The Department of Neurological Surgery strongly supports the use of minimally invasive surgery when appropriate. Some patients will need complex, highly invasive surgical procedures. If possible, however, we try to avoid this. We feel that patients recover much quicker and more completely when treated with smaller, focused operations. We use the most modern surgical operating microscopes in our surgical procedures. This allows us to use small surgical incisions while maintaining the best possible visualization. Optimal visualization will naturally decrease the chances of a surgical complication. Our patients generally become active and resume their normal work and leisure activities more quickly than patients who have invasive surgery.

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The surgeons within the Department of Neurological Surgery perform surgical laminectomy procedures hundreds of times each year. This procedure involves the removal of all or a portion of the spinal lamina, the back part of the spinal column. This procedure can be performed for many different reasons, including spinal decompression and to gain access to the spinal cord for removal of spinal cord lesions.

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots are compressed within the spinal canal. Although it can be a congenital condition, spinal stenosis is most commonly a degenerative condition that occurs as people age. It can occur in the neck, middle, and lower back.

When spinal stenosis occurs in the neck, common symptoms can include pain in the neck and arms, with weakness and numbness of one or both arms occurring in some cases. Stenosis in the neck can also cause spinal cord injuries with resulting problems with balance, walking, and with strength of the leg.

Spinal stenosis in the low back is a very common condition, which increases in frequency as people age. Common symptoms can include pain in the back and legs. Often patients will also develop weakness and numbness of one or both legs as well. Neurogenic claudication is a condition in which leg pain and cramping are present when standing or walking. Symptoms typically resolve with rest. Although this is not a life-threatening condition, it can significantly affect a person’s quality of life.

Surgical treatment of spinal stenosis involves relieving the compression on the nerves, thus the common term of a “decompressive” operation or a “spinal decompression”. When performed appropriately on properly selected patients, these operations are quite successful. The vast majority of patients will have a decreased level of pain and improved quality of life.

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A discectomy is the surgical removal of all or a portion of one of the spinal discs. The discs are the structures located between the spinal vertebral bodies. A fibrous ligament called the annulus surrounds the disc itself. Most commonly a disc is removed if it has herniated or ruptured through the annulus and is pinching on the nerves. This can cause pain or other problems. Sometimes a severely bulging disc will also pinch upon a nerve and need to be removed. Occasionally, severely degenerated discs will cause pain and also need removal.

Herniated discs can cause many of the same symptoms as spinal stenosis. Herniated discs in the neck can cause arm pain, weakness and numbness and possible spinal cord injury. Herniated discs in the low back can cause leg pain, weakness and numbness.

Herniated discs can sometimes be treated in a nonsurgical fashion with medications, physical therapy and occasionally cortisone injections. In certain patients this may result in relief from the pain caused by the disc rupture. Frequently, however, surgery is necessary to relieve the pinched nerve and the associated symptoms.

The surgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery perform hundreds of disc operations each year. We commonly perform these operations in a minimally invasive fashion using modern surgical microscopes and microsurgical techniques. Our patients are often operated upon as outpatients, while some patients may require a brief stay in the hospital. Most patients are dramatically improved by their surgical treatment and are able to resume active, productive lives.

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The surgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery perform all types of spinal fusions. The ability to safely and successfully perform such procedures requires an intimate understanding of spinal anatomy and spinal disease. A true understanding of the limitations of such treatment is also necessary to minimize the frequency of failed operations.

Spinal fusion and reconstruction may be necessary for a great variety of reasons, including disc herniations, traumatic spinal injuries, congenital and degenerative spinal conditions, and for removal of tumors. These conditions may cause pain and neurological injuries to patients, and often can be treated successfully.

To “fuse” bones ordinarily requires bone to be placed between two separate pieces of bone. These bones then grow together to form one solid structure. In the spine, typically two vertebra are fused together either by placing bone in the space where the disc normally resides or by placing bone along other parts of the vertebra. Spinal instrumentation refers to metal objects placed in the spine to immediately help increase the strength of the spine and to increase the likelihood that a spinal fusion will be successful. This may include the use of metal plates, rods, screws, hooks or wires, all of which are usually made of titanium.

