Pediatric Neurosurgery: Common Neurological Problems in Children

Pediatric neurosurgery is a subspecialty of neurosurgery that focuses on treating neurological disorders in children. If your child has difficulties involving the spine, head or nervous system, pediatric neurosurgery might be the answer. A pediatric neurosurgeon has the education and qualifications to treat your child.

There are many different neurological disorders that can occur in children. Below you will find just a few. 

Common neurological problems in children

Brain and spinal cord tumors

A brain or spinal cord tumor is a disease in which abnormal cells form in the tissues of the brain or spinal cord. Although not all tumors are malignant (cancerous) — some can be benign (not cancerous) — they can cause unwanted symptoms that require treatment. Brain and spinal cord tumors are the second most common type of childhood cancer, after leukemia.

Craniosynostosis

A newborn's skull has several plates of soft bone, which are fused eventually as he or she grows. If this fusion occurs too soon, the condition is called craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis could create pressure on the growing brain and affect your baby's appearance and eyesight. Experts can help restore function and form to your child's skull and face.

Neural tube defects

Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. Malformations of the spinal cord that are evident at birth, such as tethered spinal cord, spina bifida, myelomeningocele and meningocele are just some examples of neural tube defects.

Cerebral palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder that can affect posture, movement, hearing, learning, thinking and seeing. CP often is caused by brain damage that happens before or during a baby's birth, or during the first 3-to-5 years of a child's life.

Hydrocephalus

Often called "water on the brain," this is an excessive amount of buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in open areas of the brain. An infant could be born with hydrocephalus due to a congenital condition or a child might obtain the problem later in life. Whatever the underlying causes, hydrocephalus is a condition that needs to be addressed, as it can permanently damage the brain and even be fatal. Treatment usually involves surgery to insert a shunt to drain the excess fluid.

Down syndrome

Also known as Trisomy 21, Down syndrome is an incurable condition that is caused by abnormal cell division which results in an extra chromosome. This condition often causes a distinct facial appearance and impairs a child's intellectual growth and physical development.

Skeletal dysplasias

Skeletal dysplasias are a complex group of bone and cartilage disorders caused by a genetic mutation. More than 300 different skeletal dysplasias can affect a child's bone growth, including achondroplasia, which is the most known type. These situations can be serious, and you and your family will need reliable information on treatment for potential results.

Where can I locate a pediatric neurosurgeon?

Pediatric neurosurgeons practice in numerous medical settings. They might work in university medical centers, children's hospitals, community-based outpatient practices, clinics or private offices.

If you think your child is experiencing any of the neurological problems mentioned above, pediatric neurosurgery could help.

Request an appointment here: https://www.drloudonpediatricneurosurgery.com or call Dr. William G. Loudon, Pediatric Neurosurgery at (714) 677-9463 for an appointment in our Orange office.