Trinity's neurosurgery center is one of the foremost centers in the Northern Plains. Led by Charles B. Stillerman, MD, a board certified neurosurgeon, the program uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide a complete range of services for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with head, neck and spinal disorders. Of special note: Dr. Stillerman specializes in minimally invasive procedures, including minimally invasive spinal fusion and stabilization surgery. He has been in the forefront of developing minimally invasive techniques for spine surgery for the past two decades.
Craniotomy - Opening of the skull for treatment of a variety of disorders:
• For removal or resection of brain tumors, including glioma and meningioma.
• For removal of pituitary tumors
Dr. Stillerman offers the Transsphenoidal Approach, a minimally invasive procedure which removes pituitary tumors through an incision in the nasal passage.
• For resection/clipping of cerebral aneurysms or artero-venous malformations
These are disorders of the blood vessels of the brain.
• For surgical management of intractable epilepsy.
This involves resection of a portion of the temporal lobe of the brain in patients whose epileptic focus is from the temporal lobe. Extensive testing is required to determine which patients are candidates for this procedure.<
Spine Surgery:
Microdiscectomy - Minimally-invasive surgery which uses an operating microscope to remove herniated portion of an intervertebral disc that is pressing on a nerve and causing pain or neurological deficit such as weakness in an extremity.
Endoscopic surgery for discectomy. - Outpatient procedure which uses a microscopic video camera, TV screen and slender surgical tools to remove herniated discs through a single incision just a few millimeters in length.
Decompression of spinal nerves. - Relieves pressure on spinal nerves due to stenosis or narrowing of the passageways which enclose the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Spine stabilization procedures. - Stabilizes and secures spine at all levels -- cervical, thoracic and lumbar -- with plates, screws and allograft materials.
Minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion and stabilization. - Uses fluoroscope imaging and special instruments to remove discs and implant bone, bone proteins, screws, rods, and surgical grade plastic spacers into the lower spine with minimal disruption of surrounding muscle tissue.
Carotid Endarterectomy - Clears major neck arteries of plaque, fatty deposits and other material for prevention of stroke, blood clots and other emboli.
Microvascular decompression of fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal) - Relieves vascular pressure on the fifth cranial nerve to alleviate severe facial pain, i.e., trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery:
For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. - Decompresses or releases pressure on the median nerve of the wrist. Eases pain, numbness, grip weakness, tingling and other symptoms associated with carpal tunnel.
Ulnar Nerve Transposition. - Releases ulnar nerve which has "crossed over" the elbow and become entrapped, producing arm and elbow pain.
Shunt Placement - Promotes normal flow of cerebral spinal fluid which has become blocked due to brain swelling, tumor, or disruption in fluid reabsorption pathways from blood or other debris. Alleviates increased intracranial pressure and lessens threat of hydrocephalus or excess water within the head.
Stereotactic Brain Biopsy - Use of stereotactic frame device to pinpoint exact location of a lesion for diagnostic biopsy. A small probe is passed directly into the lesion and the specimen is removed.
Charles B. Stillerman, M.D.
Dr. Stillerman, earned his medical degree from Loyola School of Medicine in Chicago and fulfilled his neurosurgery residency at Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in spinal reconstruction and stabilization at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, known for having one of the premiere spine programs in the country. Prior to coming to Minot, he served as Director of Spinal Surgery at the University of Southern California. For close to a decade he served as chairman and an instructor for the American Association of Neurological Surgery spine courses. He has been elected by his peers as one of Americas Best Doctors for Neurological Spine Surgery on four separate occasions. He has performed numerous complex spinal surgeries during the past 17 years, including many minimally invasive spine procedures.
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