Fusions are often performed following surgery on disc herniations in the cervical spine. The common procedure known as “anterior cervical discectomy and fusion” involves not only removing the herniated disc, but also performing a fusion in the area formerly occupied by the disc. Often adding cervical instrumentation is done to help the fusion occur more quickly and successfully. These procedures are less common in the thoracic and lumbar spine for disc herniations, but, when appropriate, can dramatically help reduce the pain of certain disc diseases.

Conditions such as spondylolisthesis, in which one vertebra slips forward on another, can result in pain and neurological deficits. This most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine, the lowest part of the back. When the symptoms are severe enough to require surgery, decompression, fusion and the addition of spinal instrumentation may be required to try to relieve the pain and restore the strength to the spine.

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of severe spinal trauma.This trauma may be limited to the bony spine, in which the patient will have full use of arms and legs and no spinal cord injury, or the spinal cord may also be injured. A severe injury to the spinal cord in the neck will typically result in a patient becoming quadriplegic, meaning they will have no movement or sensation in the legs and little or no movement or sensation in the arms. Injuries to the spinal cord below the neck will typically spare the arms but cause loss of sensation and strength in the legs.

Currently there is no curative treatments for spinal cord injuries. Medical and supportive therapy is given to try to limit the injury and allow the body to heal, but neurological injuries are often permanent. Associated bony injuries are aggressively treated, however. Usually the trauma will have broken the spine or weakened the integrity of the spine, making it dangerous for a patient to move or begin rehabilitation due to the risk of causing further injury. In these cases, spinal fusion with instrumentation is commonly used to restore strength to the spine and allow rehabilitation to begin. Often patients will need a brace for a period of time following surgery to afford the best chance for the injuries to heal. Aggressive rehabilitation can then begin which will allow patients to regain as much independence as possible.

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Tumors of the spinal cord are rare but quite challenging. Patients can develop tumors inside or outside of the spinal cord. Those tumors located outside the cord can press upon the spinal cord. Either type of tumor can cause spinal cord injury. Treatment often requires surgical biopsy or excision, followed occasionally by radiation therapy.

Surgical treatment requires microsurgical techniques and the use of surgical microscopes as well as the use of spinal cord monitoring. These technical devices allow this surgery to be performed as safely as possible. The neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery have available all necessary equipment to insure that patients will receive the safest care and have the best possible outcomes when this type of surgery is required to treat these difficult lesions.

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Tumors of the spinal cord are rare but quite challenging. Patients can develop tumors inside or outside of the spinal cord. Those tumors located outside the cord can press upon the spinal cord. Either type of tumor can cause spinal cord injury. Treatment often requires surgical biopsy or excision, followed occasionally by radiation therapy.

Surgical treatment requires microsurgical techniques and the use of surgical microscopes as well as the use of spinal cord monitoring. These technical devices allow this surgery to be performed as safely as possible. The neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery have available all necessary equipment to insure that patients will receive the safest care and have the best possible outcomes when this type of surgery is required to treat these difficult lesions.

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Patients experiencing back pain because of osteoporotic fractures in the vertebrae of their spines can now feel relief by a procedure called Kyphoplasty. Dr. Albert Lee performs this simple procedure at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Kyphoplasty involves a small incision in the back through which the neurosurgeon places a narrow tube through which a balloon is inserted. Once inflated, the balloon elevates the fracture and the fractured pieces return to a more normal position. Polymethlmethacrylate (a cement-like substance) is then inserted to harden and stabilize the bone.

The procedure takes approximately 20-30 minutes for each vertebra involved and is performed under a local or general anesthesia. Most patients will see immediate relief, whereas others will see relief within 1-2 days after surgery. Patients are generally discharged from the hospital the day after the procedure.

The majority of patients who undergo this procedure are suffering from Osteoporosis, a disease that causes weakening of the bones. Osteoporosis affects both men and women, though the majority of patients with this disease are female.

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Patients experiencing back pain because of compression fractures in the vertebrae of their spines are finding quick relief at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with a procedure called Vertebroplasty. During this simple, outpatient procedure, patients experience almost immediate relief of pain, improve their mobility, and can often avoid spine surgery.

