The primary goal of the Child Neurology team is to provide the best care possible for the children of Arkansas with neurologic disorders. Neurology focuses on the evaluation and care of children with neurologic disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and the neuromuscular system that include epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain malformations, brain tumors, neurocutaneous diseases, headache, autism, sleep disorders, and many others. Outpatient clinics in the Neuroscience Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) include General Neurology, Epilepsy, Spasticity, Brain Tumor, Headache, Neuromuscular, TIC, Neurocutaneous, MD, SMA and Neurodevelopmental Clinics. Patients who are admitted to ACH with neurologic disorders are cared for in the dedicated Neuroscience Unit. The Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory performs diagnostic tests that include electroencephalography (EEG), prolonged video EEG monitoring, critical care EEG monitoring, intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring, evoked potentials, and electromyography. More than 4,000 neurophysiologic studies are performed annually. A large focus is placed on the care of children with epilepsy. Over one-half of Neurology clinic visits and hospitalizations are for the evaluation and treatment of seizure disorders. In addition to evaluation and traditional medical therapy, advanced therapy programs for children with uncontrolled seizures include the ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation, and evaluations for epilepsy surgery. Therapy for spasticity in children with cerebral palsy and other disorders includes botulinum toxin injections and intrathecal baclofen pump therapy. Children with brain tumors are cared for by a multidisciplinary team that includes members from Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Neuroradiology Neuropsychology, and Social Work. The Neurocutaneous Disorders Clinic is focused on the evaluation and treatment of children with neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Sturge-Weber, and other related disorders. A Pediatric Neurology Clinic is also housed at Arkansas Children’s Northwest and Jonesboro, Arkansas and is staffed by a full-time Child Neurologist to provide care to children in Northwest and Northeast Arkansas. The section also operates an ACGME accredited Child Neurology Residency Program that traditionally includes two years of Pediatrics, one year of adult Neurology, and two years of Child Neurology.
