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Center for Pediatric Neurosciences

Gillette’s Center for Pediatric Neurosciences provides interdisciplinary services for patients with neurologic conditions, such as epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions that require specialized treatment.

Our patients often have neurological and neuromuscular problems that require management by several medical specialists. Our specialists include neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuropsychologists, sleep-medicine specialists, rehabilitation therapists, pediatric rehabilitative medicine physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and assistive-technology practitioners.

Epilepsy Program

An integral part of our Center for Pediatric Neurosciences is our comprehensive Epilepsy Program. The program treats children who have epilepsy and underlying conditions that affect their seizures. Specialists in a wide range of fields combine their expertise to thoroughly evaluate children, looking for causes and effective treatments. Because seizures can affect learning, development, behavior, sleep, nutrition and other areas of life, we work with families to limit the ways epilepsy interferes with children’s lives.

Once a diagnosis is made, we offer various treatments. They include the newest antiepileptic medications, the vagus-nerve stimulator — an implanted device that sends electrical pulses to the brain through the vagus nerve in the neck — and the highly specialized ketogenic diet. Gillette is one of the few Minnesota health-care organizations to treat children with such a diet.

Specialty Clinics

Within our Epilepsy Program, we have the First Seizure Clinic and the Epilepsy Life Stages Clinics.

First Seizure Clinic
This clinic evaluates, diagnoses and treats children who’ve experienced their first seizures. We develop individual care plans for each patient.

For more information about our First Seizure Clinic, call 651-229-3890 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).
Epilepsy Life Stages Clinics
Our Epilepsy Life Stages Clinics address several key points in the lives of children who have epilepsy. We focus on three groups: infants and toddlers, school-age children, and preteens and early teens.

For more information about our Epilepsy Life Stages Clinics, call 651-229-3890 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).

Neuromuscular Clinic

Another integral part of our Center for Pediatric Neurosciences is our multidisciplinary Neuromuscular Clinic. Neuromuscular conditions are complex and varied, typically causing generalized and progressive muscle weakness. Our specialists work together to provide assessments and develop effective treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Gillette offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to effectively evaluating and treating conditions such as:

Muscular dystrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy
Peripheral neuropathies, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Mitochondrial disease, including metabolic myopathies
Juvenile dermatomyositis

Our multidisciplinary team works closely with local, national and international researchers to provide state-of-the-art care to reduce the symptoms associated with neuromuscular conditions. And we’re committed to remaining at the forefront of treatment for the diseases themselves. Our partnership with the University of Minnesota, for instance, gives Gillette patients opportunities to participate in new treatment trials that could eventually halt the progression of neuromuscular conditions.

For more information about our Neuromuscular Clinic, call 651-312-3176 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).

Other Specialty Clinics

In addition to our Epilepsy Program and Neuro-muscular Program, our Center for Pediatric Neurosciences offers additional clinics that address an array of neurological disorders.

Minor Neurotrauma Clinic
Gillette’s Minor Neurotrauma Clinic provides follow-up care to patients who experience relatively minor neurotrauma injuries, such as a concussion, an intracranial hemorrhage or a skull fracture. For more information about our Minor Neurotrauma Clinic, call 651-229-3890 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).
Sleep Health Clinic
Our Sleep Health Clinic provides care to patients who have sleep disorders that result from disabilities. Such disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, sleepwalking and circadian rhythm disorders. The clinic conducts daytime and overnight sleep studies. For more information about our Sleep Health Clinic, call 651-726-2852 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).
Neurocutaneous Syndromes Clinic
Neurocutaneous syndromes are lifelong genetic conditions that might cause tumors or lesions in the skin, brain, spine and peripheral nerves. Our Neurocutaneous Syndromes Clinic helps families and primary-care providers navigate the complex treatment options available for such conditions. For more information about our Neurocutaneous Syndromes Clinic, call 651-229-3989 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).

Neurodiagnostic Tests

Gillette uses a variety of diagnostic tests to help determine a patient’s condition, establish a patient’s baseline status, and monitor a patient’s condition. Depending on their needs, patients might undergo the following tests:

Electroencephalogram (EEG)
EEG tests measure electrical activity in the brain. They help to diagnose epilepsy and identify the types of seizures that are occurring.
Video EEG (VEEG)
VEEG tests add the use of video cameras, which record images of a child during an EEG procedure. After a VEEG, we examine how a child’s body movements correspond with brain activity during a test.
Electromyogram (EMG)
EMG tests measure the electrical activity and nerve conduction of muscles at rest and during contraction. Measuring the electrical activity in muscles can help uncover diseases that damage muscle tissue, such as muscular dystrophy.
Intraoperative Monitoring
Intraoperative monitoring involves testing and monitoring the nervous system during surgery. It helps surgeons avoid complications — such as paralysis, hearing loss or stroke — by detecting injury in time to prevent or improve it.