Functional Neurosurgery
Functional neurosurgeons specialize in treating a variety of diseases and conditions that affect how patients walk, talk and interact with others in their day-to-day lives. Indeed, these diseases and conditions
often result in uncomfortable movements, seizures and debilitating physical and/or psychological pain.
Unlike many other diseases and conditions, the sources of these problems are not visible through standard diagnostic tests,
such as MRI and CT scans. In fact, when it comes to functional neurological disorders – including Parkinson’s disease, tremor,
dystonia, epilepsy and severe headaches – such scans appear normal even as patients suffer clear physical symptoms.
Thus, unlike most types of surgery – which are performed to correct or remove anatomical abnormalities – functional neurosurgery
delivers “invisible” electrical and chemical signals in the brain and spinal cord. These treatments aim to improve the electrical
and chemical activity in the brain and spinal cord, and have demonstrated considerable success in providing relief for many
patients.
The Jefferson difference
The Functional Neurosurgery Center at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (JHN) is a world-class program led by a fellowship-trained
functional neurosurgeon. The Center provides access to the collective expertise of leading neurologists (including specialists
in movement disorders), dedicated neuropsychologists, and technologists who specialize in performing and analyzing electroencephalograms
(EEGs) and other scans of the brain’s activity.
Just as important, the Functional Neurosurgery Center at JHN offers a full complement of treatments – including deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation and surgery for epilepsy, as well as surgical trials that
give our patients access to emerging therapies. Quite simply, at Jefferson patients with these types of neurological disorders
enjoy the widest possible range of options and can receive the treatment, or combination of treatments, best-suited to their
medical needs.
Through our affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University, the Functional Neurosurgery Center also benefits from collaboration
with the Parkinson’s Disease Research Unit headed by Jay S. Schneider, PhD. As one of the world’s leading researchers in this field, his team’s laboratory work helps
to ensure that our Center continually enhances our understanding of and approach to Parkinson’s disease.
Finally, the Functional Neurosurgery Center at JHN is highly responsive to our patients’ medical needs. We aim to schedule
your first appointment quickly and, when applicable, perform your surgery in a timely manner. To schedule an appointment,
call 1-800-JEFF-NOW or use our online appointment request form.
