Neurosurgery

The division of neurosurgery at SIU is starting a new era of delivering state of the art neurosurgical care locally in Springfield. The division consists of board certified neurosurgeons with expertise in all areas of neurosurgery: cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves.
In conjunction with both St. John’s and Memorial Medical Centers state of the art computer image guidance devices and intra-operative imaging systems are now available.  Now the entire spectrum of neurosurgical procedures can be performed here in Springfield.  This includes brain surgery for tumors and movement disorders.

These systems allow for more accurate and less invasive procedures for  neurosurgical diseases of the brain (including tumors, Parkinson’s disease, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and others) and spine (including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, compression fractures, congenital disorders and others) .  These systems also are used in minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) for degenerative and congenital disorders (such as Chiari Malformations) as well as for traumatic injuries.  These techniques provide improved patient outcomes with shorter hospital stays and shorter recovery times.

The neurosurgical clinic will be located in newly renovated space that is patient friendly.  A team of providers including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse first assistants will assist the neurosurgeon in your care.  Patient education is emphasized in the clinic so that patients understand their options for conservative (non-surgical) treatment versus their surgical options.  Those patients requiring surgery are fully informed of what is involved with their surgery from the procedure itself to the post operative recovery. 

All of the efforts made to advance the neurosurgical care in our clinics are driven by the single goal to improve the lives of the patients we care for with neurosurgical disease.

Jeffrey Cozzens, MD

Professor and Division Chair Neurosurgery

Raindrops on a Tent

Deep Brain Stimulation brings new life to patients with movement disorders

Diagnosed with essential tremor at age 10, Don Klinker of Decatur has always had a hard time with daily tasks that most people do without thinking. “I love to play golf,” says the 73-year-old father of four and grandfather of five. “But by the time I could take my hand off the ball, I’d knock it off the tee.” So his friends would tee up for him. And drinking coffee or signing checks? Forget it. He gave up coffee and had a name stamp made. Sometimes his wife or friends would do the writing for him. more...