Anyone who is contemplating having spine surgery wants to have a good outcome, but very few people know what actually goes into making this happen. It not only involves the expertise of your surgeon and his/her staff, but many important events that occur before and after the patient gets to the operating room. The following…
What Will Be Your Legacy Month
Never forget where you came from. That is true at the individual level as well as for a medical practice. And it’s true for those who are seeking information on a medical practice that may be new to them. There is tremendous value in examining the foundation on which a practice was built. Maryland Brain, Spine…
Technological Advances in Brain Surgery: Celebrating the camera
Neurosurgery is one of the newest surgical specialties. Many of the great surgeons in the 19th and even 20th century felt that brain operations for tumors were not possible. Considering a brain surgery mortality rate of 50 -70%, this is not surprising. Thanks to advances, including the introduction of medications to reduce the severity of…
A pain in the rear: A neurosurgeon’s perspective
Back pain! Almost everyone gets back pain at some part of their life. Deciding when to just take it easy, when to call your doctor or when to Uber to the Emergency Room can be an intimidating but important distinction. Time is on your side An old, wise neurosurgery professor once told me that “no…
Brain Tumor Advances
The treatment of brain tumors has dramatically changed over the past few decades. Although many benign tumors can be treated with surgery alone, it is all too frequent that we encounter malignant tumors that cannot be cured with surgery alone. This is one of the greatest challenges in all of medicine. Diagnosing: The initial goal…
Inventing a relief for back pain
By BRIAN J. SULLIVAN, M.D., Neurosurgeon Back problems are an enormous medical issue in our society. Too often, people endure pain for years before they find the right medical team and treatment plan. At MBSP, we always attempt our best and most aggressive nonsurgical treatments first. No one wants to take on the risks of…
Reading the Body’s Roadmap
In an age of break-neck technological and biomedical innovation, would it surprise you to know that we really are not sure where back pain comes from? To neurosurgeons there is an enormous difference between back pain (pain from the buttocks up) versus leg or sciatic pain (from the buttocks down). The different presentation implies a…
How To Choose the Best Neurosurgeon for You
By The MBSP Surgical Team If you’re considering brain or spinal surgery, your choice of a neurosurgeon must be a careful, thoughtful and comprehensive one. After all, you want someone precise and methodical in everything he/she does in the operating room. And out of the OR, they should be able to communicate with you in…
Optune: New Toxic-Free Treatment For Brain Tumors
By Dr. Tim Burke, Neurosurgeon, Maryland Brain, Spine + Pain Cancer treatment has evolved in ways never thought possible, making the ‘C word’ a little less frightening. As a physician, I’m grateful to have more options for my patients. Those with glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors, for instance, can try Optune therapy. What is Optune? Optune,…
Consider Coflex® To Relieve Your Back Pain
By BRIAN J. SULLIVAN, M.D., Neurosurgeon Back problems are an enormous medical issue in our society. Too often, people endure pain for years before they find the right medical team and treatment plan. At MBSP, we always attempt our best and most aggressive nonsurgical treatments first. No one wants to take on the risks of surgery…