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Functional neurosurgery encompasses many neurosurgical interventions that can enhance the quality of life for patients with a wide range of neurological diseases and conditions. Some innovative technologies have recently been developed, which may offer new hope for select patients who have not achieved satisfactory results from other surgical or nonsurgical treatment methods.

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The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons Commend the SPORT Study Results which Support the Benefit of Surgery in Treating Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

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Epilepsy and seizures affect 2.5 million Americans, and about 450,000 children develop epilepsy each year. Brain injury or infection can cause epilepsy at any age; however, the cause of epilepsy is unknown for about half of all individuals with the disorder. Advances in treatment have improved the quality of life for thousands of adults and children suffering from seizures.

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According to the AANS, an estimated 309,000 sports-related head injuries were treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2005 (the latest statistics available). The prospect of summer is especially appealing to those living in cold-weather climates, but there also tends to be an increase in the number of head injuries with the onset of warm weather. The AANS offers tips which can help prevent many head injuries.

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Griffith R. Harsh IV, MD, has been named chair of the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) of the AANS, effective April 15. Since 1981, the NREF has been dedicated to providing private, non-governmental sources of funding for research training in the neurosciences, related to the field of neurological surgery.

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It is estimated that 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) are diagnosed each year, adding to the estimated one to 1.5 million Americans who currently have the disease. Existing therapies for PD treat only the symptoms, and are effective for a limited period of time. Results of this Phase I Trial utilizing AAV-Neurturin are encouraging for the many PD patients who do not respond to existing therapies.

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Severe psychiatric illness affects about 6 percent of the population. Since 2001, researchers have been using deep brain stimulation for treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder and more recently for treatment resistant depression, with promising results. This research suggests that DBS may also interface with memory circuits in the brain and result in improvements in memory function in patients with severe psychiatric disorders.

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In brain tumor surgery, the goal is always to maximize the resection while minimizing the loss of critical neurological functions. Surgically removing brain tumors adjacent to "eloquent" or functional regions of the brain poses significant risks for causing neurological impairments. This research analyzes neurological outcomes in 309 consecutive patients undergoing awake brain surgery with cortical mapping.

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Recent statistics indicate that one in five people worldwide suffer from moderate to severe chronic pain and that one in three are unable or less able to maintain an independent lifestyle due to their pain. Research into the brain function underlying a phenomenon known as stress-induced analgesia may help identify novel clinical treatments for severe pain, by targeting these brain pathways.

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Trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. An estimated 45,000 people in the United States and an estimated one million people worldwide suffer from trigeminal neuralgia. Stereotactic radiosurgery offers an effective, noninvasive treatment option for patients with this painful disorder.

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. About 475,000 children ages 0-14 suffer a TBI annually. A few studies have described the potential benefits of performing decompressive craniectomy in the pediatric population after trauma. However, these studies have been limited by small sample size, short follow-up, as well as variable criteria used for when to operate.

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An estimated 5,600 people in the United States are diagnosed every year with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. This research shows that in appropriately selected ALS patients with spasticity (a common side effect of ALS), intrathecal baclofen implantation can offer a significant quality of life improvement for an incurable and often painful condition.

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An estimated 1.4 million new cases of all types of cancer will be diagnosed in 2007. Conservative estimates indicate that at least 30 percent of patients with cancer will experience spread of the cancer to their spine, and without treatment, the tumor will continue to grow. This can lead to compression of the spinal cord, chronic pain, loss of leg function, and ultimately "“ paraplegia and incontinence.

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An estimated 197 million people worldwide suffer from some form of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), many of whom do not receive proper diagnosis or treatment. Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which the body sweats three to four times the normal amount. This research analyzes outcomes on 300 patients treated with a minimally invasive procedure called thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) affects approximately 30,000 Americans every year, with 90 percent of all cases caused by cerebral aneurysms. The most appropriate treatment of cerebral aneurysms, both ruptured and unruptured, is currently under debate. This research compares efficacy and outcomes in surgical therapy/clipping and endovascular therapy/coiling.

