurosurgical care for children with epilepsy. This epilepsy program is one of the busiest in the region and evaluates over 1200 children with newly diagnosed epilepsy each year performing over 400 prolonged EEG evaluations for epilepsy each year.

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a relatively common condition that occurs in about one out of 500 births. At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, our neurosurgeons have developed expertise in treating this condition by shunt insertion and, when appropriate, using minimally invasive endoscopic procedures.

Spasticity and Movement Disorders Clinic

The Spasticity and Movement Disorders Clinic at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is made up of a team of pediatric medical professionals who specialize in the comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of children and young adults with spasticity and other movement disorders such as dystonia, chorea, athetosis, and tremor.

Spina Bifida Program

The Spina Bifida Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is a comprehensive, coordinated inpatient and outpatient service for children of all ages with neural tube birth defects and spinal cord disorders. The focus of the team is to evaluate each child and work with their family and community providers in order to develop medical, surgical/procedural and therapeutic plans to maximize each child’s functional abilities.