Programs and research

Coordinated care for your child

UW Health Kids neurosurgeons are part of several programs and clinics dedicated to treating complex brain, spine and nerve problems.

We partner with UW Health Kids orthopedic surgeons to manage spine problems affecting children. Our UW Health Kids Complex Spine Program also includes experts in rehabilitation medicine and pain management.

  • UW Health Kids Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Clinic 

  • UW Health Kids Brachial Plexus Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Chiari Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Complex Spine Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Epilepsy Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Neurocutaneous Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Neuro-oncology Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Spasticity Clinic

  • UW Health Kids Spina Bifida Clinic

Smiling child with sign reading UW Health Kids
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.

Conditions and treatments

Treatments for a range of brain and spine conditions

Your child’s brain and spinal cord make up their central nervous system. This system, powered by signals from the body’s nerves, controls everything your child does.

Damage to the brain, spinal cord or nerves at birth or due to a late injury can impact your child’s ability to think, talk and move.

Our surgical experts treat your child like their own

UW Health offers complete surgical care for all neurological conditions.

Many diseases or developmental abnormalities can affect your child’s brain, spinal cord and nerves. Our pediatric neurosurgeons have experience treating a range of conditions, including:

  • Brachial plexus and other peripheral nerve injuries

  • Cerebral palsy and spasticity

  • Chiari malformations, syringomyelia, and other congenital anomalies of the brain and spine

  • Complex spine conditions

    • Cervical spine problems

    • Craniocervical problems

    • Recalcitrant back pain

    • Spina bifida

    • Spinal deformities 

    • Spinal fractures

    • Spinal infection

    • Spinal trauma

    • Spinal tumors

  • Craniofacial abnormalities (craniosynostosis)

  • Epilepsy

  • Hydrocephalus

  • Spina bifida and the tethered cord syndrome

  • Stroke

  • Tumors of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves

  • Trauma of the head and spine

  • Vascular malformations

    • Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) 

    • Aneurysms

    • Moyamoya disease

    • Spinal vascular anomalies

State-of-the-art surgical techniques

Care for the brain, spine and nerves is complex. Whenever possible, we partner with other UW Health Kids doctors to offer non-surgical treatments.

If your child needs surgery, we offer the most advanced neurosurgical treatment options. These include:

  • Aneurysm and AVM treatment

  • Endoscopy of the brain

  • Interventional neurosurgery

  • Medical therapy

  • Peripheral nerve repair

  • Radiosurgery

  • Shunt placement

  • Spinal deformity surgery 

  • Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy

Locations

Convenient locations for care and follow-up

Our UW Health Kids neurosurgeons see patients at clinics inside American Family Children’s Hospital. We also offer appointments and follow-up at our pediatric neurosurgery clinic in Green Bay, Wis.

Meet our team

Our expert surgeons and partners provide experienced care

Our highly skilled neurosurgeons work with other UW Health Kids doctors to provide the best care for your child.

Our providers

Patient stories

Meet some of our patients

Toddler Colton Cox, swinging a plactic baseball bat at a tee, wearing a Kansas City Royals jersey and hat
Colton's story
Little Colton won’t let rare bone condition define him

Colton Liam Edwin Cox is a big name for a little 4-year-old guy. His short stature stems from a rare genetic condition that makes his bones shorter than normal. Colton has achondroplasia, which affects about 1 in 25,000 newborns.

Evelyn's storyRare brain surgery saves precious Evelyn
The word “miracle” is often overused, but if anything, it understates how lucky 7-year-old Evelyn is to be alive, let alone happy and smiling. As an infant, Evelyn unfortunately suffered “non-accidental trauma,” with extensive injuries to the left side of her brain.