Functional Neurosurgery

Functional neurosurgery involves the restoration of neurological condition and function. This is one of the fastest-growing areas of neurosurgery and provides great hope for patients with previously untreatable conditions, including:

• Movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia

• Epilepsy
• Spasticity
• Neuropathic and cancer pain
• Peripheral nerve disorders

We specialize in deep brain stimulation, stereotactic surgery (such as Gamma Knife) and focused ultrasound.

The UVA Focused Ultrasound Surgery Center

UVA is one of the few places in the world treating neurosurgical patients with a new surgical device called focused ultrasound. This device focuses sound waves through the skull to make lesions in the brain. UVA's own Neal Kassell, MD, founded the Focused Ultrasound Foundation to lead the efforts of this new technology, which may also have the potential to make some lethal forms of cancer a chronic and manageable disease.

Essential Tremor Clinical Trials

Jeff Elias, MD, conducted the first-ever clinical trial to treat essential tremor with focused ultrasound in 2011. Clinical trial plans are underway to treat more essential tremor patients, as well as Parkinson's patients, using this device.

A Multidisciplinary Team

Each patient evaluated by the Functional Stereotactic Neurosurgical Program at UVA is assessed by a large multidisciplinary team specializing in the patient's particular disorder. The clinical team includes specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, physical therapy, neuropsychology and electrophysiology.

A Pacemaker for Your Brain

Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment where a medical device is implanted in the brain to treats tremors associated with Parkinson's disease and other disorders. The device, which is like a pacemaker for the brain, sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.

At UVA, our outstanding reputation for this treatment attracts patients from throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Our collaborative team approach provides a rare one-stop shopping experience in which we work together to monitor and manage your treatment for the best possible outcome.

In 2009, the Michael J. Fox Foundation awarded UVA funding to conduct investigations with the National Institutes of Health treating six Parkinson's patients with deep brain stimulation.