| Sinai’s neuroscience program is committed to excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with injury to, or disorders of, the brain, spine and peripheral nerves.
The field of neuroscience has made startling discoveries in recent years that have transformed our understanding of the brain and nervous system and have influenced the advancement of medical technology and treatment. Less invasive techniques such as microscopes, lasers and focused radiation, as well as cutting-edge medical tools such as stents, shunts and radiosurgery, are changing the way some neurological disorders are treated. At Sinai, the use of these new diagnostic tools and advanced technology allow our team of neurosurgeons to provide comprehensive care, either surgical or non-surgical, for the benefit of the patient.
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Sinai Hospital One of the Top 50 Neurology and Neurosurgery
Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report |
Conditions Treated
Board certified, specialty-trained neurosurgeons at Sinai offer consultative and surgical services for a broad range of neurological conditions, including:
- Brain tumors
- Brain aneurysms
- Brain malformations
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Degenerative spinal disease (disc herniations, stenosis)
- Spinal instability
- Adult hydrocephalus
- Peripheral nerve entrapment and injuries
- Complex pain syndromes
Diagnosis and Treatment
Sinai’s team of neurosurgeons emphasizes a team approach to the care of patients with neurological diseases and conditions. Specialists meet frequently to discuss each patient’s treatment. When possible, conservative approaches such as injections, oral medications and physical therapy are emphasized. The most advanced diagnostic procedures and equipment are used, including MRI, CT scan, diagnostic injection procedures, myelography, ultrasound, EMG and nerve conduction studies.
Advances in Surgical Care
Optimal results come from a blend of experience and technology. When surgery is indicated, Sinai Hospital offers a state-of-the-art neurosurgical operating suites with a dedicated neurosurgical OR team. Features include intraoperative neurologic monitoring, sophisticated microscopes, and the latest stereotactic surgical navigation equipment to precisely pinpoint lesions and minimize the difficulty and duration of surgery.
The highest level of post-operative care is provided in a modern intensive care unit staffed by physicians on site 24 hours a day. Patient care on the neurosurgical floors is optimized by a dedicated team of neurosurgical nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Sinai Hospital is the only hospital in Maryland to offer the CyberKnife®. The CyberKnife® precisely locates the position of a tumor in the body and uses a high-energy X-ray source, mounted on a robotic arm, to deliver highly focused beams of radiation to the tumor. This targeted technique allows the maximum amount of radiation to reach the tumor while preventing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It gives physicians the ability to treat multiple tumors and lesions, some of which may have been diagnosed as inoperable, without making a single incision.
CyberKnife® is appropriate for:
- Brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas)
- Spine tumors
- AVMs
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Another brain cancer treatment offered at Sinai is the GliaSite Radiation Therapy System, an internal radiation therapy that delivers radiation directly at the site of a tumor from within the tumor cavity, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Sinai neurosurgeons are also skilled in the insertion of chemotherapeutic (Gliadel) wafers into brain tumors.
Spine Services
The Spine Center at Sinai brings together specialists trained in neurosurgery, orthopedics, physiatry, radiology, physical therapy and interventional pain management to treat adults with degenerative and acute back and neck conditions resulting from trauma, illness or aging.
The Spine Center features a nine-bed inpatient unit, a dedicated physical therapy unit, as well as three spine-dedicated operating rooms housing the most advanced spine technology to manage and resolve spinal conditions. Each patient is assigned a primary care team – nurse, physical therapist and other support staff – who ensure that all needs are being met. A preoperative orientation and tour of the Spine Center at Sinai are offered to all patients.
Surgical procedures offered at Sinai’s Spine Center include:
- Anterior cervical discectomy
- Kyphoplasty (minimally invasive treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures)
- Posterior lumbar discectomy
- Posterior lumbar decompression/laminectomy
- Spine fusion (anterior and posterior)
- Reconstructive surgery
- Spinal joint and nerve root injections for pain control
Rehabilitation
Sinai offers patients a seamless care plan that begins with accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment followed by recommendations for rehabilitation.
At the Sinai Rehabilitation Center, specialized services for neuro-rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury and stroke restore the patient to maximum function – physically, cognitively and psychologically. Treatment plans are designed around patient needs. Specialists address mobility, cognition, nutrition, communication, depression, injury prevention and behavior modification issues. Services include physical, occupation and speech therapies, as well as therapeutic recreation and relearning activities of daily living. Support groups provide information about care and recovery and also offer participants the opportunity to share with others facing similar circumstances.
Pain Management
Recognizing that pain management is critical to the success of any non-surgical or surgical approach, Sinai Hospital offers a full range of interventional pain management approaches and therapies.
The treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
- Medication management
- Injections and nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency denervation
- Discography
- Implantable therapies (spinal cord stimulators, morphine and baclofen pumps)
Physicians
| Department Head |
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Neal J. Naff, M.D., Chief
410-616-7600 |
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| Physicians |
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Hugo Benalcazar, M.D.
410-601-0540 |
Ronald J. Cohen, M.D.
410-321-7360 |
James E. Conway, M.D., Ph.D.
410-664-3680 |
Zeena Dorai, M.D.
410-616-7600 |
Massimo S. Fiandaca, M.D.
410-244-0924 |
Ira M. Garonzik, M.D.
410-664-3680 |
Agha S. Khan, M.D.
410-601-8314 |
Anje Kim, M.D.
410-601-8314 |
Richard B. North, M.D.
410-601-1950 |
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Contact Us
To refer someone to Sinai Hospital's neurosciences program or to receive more information, call 410-601-WELL.
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
2411 West Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21215
410-601- WELL
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