Pediatric Neurosurgery

The ABNS Oral Examination evaluates an applicant’s knowledge and judgment in clinical neurosurgical practice after an applicant has been an independent practitioner. With the new format, the oral exam is divided into 3 sessions, each consisting of 5 questions. Questions in the first session deal with general neurosurgery, questions in the second session focus on the preidentified area of practice chosen by the applicant (e.g., pediatric neurosurgery), and questions in the third session are based on cases submitted by the applicant. Common pediatric neurosurgical problems treated by neurosurgeons may be included on the American Board of Neurological Surgery Oral Examination in the general neurosurgery session. Therefore, one should be familiar with the neurosurgical management of pediatric cases, including disorders of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, congenital cranial and spinal malformations, tumors, vascular congenital and acquired disorders, intracranial and spinal infections, and intractable epilepsy. In this chapter, clinical vignettes of common pediatric neurosurgical conditions will be presented including (a) myelomeningocele, (b) craniosynostosis, (c) hydrocephalus, (d) posterior fossa tumors, and (e) moyamoya disease, with the cases subdivided into those that may be seen in the general session (1 to 3) and those more likely to be seen in the subspecialty specific session (4 and 5). The applicant will be given the history, physical examination, pertinent imaging studies, and test results and will then be expected to provide a rational differential diagnosis and plan of management, outline the risks of surgery, and describe the operation, if proposed, and handle intraoperative and postoperative complications that occur.