News and Media

In The News

Telemedicine During COVID-19 and a Changing Health Care System

Stanford neurosurgeon Dr. John Ratliff discusses healthcare challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place orders, and how telemedicine is helping caregivers continue to take care of their patients.

Gel Smooths Cells’ Ride Through Syringes in Regenerative Therapy

A new study by Stanford neurosurgical researcher Giles Plant, PhD, reports that a customized gel developed at Stanford acts as a shock absorber for regenerative cells during and after their perilous journey through the tip of a syringe to the targeted tissue.

Taking Benzodiazepines Boosts Chances of Long-term Opioid Use

In a new study, Dr. John Ratliff finds that taking a common psychoactive medication along with opioids nearly triples the chance that a patient will become a long-term opioid user.

Videos

Neck and Back Pain in Women: Spinal Problems, Solutions, and Future Directions

Dr. Corinna Zygourakis, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford, discusses the main causes of neck and back pain for women and explains the nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.


Using 3D Printing for Surgical Planning and Patient Education

Dr. Anand Veeravagu discusses how 3D Printing is used in neurosurgery, the benefits of using 3D models, and how this technology helps surgeons better prepare for surgery. 

Using Virtual Reality 

Sample virtual reality simulations used to prepare for scoliosis surgery. 


More on Stanford Neurosurgery's YouTube

Patient Stories

Jose Bourbois: Bulging Disc and Sciatic Nerve Pain

Jose Bourbois had been dealing with chronic pain caused by a bulging disc in his lower spine for years. He tried epidural injections and two surgeries, but the pain continued. When it got really bad, Bourbois could barely function and became depressed. Spine surgery, including computer assisted spine stabilization, at Stanford eliminated the pain and gave Bourbois his quality of life back.


Terenia: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Terenia survived a very serious car crash, but decades later her injuries began to create such debilitating symptoms she lost her ability to work as an artist. Neurospine surgeon, Dr. Anand Veeravagu, identified a previously undiagnosed weakness and used leading edge imaging, along with robotic and computer-assisted surgery to complete a briefer operation with less anesthesia, and ultimately a briefer hospital stay and faster recovery.


Matthew Ryan: Spinal Fractures

Matthew Ryan had been an athlete all his life, but a terrible surfing accident threatened his spinal cord. When Ryan arrived at Stanford, he had multiple fractures of his spine at the sixth and seventh vertebrae, leading down from his skull. One of the damaged vertebrae was pushing the other one out of position and both were pushing against Ryan's spinal cord. Spine neurosurgeons were able to treat the multiple fractures in his spine, and Ryan was able to get back to his active lifestyle.