Clinically known as Percutaneous Vertebroplasty, the procedure involves injecting a cement-like substance into the spine to reinforce collapsing vertebrae. The procedure is performed by a specially trained neurosurgeon.

Patients receive a local anesthetic so that they are pain-free and calm during the procedure, which typically takes about one hour to complete. Using continuous x-ray imaging (fluoroscopy), the neurosurgeon guides the needle through the skin to the fractured spine, then injects bone cement into the fractured vertebrae.

Most patients experience pain relief within 6 to 12 hours after the procedure. Generally patients can go home the day of the procedure or occassionally stay overnight and leave the next morning.

"We've seen that the procedure is 85% successful in significantly reducing back pain caused by a stress fracture," said Todd Crawford, M.D., a neurosurgeon and member of TMH's medical staff. "Most patients we've seen have been able to resume their normal activities the day of or day after the procedure because of their decreased pain."

The majority of patients who undergo the procedure are suffering from Osteoporosis, a disease that causes weakening of the bones. Osteoporosis affects both men and women though the majority of patients with this disease are female. Vertebroplasty is also useful in treating patients who have bone loss and fractures as a result of using certain types of steroid medications or who have certain types of cancer

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The neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery perform a wide variety of stereotactic surgical procedures. The use of stereotactic localization allows a physician to be extremely precise when performing a biopsy on an intracranial lesion. A patient who has a lesion in a deeper area of the brain or an area that is less surgically accessible will require this type of procedure. The stereotactic localization of these tumors allows a biopsy to be performed.

These procedures can often be performed as an outpatient. A stereotactic biopsy is performed in the operating room. The patient has a head frame placed usually under local anesthesia with some general intravenous sedation. A stereotactic CT scan is obtained. Data from this scan is entered into a targeting computer which assists the surgeon in obtaining a biopsy of the lesion. A pathologist will evaluate the biopsy specimen and make a diagnosis. This assists in planning for further treatment.

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The surgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery perform surgery on a wide variety of intracranial tumors. Tumors of the brain tissue and it’s surrounding tissue are called primary brain tumors. Tumors which spread from cancer in other sites of the body and that occur in the brain are called metastatic tumors. Brain tumors can present in a wide variety of ways. Progressive headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, confusion, weakness or other neurological problems are typical symptoms associated with tumors of the brain. Evaluation of these tumors typically requires either CT or MRI scanning and further diagnostic testing may occassionally be required also.

Our neurosurgeons provide surgical resection for virtually all types of intracranial tumors. Operating surgical microscopes are used which allows for the best possible identification of the tumor and its safe removal. Pathologists assist by identifying the type of tumor. Depending on the tumor type, some patients may require additional treatment modalities following surgery.

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Aneurysm or dilatation of an artery can be seen throughout the body. In the brain, however, aneurysms tend to be what is called saccular or berry aneurysms. These aneurysm in the brain can expand, rupture spontaneously, and bleed. Commonly, bleeding occurs primarily within the subarachnoid space, and the condition is referred to as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This can be an extremely devastating event. Hemorrhage from an aneurysm will commonly cause death or at least significant neurological damage. If a patient does survive an aneurysm rupture, they are at risk of the aneurysm rupturing again, often with a fatal result. To try to prevent a second hemorrhage, surgery is performed to occlude the intracranial aneurysm and prevent it from being able to re-bleed.

Surgeries for treatment of intracranial aneurysms are very difficult and dangerous. These operations are always done with the use of the operating microscope to aid visualization.

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Patients can develop an intracranial hemorrhage for a variety of reasons. These are seen as a result of traumatic and nontraumatic etiologies. The most common cause of a hemorrhage within the brain itself is a hemorrhagic stroke. These are typically not treated surgically. Hemorrhages can occur, however, as a result of bleeding from an underlying vascular abnormality or underlying tumor. These types of hemorrhages may require surgical treatment and resection.

Hemorrhage can also occur outside of the brain – either above the dura covering the brain (epidural) or below the dura (subdural). Most commonly these bleeds occur as a result of trauma. A traumatic head injury can result in not only injury to the brain but injury to the blood vessels causing a hemorrhage. Often times surgical removal of the hemorrhage is needed. Patients can also develop subdural hematomas without trauma. Most commonly, this will occur in elderly patients, especially if they have been on any sort of blood thinners. These patients develop a “chronic” subdural hematoma and tend to have a slow decline in mental functioning. They often experience increasing confusion and gait (walking) problems. Surgery may be needed to relieve the pressure on the brain. How well the patient does following surgery often depends on the degree of underlying brain injury associated with the hemorrhage and not on the bleeding itself.

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Patients can develop an intracranial hemorrhage for a variety of reasons. These are seen as a result of traumatic and nontraumatic etiologies. The most common cause of a hemorrhage within the brain itself is a hemorrhagic stroke. These are typically not treated surgically. Hemorrhages can occur, however, as a result of bleeding from an underlying vascular abnormality or underlying tumor. These types of hemorrhages may require surgical treatment and resection.

Hemorrhage can also occur outside of the brain – either above the dura covering the brain (epidural) or below the dura (subdural). Most commonly these bleeds occur as a result of trauma. A traumatic head injury can result in not only injury to the brain but injury to the blood vessels causing a hemorrhage. Often times surgical removal of the hemorrhage is needed. Patients can also develop subdural hematomas without trauma. Most commonly, this will occur in elderly patients, especially if they have been on any sort of blood thinners. These patients develop a “chronic” subdural hematoma and tend to have a slow decline in mental functioning. They often experience increasing confusion and gait (walking) problems. Surgery may be needed to relieve the pressure on the brain. How well the patient does following surgery often depends on the degree of underlying brain injury associated with the hemorrhage and not on the bleeding itself.

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The first procedure done in Tallahassee for the implantation of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator was performed January 22, 1999 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by local physicians - Dr. Mark Cuffe, Dr. Christopher Rumana and Dr. Ricardo Ayala. Since then many additional patients have benefited from this procedure being done locally. The Neuro Cybernetic Prosthesis System (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) was developed by Cyberonics after 15 years of research and clinical studies. The Vagus Nerve Stimulator was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 16, 1997 for use as an add-on therapy in reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age who have partial onset seizures which are refractory to antiepileptic medications. The role of the neurologist in treating patients who have this implanted device is to program and monitor the device that controls the electrical stimulations of the Vagus Nerve along with managing the antiepileptic medications. The surgeon plays a more technical role in the care of these patients, he is responsible for the placement of the electrode and stimulator and for the follow-up surgical care.

Currently under investigation at several university centers is the use of the Vagus Nerve Stimulator in the treatment of depression. During prior clinical trials for epilepsy treatment, the investigators had noticed that patient’s with seizures who also suffered from clinical depression showed an improvement in their depression. This beneficial “side-effect” has been well documented and the results from current clinical trials are encouraging. Within the next couple of years, the vagus nerve stimulator may prove to be an additional, effective therapy for patients with clinical depression.

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During a patient's surgery once the incision has been made and the operative area is exposed, an optical scanner (that is positioned above the operating table) is utilized to locate or visualize a surgical instrument that is held by the doctor. The information obtained by the scan is transmitted into the Silicon Graphics computer - the transmitting device is called a digitizer. During the operation, bold lines representing the instrument are displayed over the patient's scan on a high-resolution monitor located beside the operating table. Knowing the position of the instrument assists the surgeon in identifying the patient's internal anatomy. The surgeon can compare the intraoperative scan to the pre-operative CT or MRI scan by utilizing the Silicon Graphics computer with it's powerful graphical and computing abilities. The surgeon can follow in "real time" the precise location of surgical instruments. This technology is referred to as computer-assisted or image-guided surgery. Specialized training and certification are required before surgeons can utilize this equipment.

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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition involving primarily the hands. A patientwith this condition experiences numbness and tingling of the hand, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The patient may be awakened at night when his/her hand feels “asleep” and will often shake the hand to restore the circulation and feeling. As the condition progresses, the patient can develop numbness and tingling of the hand during normal, daily activities as well as notice some weakness of the hand and difficulty with fine control of the fingers. This condition most commonly is the result of repetitive hand movements. Persons using computer keyboards and doing a lot of typing or data entry will commonly develop this condition. Also patients who frequently use hand tools, such as mechanics, carpenters or plumbers, often develop this problem.

