Neurological care

A subspecialty of neurology, neurointervention involves treating neurological disorders using a combination of minimally invasive techniques and angiography machines (X-rays of blood or lymph vessels).

During traditional neurosurgery, the surgeon will make an incision into the part of the body that needs treatment. However, a neurointerventionist will treat the disease endovascularly, by using small tubes (catheters) through the blood vessels to reach the location. We use this approach when possible, as it is less invasive and often enables a faster recovery.

When your condition requires further treatment, our neurosurgeons may recommend a surgical option. In these cases, we offer access to specialized neurosurgeons in our HCA Florida network who blend science, precision and training and support patients through rehabilitation and recovery.

Neurosurgical procedures can include:

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
• Brain biopsy for tumor identification
• Brain tumor excision
• Burr hole craniotomy for subdural hematoma
• Carpal tunnel surgery
• Chiari malformation decompression
• Cranial shunt placement and revisions
• Excision of skull-based cysts
• Kyphoplasty lead placements for spinal cord stimulators
• Lumbar and cervical instrumentation revision
• Lumbar interbody fusions
• Microsurgical decompression
• Microsurgical discectomy

DBS is a surgical option for patients with tremors caused by Parkinson's disease, essential tremor or MS. This treatment involves implanting a pacemaker-like device that sends electrical impulses to inactivate the parts of the brain that cause symptoms.

Focused ultrasound

Our UCF Lake Nona Hospital, a part of HCA Florida Healthcare location now offers focused ultrasound procedures to treat tremors caused by Parkinson's Disease or Essential Tremor. This two-hour outpatient procedure uses beams of ultrasound energy to target the part of the brain causing the tremor and makes it stop. Effects of focused ultrasound are usually immediate and can help you get back to your daily life.

Your central anchor, the spine is an integral component of your body's central nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Because of this, our neurological specialists often partner with orthopedic surgeons to provide complete spine care.

Working together, we diagnose and treat spine conditions to relieve pain, increase mobility and restore your quality of life.

If you or a loved one experiences a stroke, our neurologists are standing by 24/7 to help provide the fast, lifesaving stroke care you need. When possible, we work together with local emergency medical services (EMS) providers to start preparing for your arrival while you are in transit, saving precious time and brain function.

Epilepsy, also referred to as seizure disorder, is a neurological disorder that is especially worrisome to those who experience it. Which is why we do everything we can to help you understand more about the condition and find a treatment plan that helps relieve your symptoms.

Epilepsy can be caused by a variety of factors — from brain injury and birth defects to infection and inflammation.

It is often characterized by:

• A staring spell
• Experiencing feelings such as fear or anxiety
• Loss of consciousness or awareness
• Temporary confusion
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

Should our doctors suspect you are experiencing epilepsy, they will work side-by-side with you to help ease your symptoms.

Whether a diagnosis leads to managing symptoms early on or developing a plan for specialized support and rehabilitation over time, our doctors use innovative, advanced technologies to make a thorough assessment and informed diagnosis.

The most common neurology diagnostic imaging procedures include:

• Biplane angiography
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• X-rays

At HCA Florida, we take a team-based approach to care. We bring together neurological specialists, surgeons and often your primary care physician, to make sure we have all of the information we need to provide you with high-quality care.

Together, our goal is to create a care plan that works for you and to make sure you receive seamless care throughout it all.

The neurology teams at our hospitals include:

• Neurologists
• Neuroscientists
• Neurosurgeons
• Nursing staff
• Occupational therapists
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Physical therapists