Pediatric neurosurgery · scheduled consultation
Spasticity Care
Team-oriented evaluation for increased muscle tone, comfort, mobility, baclofen pump questions, or selective dorsal rhizotomy.
When consultation may help
Bring the concern into focus.
A scheduled visit brings symptoms, imaging, prior care, and family priorities into one organized conversation.
Questions about baclofen pump evaluation or follow-up
↗Selective dorsal rhizotomy evaluation
↗Coordination with therapy and rehabilitation teams
↗Help us see the whole story
What to bring when it is available.
Do not delay urgent care to gather records. For a scheduled visit, these materials can make the conversation more useful.
Therapy, rehabilitation, and neurology notes
Current mobility, equipment, and orthotics information
Medication, injection, pump, or surgical history
Family goals for comfort, care, positioning, and participation
How this concern is approached.
Tone is considered in the context of comfort, function, growth, caregiving, therapy, and the child’s goals. Neurosurgical options are part of a coordinated team discussion, not a stand-alone decision.
Questions families ask
A little more clarity.
What is the goal of the consultation?
The discussion starts with your child’s daily life: comfort, movement, positioning, sleep and care needs. Bring the activities that are difficult and the changes your family most hopes to see. These goals help make the conversation specific.
Who should be part of the discussion?
Share recommendations from your child’s rehabilitation, neurology, orthopedic and therapy teams. Include medications, prior procedures and what has or has not helped. Neurosurgical evaluation should fit into the wider care plan.
What should we ask before any procedure?
Ask which goal the procedure is intended to address, what improvement is realistic, what risks matter for your child and what rehabilitation or follow-up would be required. Clarify who will manage the ongoing plan.
How the visit moves
Careful. Clear. Together.
Listen
Review symptoms, timing, prior care, daily impact, and the family’s goals.
Review
Place MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, reports, and records in context.
Explain
Translate the finding and reasonable options into plain language.
Plan
Define monitoring, testing, referral, follow-up, or surgery when appropriate.
The people behind the promise
Clinical focus. Thoughtful systems.
Two complementary roles support a clear, reliable experience for children and families.
Dr. Stacey E. Podkovik
Dr. Podkovik leads the neurosurgical evaluation with a pediatric focus, connecting the child’s story, symptoms, imaging, prior care, and family priorities into a clear next-step plan.
Dr. Laura Purdy, MD, MBA
Dr. Laura Purdy, MD, MBA, supports the practice through physician-led management, care coordination, and reliable systems. Dr. Stacey Podkovik leads neurosurgical evaluation and treatment.
When symptoms should not wait.
Seek emergency care for a sudden neurologic change, severe breathing difficulty, seizure, acute injury, or rapidly worsening weakness.
Sources behind this overview
Family education from established health organizations.
These links support the general overview and cannot replace an individualized pediatric evaluation.
Continue exploring
Every pathway, connected.
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This page provides general educational information and does not replace a medical evaluation. Calling the office or using this site does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Iris is a scripted navigation helper and does not diagnose, triage, or provide medical advice.