Functional neurosurgery is a neurosurgical procedure done for alleviating symptoms of various central nervous system disorders that do not have any gross anatomical abnormality. Functional neurosurgery needs a well-coordinated multidisciplinary team approach involving neuroanesthesiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists, and neuropsychologists. Anesthesiologists face certain unique challenges while managing patients scheduled for functional neurosurgery. Conscious sedation and monitored anesthesia care continues to be the preferred anesthesia techniques for functional neurosurgery. Patient cooperation, constant monitoring, and observing for early diagnosis and management of complications are the key elements for the success of any functional neurosurgical procedure.
Neurological Disorders
Many of the chronic neurological disorders which were once thought untreatable are now successfully being treated in our department. Regimens are initiated as always, but currently effective surgical treatments may be also implemented – and even applied early toward the disease – before it progresses to the point where side effects develop from repeated use of medications.
Functional neurosurgeons at UVa are currently treating:
Movement disorders, including Parkinson’s, tremor, dystonia, Tourette’s and hemifacial spasm
Epilepsy
Spasticity of cerebral origin (MS and spinal cord injury)
Neuropsychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression
Chronic pain from neuropathic injuries or diseases, as well as malignant causes
Trigeminal neuralgia, post herpetic neuralgia and nerve injuries.
