Dr. Jonathan D. Chilton, MD

The physicians and staff of Midwest Neurosurgery Associates are committed to providing the highest quality of neurosurgical care. Our goal is to provide outstanding care in a patient centered environment. We take pride in being able to offer individual care, state-of-the-art techniques, and close communication with referring and primary care physicians to ensure the best possible outcomes. Our neurosurgeons will discuss all available surgical and non-surgical management options in detail so that patients and their families will be able to understand the potential risks and benefits and make an informed choice.

As the medical director of the Center for Facial Pain, I would like to introduce you to our services available through the Midwest Neuroscience Institute at Research Medical Center.

Pain associated with the face is a complex disorder requiring a multidisciplinary team of specialists to care for the patient's needs. A thorough history is the most important factor in the correct diagnosis of facial pain and the physicians at the Center for Facial pain have extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of facial pain, including trigeminal neuralgia. We provide a variety of surgical options for patients refractory to maximal medical therapy, including Percutaneous Balloon Compression, Microvascular decompression (MVD), Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, surgical rhizotomy and subcutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation.

For additional information please go to: www.ResearchMedicalCenter.com.

The Gamma Knife is not a knife in the usual sense. It is a knife without a blade, a form of neurosurgery that requires no incision. Gamma Knife surgery (also called stereotactic radiosurgery) is a way of treating brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations (AVM's), trigeminal neuralgia (face pain) and tremor without opening the skull, without general anesthesia, and without the need for overnight hospitalization. The outpatient procedure is an effective, safe and less costly alternative to traditional microneurosurgery and allows patients to return to normal activities the following day.

In many circumstances, Gamma Knife radiosurgery can control a brain tumor or eliminate an AVM just as well as conventional surgery, but with a lower risk of complications. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an effective additional weapon in our arsenal for combating AVM's and brain tumors and for relieving facial pain and tremor. In many instances the Gamma Knife provides an opportunity for the treatment of patients with "inoperable" lesions who have no other treatment options.