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The goal of Neurosurgery Awareness Week is to help educate people about the role of the neurosurgeon in treating a wide range of medical conditions and diseases. When people hear the word "neurosurgeon," most think "brain surgeon." However, neurosurgeons are medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders of the entire nervous system, providing both surgical and nonsurgical care.

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Jon H. Robertson, MD, of the Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute in Memphis, was named president of the AANS at the AANS Annual Meeting "“ Celebrating AANS' Diamond Jubilee "“ in Washington, D.C.

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The AANS Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation. The meeting focuses on the latest research and technological advances in the field. The Scientific Program, which includes 38 practical clinics, 21 general scientific sessions, 79 breakfast seminars, 146 oral abstract presentations, nearly 500 poster presentations, and exhibit booths representing 240 companies, opens officially on Monday, April 16.

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An estimated 1.5 million people in the United States incur a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year and 60,000 people die annually from these injuries. More than half of the patients brought to the hospital with TBI are intoxicated and many have cardiovascular disease requiring them to be on blood-thinners such as aspirin. Yet no prior studies have examined the potential effects of alcohol and aspirin consumption on worsening hemorrhage in patients with TBI.

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Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most significant forms of neurotrauma with major economic and social impact. Every year, nearly 12,000 individuals in the United States and Canada, mostly young adults, sustain a SCI. Research utilizing a novel protein shows promise for partially restoring neurological function in acute SCI cases treated quickly after the incident.

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The AANS Scientific Program focuses primarily on clinical neurosurgical research and breakthroughs that can help neurosurgeons improve the quality of care provided to their patients. There are other crucial issues that affect the delivery of patient care, however, and in recognition of that, this year's meeting features significantly expanded programming devoted to the key socioeconomic issues that affect neurosurgeons and their patients.

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The nation's largest annual scientific meeting for neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents in training, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, nurse/physician assistants, and other allied health professionals.

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An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and an additional 34 million are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for developing this condition. Along with hip and wrist fractures, severe osteoporosis can cause compression fractures in the spine. Two minimally invasive procedures can help patients heal when conservative treatment options have proven ineffective.

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Have you or a family member undergone successful surgery to treat Parkinson's disease, tumors of the central nervous system, low back or neck pain, stroke, cerebral aneurysms, head injuries, or any of the many other conditions treated by neurosurgeons? The AANS is seeking stories from neurosurgical patients to be featured on its Neurosurgical Patient Stories Web page.

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In 2005, an estimated one million people were treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms for head injuries related to seemingly harmless products found around the home. Winter sports contributed to thousands of additional head injuries. According to the AANS, many injuries can be avoided by removing potential hazards inside and outside the home, following proper driving precautions, and playing sports safely.

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Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Preliminary estimates indicate that 150,147 people in the United States died from cerebrovascular disease in 2004; a decrease of nearly 5 percent from the prior year. Understanding the factors that increase the risk of stroke and recognizing the symptoms help in prevention.

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The AANS supports rigorous scientific studies such as SPORT that seek to provide direction toward the best patient care. Neurosurgeons and their patients with painful lumbar disc herniation should certainly be reassured that the principle of giving patients advice regarding their treatment options based on their individual needs has been reaffirmed by this major study.

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The symptoms can mimic so many other conditions that patients are often told that their chronic headaches and muscle weakness are psychosomatic, or that the symptoms are "all in their head." Chiari malformation is indeed in the head, but it is a physical condition, most often congenital in nature. The prevalence in the general population is estimated at slightly less than one in 1000.

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According to the AANS, the most recent statistics indicate that there were an estimated 64,500 bicycling-related head injuries treated in United States hospital emergency rooms in 2005. Nearly 37,000 of these injuries were to children age 14 and younger. Overall, sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.

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Left untreated, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can enlarge and rupture, causing intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage and permanent brain damage. They are detected most frequently in young adults, often as a result of a seizure or brain hemorrhage. Preventing the rupture of vascular malformations is one of the major reasons that early neurosurgical treatment is recommended for AVMs.

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According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), there are currently an estimated 70,000 Americans living with spina bifida. Although scientists believe that genetic and environmental factors may act together to cause spina bifida, 95 percent of babies with spina bifida are born to parents with no family history.

