UCLA Department of Neurosurgery

For over 30 consecutive years, UCLA Health has been recognized as one of the top 10 institutions in the nation for Neurology and Neurosurgery. UCLA Neurosurgery is uniquely suited to take on the most complex patient cases across the gamut of neurosurgical subspecialties, while simultaneously advancing the field through groundbreaking research. From innovations in brain tumor vaccines and cellular immunotherapy, to leading research in focused ultrasound for movement disorders and deep brain stimulation for PTSD, to novel treatments for spinal cord injury, our team is dedicated to delivering top-notch and patient-centered care from the bench to the bedside and back. UCLA Neurosurgery is consistently ranked among the top in the nation for NIH research funding, with more than $10 million per year in federally funded grants. Our research includes dynamic clinical, translational, and basic research programs in the areas of brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, and spine surgery. Our faculty and residents are dedicated to multi-disciplinary collaboration and advancing our understanding through numerous high-impact publications, patent applications, and novel clinical trials. Learn more about our department in the video below, and please consider voting for UCLA Health Neurology & Neurosurgery when casting your vote for the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital reputation survey. Vote now on Doximity: https://www.doximity.com/

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive and cutting-edge therapy for brain abnormalities like brain tumors or epilepsy. Using heat produced by laser beams, neurosurgeons can burn away affected tissue, resulting in a procedure with minimal incisions and downtime post-surgery. Dr. Won Kim, Brain Tumor Neurosurgeon at UCLA, performs LITT procedures at UCLA. In this video, Dr. Kim speaks more about LITT, how it works, and what types of patients may be candidates for the procedure. Learn more about Brain Tumor care at UCLA here: https://lnkd.in/gP4fJBxN

In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Won Kim, MD, Brain Tumor Neurosurgeon and Director of the Brain Metastasis Program at UCLA, and Daniel Kamei, PhD, Professor of Bioengineering at UCLA, are working to create a new test to detect cancer’s spread to the central nervous system on the same day as the doctor’s visit. Metastatic brain cancer occurs when cancer spreads from its primary site, such as in the lungs or breast, to the brain or spine. While there are well-established methods to treat brain metastases, there is a lack of reliable treatments for when the metastases spread to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a condition known as leptomeningeal disease (LMD). One complication that arises when treating LMD is how long it takes to confirm whether the cancer has spread to the cerebrospinal fluid and if a treatment has been effective. To address this issue, Dr. Kim and Dr. Kamei are developing a new test that would allow for same-day detection of LMD and enable doctors to monitor the effectiveness of treatments such as chemotherapy in real time. To learn more about Dr. Kim and Dr. Kamei's research, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gzbEvUyb

Hemispherectomy, or the surgical disconnection of one half of the brain from the other half and brainstem, is a type of epilepsy treatment for pediatric patients. While it is extreme, this procedure can be an integral step towards improving the lives of young patients with severe or drug-resistant epilepsy. Aria Fallah, MD, MSc, Pediatric and Epilepsy Neurosurgeon at UCLA, performs hemispherectomy procedures at UCLA. In this video, Dr. Fallah describes more about hemispherectomy, epilepsy, and the tools surgeons utilize to ensure the best outcome for every patient. Learn more about Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery here: https://lnkd.in/gGuF4GhV #Epilepsy #Hemispherectomy

Dr. Ausaf Bari, Functional Neurosurgeon, and Dr. Geoffrey Colby, Cerebrovascular and Neuroendovascular Neurosurgeon, are collaborating on an exciting surgical technique for chronic stroke patients struggling with arm weakness. Vagus nerve stimulation, a commonplace treatment for seizure disorders, has emerged as a therapeutic option for chronic stroke patients with stroke-related upper extremity weakness. Even years after a stroke, patients thought to be at a plateau in their recovery can gain significant benefits in arm strength. Dr. Bari performs the surgery, which involves implanting an electrode around the vagus nerve through a small incision on the neck. Once implanted, the stimulator is turned on during rehab sessions to provide paired stimulation therapy for the arm weakness. “Studies show a?doubling?in the improvement in upper extremity function when the stimulator is paired with rehab therapy, compared to rehab therapy alone,” says Dr. Bari. Although it was once thought most recovery happened in the first six months following a stroke, this procedure and resulting paired stimulation therapy have challenged that assumption. “There have been patients 10, 15, 20 years after a stroke who are seeing benefit,” says Dr. Colby. Dr. Bari and Dr. Colby are bridging the gap between functional and stroke care and are working to educate as many patients and providers as possible about this groundbreaking technique. Read more about vagus nerve stimulation for chronic stroke patients with arm weakness here: https://lnkd.in/gg2B6ZFb #Stroke #Neurosurgery

