Department of Neurosurgery
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OverviewThe Neurosurgery program at The Mount Sinai Hospital was established in 1914 by Dr. Charles Elsberg and stands as an independent department. The residency program, begun in 1946, has become a nationally recognized center of excellence. The Neurosurgery faculty practice specializes in the surgical treatment of adults and children with diseases and disorders related to the brain and spinal cord. Subspecialization among the attending staff fosters broad patient referrals requiring a wide-range of surgery. Internationally renowned areas of expertise exist in skull-base, cerebrovascular, pituitary, acoustic, spinal reconstruction, epilepsy, radiosurgery, stereotactic, and primary brain tumor surgery and neuroendoscopy. Mount Sinai's neurosurgeons have expertise in the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques including magnetic resonance imaging, MR, and CT angiography, spinal reconstruction, intracranial neuroendoscopy, functional neurosurgery, radiosurgery, and stereotactic, and computer assisted image-guided neurosurgery. Brain TumorNeurosurgeons at Mount Sinai are international leaders in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors, tumors of the skull base, and pituitary tumors. They utilize the latest techniques including computer-assisted image-guided tumor resections and biopsies, advanced skull base approaches, and minimally invasive / endoscopic procedures. The most advanced stereotactic radiosurgery program gives patients a treatment option that does not require open surgery, and gene therapy is an option for selected patients. Diseases treated include meningioma, glioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, angiofibroma, chordoma, cholesterol granuloma, epidermoid tumor, esthesioneuroblastoma, glomus tumor, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, neuroma, pharyngeal carcinoma, pituitary tumor, neuroendocrine disorders, and temporal bone neoplasm. Cerebrovascular Disorders (Stroke)A highly experienced team of cerebrovascular and endovascular surgeons offers the most advanced treatment for cerebrovascular pathologies. Mount Sinai 's cohesive cerebrovascular team evaluates each patient jointly to determine whether vascular lesions can be treated with minimally invasive endovascular techniques from the inside of the blood vessel. Pathologies treated include intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations of the brain, dura and spinal cord, carotid artery stenosis, intracerebral cerebral hemorrhage, stroke / cerebral infarction, lesions of the skull base and trigeminal neuralgia (treated with microvascular decompression). Functional NeurosurgeryFunctional neurosurgery utilizes computers to precisely target locations and abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord in combination with minimally invasive, surgical approaches. Utilizing this type of innovative surgery, neurosurgeons at Mount Sinai perform deep brain stimulation, pallidotomy and thalamotomy for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia . They also use this cutting edge technique in the treatment of patients with facial nerve disorders, epilepsy and pain. RadiosurgeryThis outpatient treatment does not require opening the skull. Instead it utilizes radiation applied with computer assistance in a pinpoint manner to non-invasively treat lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Radiosurgery is thus an effective alternative to traditional surgery. The neurosurgeons at Mount Sinai use this advanced technique in the treatment of brain tumors, vascular lesions and facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia). Spinal Diseases and DisordersMount Sinai's neurosurgeons offer comprehensive treatment for all disorders of the spinal column and spinal cord including degenerative disorders (disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spinal instability), trauma, infections, congenital disorders (including scolioisis) and tumors . The surgeons have pioneered endoscopic, minimally invasive surgical approaches to treat disorders of the spine. In contrast to more extensive open procedures, minimally invasive techniques have the potential to reduce post-operative pain, speed recovery, shorten hospital stays, reduce disability and facilitate an early return to work while providing the same or improved decompression or stabilization. The surgeons are developing clinical experimental protocols to treat the following conditions: spinal cord injury, combinations of obesity and spinal disorders, and scoliosis. They are also working to develop clinical protocols to minimize post-operative pain after spinal surgery. HydrocephalusMount Sinai neurosurgeons are very experienced in treating normal pressure hydrocephalus with programmable valves that offer better results and safety than traditional valves. Mailing AddressNeurosurgeryMount Sinai School of Medicine |