BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - January 05, 2009) -
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John Meara, MD, DMD, MBA, plastic surgeon-in-chief at Children's Hospital Boston and associate professor at Harvard Medical School will discuss this patient's diagnosis and treatment for encephalocele during the January Webcast. He will be joined by Edward Smith, MD, assistant in Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, who will comment on diagnosis and treatment of the arachnoid cyst.
This 60-minute Webcast is part of Children's ongoing effort to bring advanced care and technology to specialists and referring physicians around the world, and to educate patients and families about the latest and most innovative medical treatments available.
About encephalocele
Encephalocele is a rare defect, characterized by sac-like protrusions of the meninges (membranes that cover the brain) through openings in the skull. Encephalocele can present in various locations on a patient's head -- either as a groove down the middle of the skull, between the forehead and nose or on the back side of the skull. Severity varies depending on its location. Although the exact cause is unknown, encephalocele is the result of the neural tube in the brain failing to close completely during fetal development and occurs rarely, at a rate of one per 5,000 live births worldwide. Ethnic, genetic and environmental factors, as well as parental age, can all influence the likelihood of encephalocele, which can also occur in families with a history of spina bifida. If surgical treatment is successful, and developmental delays have not occurred, a patient will likely develop normally. In cases where neurologic and developmental damage has occurred, specialists will focus on minimizing both mental and physical disabilities.
Dr. Meara will narrate the reparative surgery performed on the 11-month-old patient. After the removal of the protruding brain tissue, Dr. Meara reconstructed the elongated forehead bones, orbital areas and created support for a new nose.
About arachnoid cysts
Arachnoid cysts are fluid collections within the space around the brain that are thought to be made during the development of the child before birth. They are sacs of normal spinal fluid, contained by a thin membrane called the "arachnoid" (like a spider web). These arachnoid cysts are very common, with the majority being found incidentally, such as in this patient's case. Most of these cysts do not need any treatment whatsoever and have no effect on the normal development of the brain. However, a small number of arachnoid cysts, like the one found in this patient's neurological exam, are large enough to put excessive pressure on the surrounding brain and require surgical treatment. Dr. Smith will narrate the craniotomy, opening holes in the "bubble" of the cyst (fenestration) and the creation of a drainage path.
Children with arachnoid cysts who require treatment often do quite well. Hospital stays are usually short, ranging from overnight to a few days.
Children's Department of Plastic Surgery is one of the largest of its kind in the country. In addition to formal training in plastic surgery, the team's eight surgeons have had specialized training in various sub-specialty areas of plastic surgery, including cleft and craniofacial surgery, hand and microsurgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopedics and otolaryngology. Additionally, the plastic surgery team works hand in hand with numerous other departments on multi-disciplinary treatment teams to care for patients with complex congenital anomalies.
To learn more about the Department of Plastic Surgery at Children's Hospital Boston, visit: www.childrenshospital.org/plastic.
About Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 500 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, seven members of the Institute of Medicine and 13 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children's Hospital Boston today is a 397-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about the hospital and its research visit: www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom.
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