Atlantic Neuroscience Institute Monthly Newletter

Pediatric Neurosurgery at Overlook
The Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery of the Department of Neurosciences at Atlantic Health is responsible for the Craniofacial Center and the Pediatric Movement Disorders Center, as well as all pediatric neurosurgery patients and procedures.
Created in 2006, the Craniofacial Center (CFC) is one of the few, American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association (ACPCA) approved teams in New Jersey. The CFC provides comprehensive care to children with congenital or acquired craniofacial defects and their families. Children with cleft palate, craniosynostosis, plagiocephaly, torticollis and other craniofacial defects are evaluated by the team. There are over eighteen specialties that participate in the CFC. Through a multi-disciplinary approach to patient and family-centered care, we provide gold-standard in craniofacial deformity management. The CFC follows over 300 patients with craniofacial diagnoses and is proud to be part of Goryeb Children’s Hospital. We provide complete services - including diagnosis, evaluation and all treatment components for these children. Speech and swallowing evaluations, audiometric testing, electrophysiological testing and sleep studies are available. Children who require outpatient physical or occupational therapy are provided those services through coordinated care at Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute of Morristown (ARI). Craniofacial reconstructive surgery and surgery for craniosynostosis are provided by team surgeons at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Our team nurses and social workers provide support for the children and their families as they navigate their way through the treatment process. All aspects of neuro-imaging studies are available including 3D reconstructed craniofacial computed tomography (3DCT). The Pediatric ICU team at Goryeb has special expertise in the post-operative care of children undergoing cranial and facial surgery. Infants with Plagiocephaly are cared for through the Plagiocephaly Center of the CFC. Babies are evaluated by the pediatric neurosurgeon, developmental pediatrician, nursing, and a cranial orthotist.
The Pediatric Movement Disorders Center (PMDC) follows the same approach, involves over six specialties and provides care for children with congenital or acquired movement disorders. Children with spasticity, dystonia, hypotonia and mixed movement disorders are seen and evaluated at the Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Department of Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute of Morristown (ARI). Children with cerebral palsy are offered team evaluations and recommendations that are made available to their local caregivers. Rehabilitation services such as physical and occupational therapy and speech and swallowing therapy are available. The team therapists from ARI provide evaluations, recommendations and support for the patient’s local therapists. The participation of pediatric orthopedic surgeons allows children with bony spine, hip or extremity deformities to be seen with the team. Treatment for movement disorders and deformities is coordinated and provided by the team. Services such as Botox or alcohol injections, intrathecal baclofen therapy and pump implantation, as well as test doses or trials, are provided by the PMDC. Selective dorsal rhizotomies (SDR) are offered to some children with spastic diplegia. All aspects of pediatric orthopedic surgery are provided by the excellent pediatric orthopedic surgeons of Goryeb Children’s Hospital.

The Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery is also proud to provide children with comprehensive care for the treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors, epilepsy, Chiari malformations, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, tethered spinal cord, syringomyelia, and traumatic brain injury.