Department of Neurological Surgery

February 27, 2024

Ballerina dancing again after inspiring recovery from brain tumor

Emily Kneussle, a 20-year-old aspiring professional ballerina, was “born a dancer.” When a tumor in her brain threatened her dreams, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt helped her get back on stage.

By Nancy Humphrey
April 4, 2023

Study shows ketamine could be beneficial for treating brain injury in children

Vanderbilt research shows a common anesthesia drug could be beneficial in reducing pressure inside the skull of children with traumatic brain injuries.

By Craig Boerner
After two surgeries to remove tumors from her spine, patient Reagan Brown can walk freely again and has no limitations.
November 10, 2022

Spinal surgeries help restore young patient’s mobility

By Nancy Humphrey
Michael Dewan, MD, MSCI
October 27, 2022

Study to explore why some gliomas spread like cancerous tumors

Vanderbilt’s Michael Dewan, MD, MSCI, has received a grant from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to study why some low-grade gliomas, a type of non-cancerous brain or spine tumor, spread and behave like cancerous tumors.

By Nancy Humphrey
October 18, 2022

VUMC implants first patient in NAUTILUS study for treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy

A Vanderbilt patient with idiopathic generalized epilepsy is now the first to receive neuromodular stimulation of the brain to see if it can help with seizures.

By Craig Boerner
February 15, 2022

Predicting brain cancer outcome

Red blood cell distribution width has prognostic value for many diseases, but it was not associated with overall survival in patients with glioblastoma, Vanderbilt researchers found.

By VUMC News and Communications
September 9, 2021

Froehler elected a second time to surgery society board

For a second consecutive year, Vanderbilt's Michael Froehler, MD, PhD, has been elected a member of the board of directors of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).
By Paul Govern
July 29, 2021

Ground versus air to transport stroke patients studied

For patients in need of acute ischemic stroke treatment, air transport to Vanderbilt University Medical Center is apt to be quicker than ground transport for interhospital transfers of 40 miles or more and for direct-from-scene transfers of 28 miles or more.
By Paul Govern
May 4, 2021

New strategy to treat brain bleeding

Vasorelaxing peptides could offer a promising therapeutic strategy for reducing the neurological deficits caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral blood vessel constriction.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 18, 2021

Clinic helps children with cerebral palsy regain mobility

Seven-year-old Tinsley Bellar loves to dance — her mother describes it as TikTok dancing with cheerleader moves. She also loves to run. She completed her school’s fun run last year with the whole school cheering her on.
By Nancy Humphrey
February 22, 2021

MRI view of brain tumor prognosis

In patients with glioblastoma brain tumors, features detected on MRIs at diagnosis were associated with survival, Vanderbilt Medical Center investigators found.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 10, 2020

Froehler elected to surgery society board of directors

Michael Froehler, MD, PhD, associate professor of Neurology, Neurological Surgery and Radiology and Radiological Sciences, has been elected a member of the board of directors of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).
By Paul Govern
December 11, 2019

Longtime Neurological Surgery chair Allen mourned

George Allen, MD, PhD, an innovative surgeon who served for more than 25 years as chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Vanderbilt, died Dec. 7. He was 77.
By Wayne Wood