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Gates Vascular Institute (GVI)
875 Ellicott Street
Buffalo, NY 14203

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Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Neurosurgery and Procedures

Neurosurgery and Procedures

The Department of Neurosurgery is home to the most innovative medical research and clinical practice available anywhere in Western New York. The team utilizes cutting-edge treatments for patients with disorders affecting the brain, spine, and central and peripheral nervous systems. Their participation in dozens of clinical trials and their work in the development of minimally invasive endovascular techniques - specifically in the treatment of stroke – provide patients with the best chance for positive medical outcomes.

All neurosurgeons are with University of Buffalo Neurosurgery and can be reached at (716) 218-1000 unless otherwise noted.

Invasive and Minimally Invasive Spinal Procedures:

Spinal Stenosis

  • Spinous Process Fixation (SP-Fix)
  • X-Stop Spacer
  • Flexus Spine
  • Laminectomy/Laminotomy)

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD
Jody Leonardo, MD
John Pollina, MD

 

Lumbar Disc Herniation

  • Minimally Invasive Microdiskectomy
  • Open Microdiskectomy Percutaneous Discectomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
John Pollina, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Vertebral Fractures

  • Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
John Pollina, MD 

 

Degenerative disk disease

  • Spondylolisthesis (Failed fusion and failed back syndrome)
  • Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
  • Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF/XLIF)
  • Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion (axiALIF)
  • Rhizotomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
John Pollina, MD
Renée Reynolds, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD
Veetai Li (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386
 

Cervical Disk Disease and/or Spinal Stenosis

  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
  • Laminectomy/Laminoplasty

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Kevin Gibbons, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
John Pollina, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Failed Cervical Fusion or Severe Cervical Deformity

  • Posterior cervical fusion

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Kevin Gibbons, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
John Pollina, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Neurovascular Malformations (Arteriovenous Malformations [AVMs] & Fistulas, Venous Angiomas, Cavernous Angiomas) of the Brain and Spinal Cord

  • Embolization
  • Gamma Knife
  • Craniotomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD
Renée Reynolds, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 
Veetai Li (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386
 

Neurovascular Disease (Carotid Artery Stenosis, Cerebrovascular Stenosis, Aneurysms, Carotid Cavernous Fistlulas, Atherosclerosis)

  • Intracranial Stenting
  • Balloon Angioplasty
  • Carotid Stents
  • Coiling/Embolization of aneurysms
  • Craniotomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Neuroendovascular Procedures

  • Diagnostic cerebral angiograms
  • Carotid stenting
  • Aneurysm coiling and stenting
  • Arteriovenous malformation embolization (AVM)
  • Tumor embolization
  • Pipeline

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD

 

Carotid Endarterectomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD

 

Aneurysm Clipping

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Microvascular Decompression (MVD)

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Moyamoya Disease

  • Direct and indirect revascularization

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Concussion

  • Diagnostic imaging and conservative care

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Elad Levy, MD
Renée Reynolds, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD
Veetai Li (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Brain Endoscopy

  • Intracranial pathology (specifically pituitary)
  • Intraventricular tumor resections

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Kevin Gibbons, MD 
Walter Grand, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Renée Reynolds, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Veetai Li (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia

  • Chiari decompression

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Kevin Gibbons, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD 

 

Hydrocephalus

  • Shunt

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD
Kevin Gibbons, MD 
Walter Grand, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD
Veetai Li, MD (Pediatric)
Renée Reynolds, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Head Trauma (Brain Hemorrhages, Skull Fractures, etc.)

  • Decompressive craniotomy with treatment of underlying cause such as aneurysm/AVM repair

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 

 

Spinal Trauma and Spinal Tumors

  • Complex spinal reconstruction, including transthoracic surgery

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
John Pollina, MD 
Kenneth Snyder, MD 

 

Traumatic Injuries of Peripheral Nerves

  • Nerve reconstruction and release of entrapment

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Adnan Siddiqui, MD 

 

Trigeminal Neuralgia

  • Microvascular decompression
  • Glycerol rhizotomy injections
  • Balloon decompression of trigeminal nerve

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD 

Tumors of the Spine, Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerves

  •  Decompression/resection of spinal tumors

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD 
Kevin Gibbons, MD
Renée Reynolds, MD 
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD
Veetai Li (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Brain Tumors

  • Resection of tumor
  • Gamma Knife

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Kevin Gibbons, MD 
Jody Leonardo, MD 
Elad Levy, MD 
Renée Reynolds, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD
Veetai Li, MD (Pediatric)
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD

(716) 878-7386
 

Congenital Malformations

  • Treatment/repair of congenital malformations of the brain and spine

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Veetai Li (Pediatric)
Renée Reynolds, MD

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Craniofacial Anomalies

  • Treatment/ repair of craniofacial abnormalities including all forms of craniosynostosis

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Veetai Li (Pediatric)
Renée Reynolds, MD

(716) 878-7386
 
 

Spinal Dysraphism/Spina Bifida

  • Treatment/ repair of all forms of spinal cord dysraphism

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Veetai Li (Pediatric)
Renée Reynolds, MD

(716) 878-7386
 

Carpal Tunnel Release

The following physicians perform these procedures:

James Budny, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD

 

Cubital Tunnel Release

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020 
 

Brain Metastases, Benign Tumors, Meningiomas, Acoustic Schwannomas

  • Craniotomy
  • Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD

(716) 218-1020
 

Refractory Tremor and Refractory Parkinson’s

  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020

Kimberly Trinidad, MD (medical)

(716) 218-1020
 

Spasticity

  • Baclofen pump placement and management

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Veetai Li, MD (Pediatric)

(716) 878-7386

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Chronic Pain Post-Laminectomy, RSD, Painful Neuropathy

  • Spinal Cord Stimulation

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Myopathy

  • Diagnostic muscle biopsy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Neuropathy

  • Diagnostic nerve biopsy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Temporal Arteritis

  • Diagnostic temporal artery biopsy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Undiagnosed Brain Problems

  • Diagnostic brain biopsy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD

(716) 218-1020
 

Subdural Hematoma, Intracerebral Hematoma

  • Craniotomy
  • Burr holes craniotomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Robert J. Plunkett, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD PhD

(716) 218-1020
 

Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy

  • Craniotomy
  • Burr holes craniotomy

The following physicians perform these procedures:

Veetai Li, MD (Pediatric)
Renée Reynolds, MD

(716) 878-7386
 

Stroke Care

  • Carotid endarterectomy (CEA)
  • Ischemic stroke craniotomy
  • Craniectomy
  • Hemorrhagic stroke aneurysm clipping

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins, III, MD
Kevin Gibbons, MD
Jody Leonardo, MD
Elad Levy, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD

 

Surgical Endovascular Management of Ischemic Stroke

  • Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)
  • Intraarterial thrombolysis
  • Stenting
  • Penumbra catheter
  • Mechanical clot retrieval

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins III, MD
Elad Levy, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD

 

Endovascular Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) Aneurysm

  • Stent-assisted aneurysm coilingl

The following physicians perform these procedures:

L. Nelson Hopkins III, MD
Elad Levy, MD
Adnan Siddiqui, MD
Kenneth Snyder, MD