Pediatric Neurosurgery

Riley pediatric neurosurgeon examining young patient.

It can be scary to learn your child has a neurological disorder or injury, but advancements in medicine make it possible for doctors and surgeons to effectively manage and treat many brain, spine and nervous system conditions. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health is home to a highly-skilled pediatric neurosurgery team that will guide your family from the anxiety of diagnosis through the process of surgery and recovery, delivering comprehensive, seamless care each step of the way.

Our pediatric neurosurgeons and advanced practice providers manage the complete spectrum of complex neurologic problems in children of all ages, from infants to young adults. Our team is one of the largest and most experienced in the United States. We see patients from all over the world. We routinely treat the most complicated issues, including intractable epilepsy, skull and spine deformities, traumatic injuries, congenital conditions, such as spina bifida, and benign and malignant tumors.

Because we are committed to treating any neurological need, our team works side by side with other teams and colleagues at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, including departmental specialists in:

Together, our teams have developed several programs and centers of excellence that focus on providing specialized treatment for neurologic disorders in children.

The pediatric neurosurgeons at Riley at IU Health are highly skilled and highly trained having received extra training to become specialized in pediatric neurosurgery. This is just one reason why U.S. News & World Report ranks our pediatric neurology and neurosurgery teams among the top pediatric specialists in the nation.

Same-Day Appointment Program

We are always accessible and available to you and your child. Please ask our receptionist about a same-day appointment.

Best Children's Hospitals, Neurology and Neurosurgery 2022-23, US News & World Report

Indiana's Only Nationally Ranked Program

Riley Children’s Neurosurgery is the only nationally ranked pediatric neurosurgery program in the state by U.S. News & World Report. We offer specialty programs such as a traumatic brain injury program and are the only comprehensive pediatric surgical epilepsy program in Indiana.

Why Choose Riley at IU Health?

When your family comes to Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health, you have access to a comprehensive health system that cares for a population of more than 1 million children a year. Our pediatric neurosurgery department performs more than 1,000 procedures each year.

  • Superior high-level care. Riley at IU Health is one of a limited number of hospitals across the nation to provide highly-skilled care for children with severe neurologic injuries or illnesses. This level of care requires highly specialized equipment and access to rare procedures and clinical trials.
  • Neurosurgery advancements. Our team is committed to developing and building on the outstanding pediatric neuroscience programs at Riley at IU Health by ensuring neurosurgery care for all who need it while creating a comprehensive program that can be a regional hub and a national destination.
  • Extensive research. The Pediatric Neurosurgery Department is led by a team that is always looking for ways to improve brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery while making those procedures safer for children. Our discoveries take place in our practices, operating rooms and laboratories and directly affect your child’s health. We are always developing and refining safe minimally invasive techniques as alternatives to traditional, more invasive brain, spine and spinal cord surgeries.
    Surgical Outcomes Callout

    Surgery Annual Report

    Read more about our surgical quality and patient safety outcomes.

    Conditions Treated

    Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.

    Services Offered

    We offer a number of different Pediatric Neurosurgery services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.

    Doctors

    Learn more about the experienced pediatric neurosurgeons at Riley at IU Health.

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      Locations

      Locations

      In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

      Sort through 3 facilities offering Neurosurgery care by entering your city or zip below.

      See all facilities →

      Department Forms & Resources

      The Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Riley at IU Health has curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

      Forms

      Resources

      • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

        The CDC's HEADS UP to Youth Sports program provides information about concussion and concussion prevention to parents, youth, coaches and sports officials.

      • American Association of Neurological Surgeons

        This organization provides the latest information about numerous pediatric neurosurgical conditions, including Chiari malformation, spina bifida and spasticity.

      • Spina Bifida Association

        This national group provides extensive information about living with spina bifida.

      • Safety Store

        The Safety Store at Riley at IU Health sells child safety products and provides free injury prevention education and on-site helmet and car seat fittings. Indiana residents can order products from the store's webpage.

      Related Programs & Departments

      We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.

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      For Health Professionals

      Refer A Patient

      Refer A Patient

      Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond. If you are a physician and would like to consult with us on a case or make a referral, call IMACSOneCall.

      Phone: 800.622.4989

      Refer A Patient

      Education

      We play an important role in training future neurosurgeons through our partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine. Medical students, residents and fellows in the IU School of Medicine Department of Neurological Surgery are mentored by our experienced surgeons and experience the full breadth of pediatric neurosurgical cases. The school’s one-year fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery allows fellows to focus on neurovascular, neuro-oncology, spine or epilepsy/functional subspecialties and prepares them for independent practice and an academic career.

      Education Resources: