The neurology and neurosurgery specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian apply the latest advances in medicine, surgery, and technology to customize a treatment plan for each of our patients. We are one of the nation's leaders in patient care, research, and education related to disorders of the brain and spine. People travel to us from all over the world to receive excellent treatment, supported by the latest research findings and performed by the most highly-trained specialists.

 

Minimally Invasive Brain and Spine Surgery

We use minimally invasive neurosurgical approaches whenever possible to treat cerebrovascular disorders, brain and spine tumors and other spine disorders, and certain movement disorders.  Advances in neurosurgery continue to bring innovative solutions for minimizing pain and risk, both in the minimally invasive surgical procedures and in their outcomes which improve patients’ lives.

Brain Cancer Treatment Based on Tumor Biology

The doctors in our Brain Tumor Centers use advanced techniques to treat primary and metastatic tumors that are newly diagnosed as well as cancers that came back after treatment. Through our precision medicine program, our physicians analyze the biology of your tumor and aim to choose treatments that target the molecular signals driving the growth of your cancer. Our neurosurgeons have exceptional experience removing brain tumors safely, using minimally invasive brain tumor surgery whenever possible; for example, they can remove some skull base tumors through the nostrils. We also offer pinpoint stereotactic radiation therapy, the latest chemotherapy drugs, and access to clinical trials.

Internationally Recognized Spine Expertise

NewYork-Presbyterian has one of America's premier programs for the care of neck and spine disorders, from the most common to the most complex. Our world-class spine experts have cared for people with some of the rarest and most difficult-to-treat conditions in the world — including scoliosis and other spine deformities, cervical (neck) spine problems, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, spine trauma, vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis, spinal tumors, and congenital spine abnormalities. They work as a team to restore mobility, function, and quality of life to children and adults of all ages.

  • Our physiatrists are experts in interventional treatments for spine pain, such as radiofrequency ablation for spine arthritis, spine and joint injections, nerve blocks, and intrathecal pump therapy (medications given into the spinal canal).
  • If you need spine surgery, our internationally renowned orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons perform minimally invasive techniques wherever appropriate, including robotic spine surgery.
  • Our doctors are also renowned for performing complex spinal deformity surgery with extraordinary precision. We can often treat people whose spinal disorders are considered too complex by other doctors. Our use of computer-assisted 3D spinal navigation surgery optimizes the safety and accuracy of everything we do in the operating room, such as the precise placement of screws and instruments.

Expertise in Hard-to-Treat Epilepsy

NewYork-Presbyterian’s epilepsy experts care for patients of all ages—particularly people with difficult-to-control (intractable) seizures. We have two Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers, as designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers — the highest rank possible. We use the most advanced testing available to assess brain function and pinpoint the type, number, and location of seizures in your brain. If your epilepsy cannot be controlled with medication, our epilepsy surgeons offer vagus nerve stimulation (the implantation of a small pacemaker-like device that sends electrical signals to control seizures); responsive neurostimulation (a device placed in the skull to control seizures in the brain); minimally invasive laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (to destroy the brain tissue where seizures are occurring); and traditional surgery to remove the area of the brain where seizures arise. Our neurosurgeons have advanced the use of brain mapping technologies that allow them to remove abnormal tissue in the brain without disturbing areas responsible for vital functions such as speech, memory, and movement.

Working to Slow the Progression of Memory Disorders

We have special expertise evaluating and treating Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders. We offer advanced neuro-imaging services and testing to make an accurate diagnosis. Once we identify the cause of dementia, your doctors determine the best course of treatment — including the latest medications to treat your symptoms. We are known for our expertise performing surgery for normal pressure hydrocephalus, a reversible disorder that can cause dementia. Our doctors also address risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease that can be changed, such as diet and exercise, at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine — the first of its kind on the country.

A World Leader in the Care of Movement Disorders

NewYork-Presbyterian cares for one of the world's largest populations of patients with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and other movement disorders such as ataxia, dystonia, atypical Parkinson's ("Parkinson's Plus"), Tourette's syndrome, and tremor. Our movement disorders programs are among the oldest and largest in the world. Our neurosurgeons are among the most experienced in the country offering deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease, dystonia, Tourette's syndrome, and tremor. A small device acts like a pacemaker for your brain, reducing your symptoms. NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the busiest and most prestigious centers offering DBS and was one of the first centers to use this technology.

 

Multiple Sclerosis and Other Autoimmune Nervous System Disorders

The Columbia University Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care & Research Center and the Judith Jaffe Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care & Research Center at Weill Cornell Medicine provide services for patients with multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and other autoimmune nervous system disorders. Our multiple sclerosis (MS) experts work to maximize your function, improve your quality of life, and increase your independence.

Superior Neurocritical Care

NewYork-Presbyterian has a world-renowned neurocritical care program providing the most advanced care in the region. Both NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center have Neurological Intensive Care Units (Neuro-ICUs). We offer specially trained medical staff, continual surveillance, state-of-the-art brain monitoring technology, specialized medical and surgical treatments, and early rehabilitation. Patients who have suffered from a stroke, brain aneurysm, brain injury, encephalitis, meningitis, or status epilepticus may benefit from an urgent transfer to one of our Neuro-ICUs. Our goal is to reduce the risk of immediate and delayed brain damage and increase each patient's chance of a full recovery.

Immediate Care for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease

NewYork-Presbyterian is certified by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the highest level of stroke certification a hospital can receive. We treat one of the highest volumes of stroke patients and cerebrovascular disease patients in the world, and the highest in Manhattan. Patients are often transferred from other hospitals to our centers because we provide advanced care for cerebrovascular diseases that is not available in many other hospitals. We use the latest technologies to diagnose and treat stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases accurately and effectively, including specialized monitoring in our dedicated Neurocritical Care Units; the latest medical therapies; and minimally invasive surgical treatments. Our specialists are highly skilled in the use of endovascular techniques, such as mechanical clot extraction for people with ischemic stroke; endovascular coiling or embolization, where we fill a brain aneurysm with tiny platinum coils or a "super glue" to help it heal; embolization or microsurgery for arteriovenous malformations (abnormal tangles of arteries and veins within or around the brain).

Comprehensive Care for Neuromuscular Disorders

NewYork-Presbyterian's specialists are exceptionally skilled at diagnosing and treating adults and children with neuromuscular disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig disease), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), Guillain-Barre syndrome, inflammatory myopathy (such as dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis), mitochondrial disease, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis, and neuropathy. We offer minimally invasive surgery for neuropathy and myasthenia gravis. Our thoracic surgeons are experts in the use of robotic surgery to remove the thymus, which resolves myasthenia gravis symptoms in as many as 70 percent of people—many of whom are cured.

Clinical Trial Opportunities

NewYork-Presbyterian's physicians and scientists are at the forefront of laboratory and clinical research for neurological disorders to better understand their causes and to develop more effective therapies. Our investigators have directed and participated in major clinical trials that have led to the advanced care we offer today. You may have an opportunity to participate in a clinical trial of a promising new treatment.

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