Pediatric neurosurgery at Drexel University College of Medicine resides in the Section of Neurosurgery at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. 

 
The Section of Neurosurgery provides comprehensive surgical treatment of nervous system disorders of pediatric patients under the age of 21 years. Common problems treated through the Section include

• hydrocephalus
• brain tumors
• Chiari malformations and syringomyelia
• craniosynostosis  (see Cleft and Craniofacial Program)
• spasticity (see Spasticity Management Program)
• spina bifida
• intractable epilepsy
• pediatric craniospinal trauma.

A special clinical interest of the Section Chief, Dr. Joseph Piatt, is the neurosurgical reconstructive management of severe brachial plexus birth injury.
 
In recognition of the emotional and social needs of children with hydrocephalus and other patients who have a recurring requirement for cranial neurosurgical procedures, the Section operates without shaving hair.
 
The Section is engaged in a variety of clinical research activities. Current clinical research projects concern application of computer-assisted design technology to craniofacial reconstructive surgery, identification of cervical spine injuries in comatose trauma victims, and clinical recognition of CSF shunt failure.  

Section of Neurosurgery NEWS!

• Debbie Romano Memorial Foundation Research Scholarship – 2002
• Drexel University College of Medicine Annual Research Day – 2002
• St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children Receives Level 1 Trauma Accreditation
• Chronic Care Coordinator, Section of Neurosurgery
• Section Chief Is Guest Editor for Text in Pediatric Clinics of North America Series
• Section Chief Named among “Top Docs” 2004 by Philadelphia Magazine
• Drexel University College of Medicine Annual Research Day – 2004
• Samuel R Neff, MD, 11 November 1958 – 11 August 2005

Information for Primary Physicians, Parents, and Patients [.pdf files]

• Hydrocephalus
• Brachial Plexus Birth Injury
• Infant Heads:  Too Big, Too Small, Misshapen
• The Chiari Malformation:  What Does It Mean?

See PowerPoint presentations (click here for .pdf file instructions):

• "Randomized Clinical Trials: What Do They Have to Do with You?"
       (Hydrocephalus 2000, Sydney, Australia)
• "Habilitative Pediatric Neurosurgery"
• "Birth Trauma of the Nervous System"
• "An Overview of Neurosurgery in Spina Bifida"
• "A Cerebellomedullary Fissure Approach to Fourth Ventricle Tumors" [.pdf file]
• "Sensitivity, Specificity, Likelihood Ratios, and ROC Curves" [.pdf file]
• "Sports for the Young Athlete:  Concussion"
• "Energy Efficiency of Gait:  Rhizotomy and Orthopedic Surgery"
       (Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery, New York, 2001)
• "Strength and Cocontraction after Rhizotomy for Spastic Diplegia"
       (Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery, New York, 2001)
• "Pediatric Neurosurgery:  'Hey, this IS brain surgery'"
       (Career Day, The Hill School, Pottstown, PA, 2002)
• "Chiari Malformation:  Incidental Finding or Pathologic Process" [.pdf file]
       (Update Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, 2002)
• "Shunt Update:  Ventricular Catheter Insertion"
       (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Philadelphia, 2002)
• "Tethered Cord:  Diagnosis, Surgery, Follow-up" [.pdf file]
       (United Ostomy Conference, Philadelphia, 2002)
• "Blood Conservation in Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgery"
• “Hydrocephalus:  Practical Aspects” [.pdf file]
• "Topics in Traumatic Brain Injury in Childhood" [.pdf file]
• “Spinal Dimples and Clefts” [.pdf file]
• “The Child with an Abnormally Shaped Head” [.pdf file]
• “Spinal Dysraphism” [.pdf file]
• “Computer-Assisted Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgery” [.pdf file]
• “The Chiari Malformations” [.pdf file]
• “Strange and Wonderful:  Incidental Findings on Brain Imaging” [.pdf file]
• “Statistical Modeling of Cervical Spine Injury among Comatose Trauma Victims” [.pdf file]

Visit sites of interest:

• American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association
• American Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery

Contact support organizations:

• Craniosynostosis and Positional Plagiocephaly Support
• Hydrocephalus Association
• Spina Bifida Association of the Delaware Valley
• The Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation
• United Brachial Plexus Network
• National Brachial Plexus / Erb's Palsy Association

last revised 24 October 2005

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Staff:
 
Joseph H Piatt, Jr, MD, FAAP  (curriculum vitae)
 
Kim Fudge, PA-C
Rosalie Recto, PA-C
 
Section of Neurosurgery
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Erie Avenue at Front Street
Philadelphia PA 19134-1095
(215) 427-5196 (tel)
(215) 427-4638 (fax)

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