Neurological, Spine, and Brain Conditions

There are a wide variety of brain and spine disorders that can be diagnosed before birth, and many that cannot. Often, children with other findings or complications with delivery may be at risk for developmental challenges.

A prenatal finding in the brain or spine is a scary time for you and your family. Our team will work with you to get you as much information as possible to help plan for delivery and your child's ongoing healthcare needs.

Some of these conditions will require surgery after birth. UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital's Pediatric Neurosurgery and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics teams have the experience to help these children have the best possible outcomes. Each year, Pediatric Neurosurgery performs over 300 surgeries in infants and children.

One more common spinal defect that we care for is called a neural tube defect (NTD). An NTD, also known as spina bifida, is failure of the spine to close during prenatal development.

Over the past five years, UR Medicine's Maternal-Fetal Medicine team and Golisano Children's Hospital have cared for more than 500 fetuses and children with a variety of NTD and structural brain changes diagnosed in utero.

The Developmental and Behavioral pediatric team can help provide support and information about what to expect when a child is diagnosed with these conditions prior to birth. UR Medicine's Maternal-Fetal Medicine team will work you and your family to help you arrange these consultations and be prepared for the times ahead.