Conditions We Treat

Neurosurgery has experts to treat hundreds of neurological conditions. This list contains just some of the conditions that can be cared for at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Epilepsy

The Epilepsy Center at Texas Children’s Hospital evaluates and treats children with seizure disorders and epilepsy. Learn More

Congenital malformations of the brain and spine

Texas Children’s Hospital treats all forms of congenital malformations of the brain and spine. Many of our patients are diagnosed prenatally and seen by the Neurosurgery team at Texas Children’s Fetal Center® before they are born to discuss the abnormality and possible treatment options. Most malformations are treated postnatally and many do not need surgery at all.

  • Spina bifida
  • Spina bifida occulta
  • Intracranial cysts
  • Tethered spinal cord
  • Chiari malformations
  • Encephalocele

Vascular malformations of the brain and spine

Neurovascular or cerebrovascular disease refers to conditions affecting blood vessels in and around the brain and the spine. Open neurosurgery, endovascular interventions or medical therapies are options for addressing pediatric neurovascular or cerebrovascular conditions. We evaluate, diagnose and treat each patient, choosing from various neurosurgical, neurointerventional and medical therapies and often combining these modalities to achieve the safest and most effective results.

  • Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
  • Cavernous malformations
  • Moyamoya
  • Arteriovenous fistulae of the brain and spine
  • Intracranial aneurysms

Craniofacial malformations

The multidisciplinary craniofacial surgery program provides specialized care for skull and facial abnormalities, offering a comprehensive approach centered on the needs of patients and families. Our highly active clinic screens over 1,000 abnormal head shapes in babies every year, most often helping to distinguish between positional plagiocephaly and craniosynostosis.

Spinal deformities

  • Scoliosis 
  • Kyphosis
  • Craniocervical instability
  • Klippel-Feil syndrome
  • Down syndrome
  • Spondylolisthesis

Movement disorders

The Movement Disorders program at Texas Children’s Hospital sees patients with impairments of body movement and control. Each patient receives a thorough evaluation to diagnose the specific type of movement disorder and develop an individualized plan of treatment.

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Dystonia
  • Pank 2 deficiency
  • Rett syndrome
  • Spastic diplegia
  • Spasticity (congenital, post-traumatic or spinal cord injury)
  • Tourette's syndrome

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is one of the most common diseases treated by our pediatric neurosurgeon team. We offer all available treatment options for this condition and conduct extensive clinical research with the goal of improving the lives of children with hydrocephalus.

Tumors

We offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for children with tumors of the central nervous system, in conjunction with our colleagues in pediatric neuro-oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, endocrinology, radiology, pathology and pediatrics.

With a surgical volume exceeding 100 brain and spinal tumors annually, we are one of the busiest pediatric neurosurgical oncology programs in the United States. We utilize state-of-the-art surgical technology, including frameless stereotactic image guidance, microsurgery, brain mapping, intra-operative MRI imaging, robotic assisted surgery and awake craniotomy to care for our many patients who may have posterior fossa, pineal region, suprasellar, hemispheric, intraventricular and deep-seated brain tumors.