Why choose Cook Children’s for Neurosurgery?
If your child needs brain or spinal cord surgery, you likely have many questions and worries. At Cook Children’s, you’re in the right place to feel reassured. Our neurosurgeons have skilled hands and compassionate hearts – performing state-of-the-art procedures while ensuring that every family gets their full attention.
What you can expect
Neurosurgery is part of the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health. We created the Justin Institute to provide neurosciences, behavior and developmental services in one place. Together, our team works hard to give kids a brighter future.
When you choose us for neurosurgery care, you'll find:
Year after year, U.S. News & World Report ranks Cook Children's among the best pediatric hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. Our doctors, nurses and other team members always strive for excellence.
Our neurosurgeons partner with specialists throughout the Justin Institute. They also work closely with specialists in other departments, including Radiology, Neuro-Oncology and Trauma Services.
Kids and families count on us for support before, during and after surgery. Child life specialists help ease the fear and stress of tests and treatments. Social workers provide counseling and connect families to vital resources.
Cook Children's researchers are developing new surgical approaches for children with neurological conditions. Our work in epilepsy and movement disorders stands at the forefront of medicine.
Advancing Neurosurgery
Our neurosurgeons advance surgical care by adopting the latest technology to improve precision and safety. Through research and clinical studies, our team explores new treatments that improve outcomes.
The Dodson Neuro Research Endowment provides lasting support by funding innovations in pediatric neurosurgery, from breakthrough research to improved surgical techniques and patient care, ensuring continued progress for future generations.
Treatments we offer
We combine state-of-the-art surgical facilities with the most advanced diagnostic tools, and the best skilled neurosurgeons to deliver world-class care that's second to none.
The traditional approach to neurosurgery required large incisions to reach the brain. Today, most pediatric procedures are minimally invasive and high-tech, using:
- Modern imaging and computers to map the brain and plan surgery.
- Surgical microscopes to see the finest details of the brain.
- Endoscopic techniques that use thin tubes (catheters) equipped with lights, cameras and tiny tools to reach deep areas of the brain.
- Lasers to precisely destroy small areas of diseased brain tissue.
- Robotic arm technology to place electrodes and instruments in precise locations.
- Intraoperative MRI to assure complete removal of tumors.
We use this treatment mainly for epilepsy and movement disorders. It involves placing thin wires in the brain to deliver small electrical pulses. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are common neuromodulation types.
In this procedure, the neurosurgeon places electrodes in your child’s brain. The electrodes allow us to pinpoint where epileptic seizures start. We then track your child’s brain activity in our advanced Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
Our well-known Comprehensive Epilepsy Program draws families from across the U.S. It features a renowned team of specialists, including neurosurgeons. The team works together to figure out how best to treat kids with epilepsy.
Moments of magic
Hope and healing happen every day at Cook Children’s. Discover some of our highlights.