Treatment options include resting of the hand, wearing a hand/wrist splint as well as vitamin B6 therapy. This will often provide temporary relief of the symptoms. If the symptoms progress, however, or are not relieved with these measures, carpal tunnel surgery may be required. An electromyogram (EMG)-nerve conduction velocity study is needed to confirm this diagnosis. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is compressed at the wrist by thickening of the carpal ligament. An incision is made in the palm of the hand and the compressive ligaments in the hand are surgically divided. This relieves the pressure on the nerve. This procedure is performed as an outpatient under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, when necessary. For most patients, symptoms are dramatically improved following surgery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition involving primarily the hands. A patientwith this condition experiences numbness and tingling of the hand, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The patient may be awakened at night when his/her hand feels “asleep” and will often shake the hand to restore the circulation and feeling. As the condition progresses, the patient can develop numbness and tingling of the hand during normal, daily activities as well as notice some weakness of the hand and difficulty with fine control of the fingers. This condition most commonly is the result of repetitive hand movements. Persons using computer keyboards and doing a lot of typing or data entry will commonly develop this condition. Also patients who frequently use hand tools, such as mechanics, carpenters or plumbers, often develop this problem.

Treatment options include resting of the hand, wearing a hand/wrist splint as well as vitamin B6 therapy. This will often provide temporary relief of the symptoms. If the symptoms progress, however, or are not relieved with these measures, carpal tunnel surgery may be required. An electromyogram (EMG)-nerve conduction velocity study is needed to confirm this diagnosis. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is compressed at the wrist by thickening of the carpal ligament. An incision is made in the palm of the hand and the compressive ligaments in the hand are surgically divided. This relieves the pressure on the nerve. This procedure is performed as an outpatient under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, when necessary. For most patients, symptoms are dramatically improved following surgery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

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Stereotactic Radiosurgery is an attractive therapy for some lesions of the brain. It can be used to treat lesions in surgically dangerous locations. The risk of complications is low and treatment is quick, often done on an outpatient basis. Stereotactic Radiosurgery is the delivery of a focused radiation dose to a specific target (lesion) while avoiding significant radiation exposure to surrounding structures.

Often intracranial tumors can be treated with this technology. This is the most common type of lesion treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and includes primary brain tumors and metastatic tumors to the brain.

Also, abnormalities of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, frequently can be treated with this technology. Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain) which is not responsive to medical therapy is another condition that is often treated with this therapy.

Treatment is typically on an outpatient basis. After arriving at the hospital in the morning, the patient will have a stereotactic headframe placed by a neurosurgeon (local anesthesia is used). Next, the patient receives a CT scan to confirm the location of the brain lesion. The patient returns to a hospital room while a treatment plan is prepared by a team of physicians – a neurosurgeon, a radiation oncologist and a radiation physicist. Together they review the clinical information and decide on the radiation therapy. Treatment is then given using a specially modified linear accelerator. This will take approximately 30 minutes. After the treatment is completed, the headframe is removed. Following a short period of recovery, the patient is able to return home.

The Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, Department of Neurosurgery, in conjunction with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the Department of Radiation Oncology will be providing these treatments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

Stereotactic Radiosurgery is an attractive therapy for some lesions of the brain. It can be used to treat lesions in surgically dangerous locations. The risk of complications is low and treatment is quick, often done on an outpatient basis. Stereotactic Radiosurgery is the delivery of a focused radiation dose to a specific target (lesion) while avoiding significant radiation exposure to surrounding structures.

Often intracranial tumors can be treated with this technology. This is the most common type of lesion treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and includes primary brain tumors and metastatic tumors to the brain.

Also, abnormalities of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, frequently can be treated with this technology. Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain) which is not responsive to medical therapy is another condition that is often treated with this therapy.

Treatment is typically on an outpatient basis. After arriving at the hospital in the morning, the patient will have a stereotactic headframe placed by a neurosurgeon (local anesthesia is used). Next, the patient receives a CT scan to confirm the location of the brain lesion. The patient returns to a hospital room while a treatment plan is prepared by a team of physicians – a neurosurgeon, a radiation oncologist and a radiation physicist. Together they review the clinical information and decide on the radiation therapy. Treatment is then given using a specially modified linear accelerator. This will take approximately 30 minutes. After the treatment is completed, the headframe is removed. Following a short period of recovery, the patient is able to return home.

The Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, Department of Neurosurgery, in conjunction with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the Department of Radiation Oncology will be providing these treatments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

Stereotactic Radiosurgery is an attractive therapy for some lesions of the brain. It can be used to treat lesions in surgically dangerous locations. The risk of complications is low and treatment is quick, often done on an outpatient basis. Stereotactic Radiosurgery is the delivery of a focused radiation dose to a specific target (lesion) while avoiding significant radiation exposure to surrounding structures.

Often intracranial tumors can be treated with this technology. This is the most common type of lesion treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and includes primary brain tumors and metastatic tumors to the brain.

Also, abnormalities of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, frequently can be treated with this technology. Trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain) which is not responsive to medical therapy is another condition that is often treated with this therapy.

Treatment is typically on an outpatient basis. After arriving at the hospital in the morning, the patient will have a stereotactic headframe placed by a neurosurgeon (local anesthesia is used). Next, the patient receives a CT scan to confirm the location of the brain lesion. The patient returns to a hospital room while a treatment plan is prepared by a team of physicians – a neurosurgeon, a radiation oncologist and a radiation physicist. Together they review the clinical information and decide on the radiation therapy. Treatment is then given using a specially modified linear accelerator. This will take approximately 30 minutes. After the treatment is completed, the headframe is removed. Following a short period of recovery, the patient is able to return home.

The Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, Department of Neurosurgery, in conjunction with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the Department of Radiation Oncology will be providing these treatments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

Lumbar disc degeneration is a common ailment treated by our neurosurgeons with an arthroplasty operation. Symptoms of lumbar disc degeneration include a continuous but tolerable pain that can occasionally flare up, is centered on the lower back and can be exacerbated by certain bending or twisting movements. The pain associated with disc degeneration can be caused by proteins in the disc space irritating the surrounding nerves and/or when the outer rings of the disc are worn down and can no longer effectively absorb stress on the spine.

An arthroplasty is an operation to either restore, as closely as possible, or preserve the integrity and functional power of a disc using artificial implants or the creation of an artificial disc. An artificial disc is inserted between two lumbar vertebrae after the degenerated disc has been surgically removed. When artificial implants are placed, they are permanent.

A lumbar arthroplasty is performed on the lower spine to relieve pressure and pain in the low back area, including the cauda equine and/or on the nerve roots. The goal of this procedure is to provide spinal stabilization, long-term pain relief at the degenerated disc as well as take preventative measures in decreasing the possibility of an adjacent spinal disease.

The surgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery perform hundreds of disc operations each year. We commonly perform these operations in a minimally invasive fashion using modern surgical microscopes and microsurgical techniques. Our patients are often operated upon as outpatients, while some patients may require a brief stay in the hospital. Most patients are dramatically improved by their surgical treatment and are able to resume active, productive lives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115

Cervical disc degeneration is a common ailment treated by our neurosurgeons with an arthroplasty operation. Symptoms of cervical disc degeneration include neck pain (most frequently referred to as a stiff neck) and/or numbness and tingling on the neck, arms and shoulders. The numbness and tingling associated with cervical disc degeneration can be caused by an irritated or pinched nerve adjacent to the degenerated disc.

An arthroplasty is an operation to either restore, as closely as possible, or preserve the integrity and functional power of a disc using artificial implants or the creation of an artificial disc. An artificial disc is inserted between two cervical vertebrae after the degenerated disc has been surgically removed. When artificial implants are placed, they are permanent.

A cervical arthroplasty is preformed on the upper spine (neck area) to relieve pressure and pain on the spinal cord and/or on the nerve roots. The goal of this procedure is to provide spinal stabilization, long-term pain relief at the degenerated disc as well as take preventative measures in decreasing the possibility of an adjacent spinal disease.
The surgeons in the Department of Neurological Surgery perform hundreds of disc operations each year. We commonly perform these operations in a minimally invasive fashion using modern surgical microscopes and microsurgical techniques. Our patients are often operated upon as outpatients, while some patients may require a brief stay in the hospital. Most patients are dramatically improved by their surgical treatment and are able to resume active, productive lives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AT (850) 877-5115