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Spinal fusion is an operation that creates a solid union between two or more vertebrae. Researchers recently compared return-to-work data for a total of 972 patients undergoing cervical disc surgery through spinal fusion, as well as replacement with two different types of artificial discs.

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High-grade gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumors in adult patients, accounting for 40 percent of all tumors and 78 percent of malignant tumors. One neurosurgeon's experience with 250 consecutive patients with large, dominant-hemisphere gliomas requiring language mapping was analyzed.

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage affects about 30,000 Americans every year. The majority of these cases are caused by cerebral aneurysms. Researchers analyzed the efficacy of Computed Tomographic Angiography in identifying SAH quickly and accurately.

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While spinal fusion is effective in helping to reduce pain from motion and nerve root inflammation, the limited mobility of the neck may eventually lead to the herniation of other discs. Researchers analyzed the effectiveness of the PRESTIGE ST artificial cervical disc as potential treatment.

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Close to 1.5 million cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) occur in the United States every year. Annual direct and indirect TBI costs are estimated at $56 billion. Research correlates serum magnesium levels to TBI outcome and offers insight into potential treatment.

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Raised intracranial pressure (ICP), along with hypotension and hypoxia, can increase the mortality rate in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients by 70 percent. Controlling ICP is an essential component of effectively treating TBI patients, and one viable solution is hypertonic saline.

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating brain cancer that typically results in death in about one year. Patients have few treatment options, and nearly all available therapies have had minimal impact on survival. A therapeutic vaccination offers future promise for GBM patients.

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It is estimated that bicycle-related injury and death cost society $8 billion annually. Traumatic brain injury causes two-thirds of all deaths resulting from bicycle accidents. Forty percent of deaths occur in children age 15 and younger, with boys age 10 to 14 at the greatest risk.

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Effective resuscitation in patients with traumatic brain injury and hemorrhage is a challenge. While blood is the optimal resuscitation fluid, it is typically not available in the out-of-hospital setting, and its use is associated with certain risks. Research shows that HBOC-201 holds promise...

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An estimated 12 million Americans suffer from degenerative disk disease, with over one million patients undergoing surgery each year. In the past, the standard surgical treatment for herniated lumbar intervertebral disks was open microscopic diskectomy. Research shows that minimally invasive surgery is a viable option.

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Hospital report cards have become an increasingly popular tool for assessing provider-based outcomes. However, an in-depth study reveals that this tool is particularly inaccurate for assessing high-risk procedures such as craniotomy surgery, and could jeopardize access to care for the sickest patients.

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In the vast majority of meningiomas studied, receptors for specific growth factors have been identified on the surface of the tumor cells. Research correlates EGFR status with meningioma patient outcome.

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Trigeminal neuralgia is relatively rare. An estimated 45,000 people in the United States and an estimated one million people worldwide suffer from trigeminal neuralgia. Sister Claire, an 82-year-old school teacher, suffered for years before finding relief through surgery.

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An estimated 30,000 people a year in the United States experience rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Sadly, about 50 percent of those who experience ruptured brain aneurysms do not survive. Sylvia Lee is one of the lucky survivors -- alive and well today to share her story with others.

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Craniopharyngiomas are slightly more prevalent in children than adults. Although they are typically benign, these are treacherous tumors to remove because of their location near critical structures deep in the brain. Ariel Nelsen, age 4, underwent successful surgery to treat a craniopharyngioma.

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An estimated 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive disorder annually, costing as much as $40 billion in the American workplace. Preliminary research indicates that DBS holds promise for the treatment of intractable major depression, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder.

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The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will hold its 74th Annual Meeting from April 24-27, 2006 at the Moscone South Convention Center in San Francisco. Discover why neurosurgery is more than brain surgery.

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The nation's largest annual scientific meeting for neurosurgeons, neurological residents in training, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, nurse/physician assistants, and other allied health professionals.

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According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), an estimated 250,000 to 450,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The AANS offers SCI prevention tips to help address this public health crisis.