Pediatric Neurosurgery

Pediatric neurosurgery is a specialized discipline involving surgery on the nervous system of infants, children, and adolescents. It begins with careful evaluation and diagnosis of the condition—caused by disease or injury—affecting the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. While every effort is made for nonsurgical intervention, neurosurgery can often be the best way to improve, and even save, a child’s life.

Our team offers in-utero consultations and, in select cases, surgery before birth. Our neurosurgeons work with families and fetal specialists to guide them on what to expect and, when possible, treat conditions during pregnancy to give babies the best start in life. Candidates for in-utero intervention may include spina bifida and vein of Galen malformations.

We work closely with other pediatric specialists to provide the individualized care your child needs before, during, and after surgery.

Our board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon, in association with the University of Miami Health System, brings the highest level of expertise to every patient, no matter the complexity of their case. Our pediatric neurosurgery team is recognized for excellence in surgical expertise. Simply said, our program is one of the most highly recognized in the United States.

Services include state-of-the-art surgical management of disorders of the nervous system including:

Many of these serious conditions can be treated with minimally invasive procedures, resulting in faster recoveries and fewer scars.

Our neurosciences clinic combines the expertise of pediatric neurologists, neuro-oncologists, and neurosurgeons, allowing for a more streamlined approach to care.

Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center is one of the largest children’s hospitals in the southeastern United States, offering children and families access to the latest research, leading-edge treatments, and world-class care. By combining the strengths of Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System, our team provides a truly multidisciplinary approach.

Our board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Heather McCrea, is an expert in endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. She is trained in the use of rigid endoscopes and is the only surgeon in Miami trained to use flexible endoscopes—valuable tools for treating conditions such as craniosynostosis, brain tumors, pituitary tumors, and arachnoid cysts.

The team also brings multidisciplinary skull base expertise to treat complex tumors such as pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques.