Pediatric Neurosurgery

We provide unparalleled care without compromise for all children who come to MUSC Children’s Health Neurosurgery. Improving the quality of life for children with conditions that require neurosurgery is our principal mission. We treat our patients and their families as part of our family, always delivering the most technologically advanced and evidence-based care possible. We offer a vast range of advanced pediatric neurosurgical care for infants, children and adolescents who show signs of disorders such as hydrocephalus, brain tumors, skull and spine defects, myelomeningoceles, or spinal tumors. In collaboration with our Advanced Fetal Care Center, we also offer prenatal consultations and counseling to expectant parents.

We can facilitate virtual visits and consultations. Please call our office to make a virtual appointment or consultation.

Neurosurgical Conditions We Treat

• Arachnoid cyst
• Brain and spinal cord tumors
• Chiari 1 malformation
• Craniosynostosis
• Plagiocephaly
• Encephalocele
• Head injury | Traumatic Brain Injury
• Hydrocephalus
• Medically refractory epilepsy
• Moya Moya disease
• Nerve injuries, including brachial plexus injuries
• Other spinal dysraphisms
• Skull and spinal column (bone deformities, tumors or abnormalities) – includes congenital and acquired spine abnormalities
• Spasticity
• Spina bifida/myelomeningocele
• Tethered spinal cord
• Vascular abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord, including stroke, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and venous sinus stenosis

Surgical Technologies

• Neuro-endoscopic surgical techniques for hydrocephalus and brain tumors – MUSC Children’s Health is the only facility in South Carolina that offers minimally invasive laser therapy for treatment of pediatric brain tumors and epilepsy disorders, which were previously viewed as untreatable. This includes a shortened inpatient stay with most of these children going home the day following treatment.
• Neuro Navigation – GPS system for brain surgery using MRI and CT for advanced neurosurgery. This technology allows surgeons to know the exact location of important structures and abnormalities in the brain to provide the most accurate and precise surgical care.
• Gamma Knife – non-invasive focal radiation treatment for many neurosurgical conditions including tumors and blood vessel disorders of the brain and spine.
• Neuro-endovascular treatment of vascular disease, arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and stroke. Our specialized team of minimally invasive neurosurgeons are one of the few places in the country who can treat a variety of blood vessel diseases in children starting with newborns.
• Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery Our neurosurgeons have additional training in minimally invasive surgery using the smallest flexible neuroendoscopes (cameras). This technique can allow for successful treatment of hydrocephalus in newborns and infants, without placing shunts.

Surgical Clinics

• Multidisciplinary Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinic – the only multidisciplinary clinic offering services such as neurosurgery, neurooncology, radiation oncology, social work, therapy, audiology, ophthalmology, ENT, neurology and more all within the same location
• Surgical Epilepsy Program – The most comprehensive pediatric epilepsy team in the state which include surgeons, epileptologists, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and researchers. Our goal is to improve the lives of all children with seizure disorders.

Care Team Support

Kate McCormack, RN | Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinical Care Coordinator