Jenna Abeloe NP emerging as a true thought leader on the national stage at Pacific Spine and Pain Society (PSPS) annual meeting 2024. Our patients are so fortunate to benefit from her compassionate care UCLA Department of Neurosurgery American Society of Pain and Neuroscience ASPN Sierra Spine Society Patrick Buchanan, M.D. Denis Patterson Jackie Weisbein

An extracranial to intracranial bypass is a life-saving surgical procedure that connects blood vessels from outside the skull (extracranial) to blood vessels inside the brain (intracranial) to restore blood flow to the brain. An extracranial to intracranial bypass can be an integral step to prevent stroke and is used to treat conditions like Moyamoya disease and intracranial atherosclerosis. Dr. Anthony Wang, Cerebrovascular, Skull Base, and Pediatric Neurosurgeon at UCLA, performs extracranial to intracranial bypasses at UCLA. In this video, Dr. Wang describes more about the procedure and how UCLA ensures top-notch care during each bypass operation. Learn more about Cerebrovascular care at UCLA: https://lnkd.in/gwajJCKx

In a landmark study published in the journal Nature, Dr. Itzhak Fried and colleagues are unraveling how the human brain interprets the flow of time and experiences. The researchers found that, when they directly recorded neuronal activity in the brain, specific types of brain cells fire in a way that mirrors a person's experience. The brain was found to retain these unique firing patterns even after the experience concluded and would utilize the same patterns when preparing for similar stimuli. These findings offer the first evidence of how brain cells integrate "what" and "when" information to extract and retain representations of experiences through time. The study's conclusions have groundbreaking implications for the development of neuro-prosthetic devices to enhance memory and other cognitive functions and can influence AI's understanding of cognition in the human brain. Read the full paper in Nature here: https://lnkd.in/gMpQcAWP Read the UCLA Health newsroom article here: https://lnkd.in/gpDbFgwr

In this recently published article in the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group, Zachary Olmsted, MD, PhD (Resident, PGY-2), Peter Wu, MD (Resident, PGY-4), Michael Dorsi, MD (Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of Community Neurosurgery), and colleagues explore the impact of poorly positioned leads in the intrathecal space during spinal cord stimulation (SCS). SCS has emerged as a commonplace treatment for patients with chronic low back pain. While lead migration is a well-elucidated complication of this procedure, the impact of malpositioned leads is less defined. In this study, the authors investigate two cases where surgical revision was necessary following incorrect placement of leads during SCS. They explore the symptoms associated with poor lead positioning and how to prevent further complications. Read more about their findings here: https://lnkd.in/guBHdzF9

Congratulations to the Faculty and Residents from UCLA Neurosurgery who will be presenting at the 2024 Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting this weekend (September 28-October 2) in Houston, Texas! This year's meeting promises to be a hub of innovation, knowledge exchange, and professional networking. Our Faculty and Residents are set to make significant contributions to the meeting, presenting groundbreaking research and discussing the latest advancements in neurosurgical techniques and technologies. Here is a preview of some of exciting topics that will be covered: ??Saturday, September 28:?Dr. Ausaf Bari?will present on the topic of “Biomarkers and Closed-Loop Neuromodulation for Pain.” ??Sunday, September 29:?PGY-6 Resident,?Dr. TJ Florence, will be honored with the CNS Resident Award for his project titled, “Early Hypertonic Saline Infusion is Associated with Superior Neurologic Outcome Following Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.” View the full schedule of UCLA Neurosurgery's presentations at the 2024 CNS Annual Meeting here: https://lnkd.in/ejUchzm9 #2024CNS #Neurosurgery