Neuroscience

Brain and spine surgery

The Baylor Scott & White – Plano Brain and Spine Center offers advanced surgical solutions for a wide range of conditions affecting the brain, back, and spine.

The Center features highly skilled spine specialists on the medical staff, as well as an array of innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques, technologically advanced operating room equipment that allows for real-time imaging and precise navigation, and forward-thinking pain management strategies.

Our highly skilled team offers a level of specialized care that may benefit patients through:

• Shorter hospital stays (even with complex cases)
• No overnight hospital stay (in some cases)
• Less invasive procedures increasing the preservation of healthy tissue
• Minimization of pain and blood loss
• Quicker recovery and rehabilitation

The surgeons on the medical staff have performed thousands of procedures and were trained at some of the nation’s most respected institutions.
Using the least invasive method possible, the surgeons on the medical staff can address a wide range of brain and spine conditions, including (but not limited to):

Brain

• Aneurysms
• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• Brain tumors
• Cerebrovascular surgery
• Functional neurosurgery and epilepsy (Neuromodulation and Deep Brain Stimulation)
• Peripheral nerve surgery
• Pituitary tumors

Spine

• Arthritis
• Bone spurs and overgrowths
• Congenital spine conditions
• Degenerative disc disease (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
• Herniated discs (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
• Myofascial pain (inflammation of muscles and ligaments)
• Osteoporosis of the spine
• Pinched nerves (nerve compression)
• Sciatica
• Spinal deformities
• Spinal injuries or fractures
• Spinal reconstruction
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal)
• Spine tumors on the spinal cord and surrounding bone/structure

Contact Us

For more information about the Baylor Scott & White – Plano Brain and Spine Center, please call 469.814.2464.

Interventional neuroradiology

Interventional neuroradiology uses advanced minimally invasive (endovascular) techniques to treat many serious diseases affecting the brain and central nervous system. These image-guided therapies may be used to address what were previously difficult-to-treat or even untreatable conditions.

Interventional neuroradiology procedures may result in a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery time, reduced pain, and less risk of complications. Conditions that may be treated with these techniques include:

• Brain aneurysms
• Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
• Carotid-cavernous fistulae
• Dural arteriovenous fistulae
• Extracranial (brachiocephalic) atherosclerosis
• Extracranial and paraspinal vascular malformations
• Head and neck tumors
• Intracranial atherosclerosis
• Juvenile nasopharyngeal tumors
• Meningioma
• Nosebleeds
• Paragangliomas
• Spinal vascular malformations
• Stroke
• Vasospasms
• Vertebral body compression fractures
• Vertebral body tumors

Advanced Technology on the Brain and Spine

Baylor Scott & White – Plano’s advanced neuroradiology technology can improve the diagnoses and treatment of stroke, brain aneurysms, brain and neck tumors, and other neurological conditions.

The hospital’s neurointerventional biplane angiography suite produces highly detailed three-dimensional views of blood vessels leading to the brain and deep within it. The biplane system produces images simultaneously from two regions of the patient’s head: from front-to-back and from side-to-side. The suite may benefit patients by reducing the amount of contrast material required, improving visualization for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and shortening procedure times.

The system also includes software for CT scanning the area if additional information about the brain and surrounding tissue is needed to plan treatment. The images produced by the biplane system aid physicians on the medical staff in performing neurointerventional procedures.

Contact us

For more information about the Baylor Scott & White – Plano Brain and Spine Center, please call 833.316.3876.

Neurology

The Brain and Spine Center’s neurology program helps patients effectively manage brain, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system conditions through monitoring, medication, surgery or a combination of all three. The neurologists on the Baylor Scott & White – Plano medical staff work closely with other neurology specialties to develop customized care plans for each patient.

In addition to imaging procedures such as MRI and CT scanning, the program offers several diagnostic testing options:

• EEG
• EMG
• Evoked potentials
• Nerve condition studies

Conditions Diagnosed and Treated

• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Memory disorders (Dementias including Alzheimer's disease)
• Headaches and migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson's Disease and movement disorders
• Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV GL – Healthcare

Neuromodulation

The Brain and Spine Center offers a robust neuromodulation program. Neuromodulation involves special implants designed to act on nerve activity to improve a wide range of symptoms from chronic pain to restoring function.

Neuro-oncology

The Brain and Spine Center has skilled neurosurgeons, oncologists, and other physicians on the medical staff who specialize in addressing brain and spinal tumors of all sizes, shapes and locations.

For surgical removal of tumors, the Center features an advanced operating room equipped with real-time imaging capabilities, a navigation system that allows for precise tracking of surgical instruments throughout a procedure and enhanced surgical microscopes.

In addition to surgical removal of tumors – often using minimally-invasive techniques – the Center works in conjunction with specialists on the medical staff to provide chemotherapy and radiation therapy to patients as appropriate. It also provides a host of other support services for patients with brain or spine cancer.

Neurological Tumors Treated
The advanced capabilities of the Brain and Spine Center can help address all different types of tumors, including (but not limited to):

• Acoustic neuroma – slow-growing but noncancerous tumor on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain
• Glioma – non-cancerous brain tumor that often leads to seizures
• Glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive form of brain cancer that can cause brain swelling, headaches, vision changes and changes in personality
• Meningioma – a tumor that arises from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (usually non-cancerous)
• Brain metastases – tumors/cancers that start somewhere else in the body (e.g., lungs, liver, stomach) but spread and implant in the brain
• Spine tumors – can be cancerous or non-cancerous and are divided into three types based on location: intradural-extramedullary, intramedullary or extradural

The care team at the Baylor Scott & White – Plano Brain and Spine Center have treated thousands of patients with brain and spine tumors.

Contact us

For more information about the Baylor Scott & White – Plano Brain and Spine Center, please call 833.316.3876.

Neuropsychology

The Baylor Scott & White – Plano Medical Psychology Center addresses many of the complex issues associated with illness. The Medical Psychology Center treats the whole person, addressing biological, psychological, behavioral and social problems known to cause or worsen illness and quality of life.

The goal is to improve the functional living skills of patients recovering from disabling medical illness or injury through intensive, research-based assessment and treatment. Services may be provided on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on the needs of the patient.

Patients often have better outcomes when an integrated approach is used to treat all factors associated with medical conditions. The Medical Psychology Center’s staff uses their expertise to teach patients the skills necessary for making lifestyle changes to:

• Cope with illness
• Improve their health
• Compensate for cognitive deficits
• Increase functional ability and independence
• Enhance quality of life
• Overcome emotional problems

The Medical Psychology Center also features an experienced clinical neuropsychologist on the medical staff who provides assessment and outpatient therapy services.

Contact us

For more information about neuro psychology, please call 469.814.4850.

Pain management

The Brain and Spine Center’s comprehensive approach to pain management uses advanced techniques and treatments, appropriate medications, as well as conservative methods to help patients manage pain.

An interdisciplinary team of specialists on the medical staff – whose qualifications include board certification in both anesthesiology and pain medicine – and trained health professionals provide evaluation and care for pain conditions in a caring, supportive atmosphere.

In addition to medication management, comprehensive pain management services include proven strategies for managing pain, such as educational seminars, group and individual counseling, nutritional consultation, hypnosis, biofeedback and relaxation training. The goal is to help patients strengthen their own ability to influence their pain experience.

Our comprehensive team includes:

• Pain management physicians on the medical staff
• Biofeedback therapists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Registered nurses
• Neuropsychologists
• Case managers
• Licensed professional counselors