Neurosurgeron Dean Karahalios, M.D. uses Hands and Heart to Rebuild Spines and Protect the Brains of Young Athletes

CHICAGO, IL, January 25, 2008 – Dr. Dean Karahalios of the Chicago Institute of Neuroresearch and Neurosurgery (CINN) is not your average neurosurgeon. A self-described “technology geek,” Dr. Karahalios, who is invited to lecture throughout the country on advancements in spine surgery, is as enthused about the latest technologies in his field as a teenager is with the latest video games.

“I love learning about state-of-the-art technologies for improving the care of my patients,” Dr. Karahalios explains. “Whenever I am able to use the latest and best, my patients spend less time in the operating room and recover faster. It’s a win-win for us all.” Dr. Karahalios sees patients in his offices in Chicago and Vernon Hills.

Karahalios, who grew up in a Greek-American family in Oakbrook/Hinsdale area and now resides in Lake Forest, was one of the few surgeons in the country selected to participate in the release of the first artificial disc for neck surgery in the United States. Just last summer, the FDA approved the use of the Prestige ST artificial disc which allows patients to maintain normal neck motion. Dr. Karahalios, who is responsible for training other surgeons to implant the artificial disc, and is one of the first to use the technology to treat Chicago area patients, is pleased with the results that, for the appropriate patients, show clear benefits over traditional spinal fusion.

Dr. Karahalios has also developed a new plating system that is used for patients requiring fusion of the bones in the neck. He proudly reports that this new device is being used by leading spine surgeons throughout the nation.

He was also a pioneer in the use of 3D imaging in spine surgery. This combination of software and imaging is a powerful operating room tool that allows Dr. Karahalios to see a 3D image of the damaged area in real time. It allows for a safer, more precise surgery for spine patients, particularly those suffering from lower back and neck pain.

But Karahalios is more than a technology-savvy doctor. Concerned that football generates more injuries than any other high school sport and that the high school football concussion rate is greater than in collegiate athletes, this former Hinsdale Central High School football player is leading a charge to prevent head and spine injuries in Chicago area youth athletes.

He recently conducted a symposium for youth football coaches to teach some basic head/spine physiology, warning signs, proper technique and emergency treatment. In addition, he and Dr. Preston Wolin, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, have produced a sports injury prevention video for parents and a concussion identification and management clipboard sticker for coaches. Both are available through the CINN website (www.cinn.org).

Karahalios has also encouraged Chicago area high school athletic departments to use ImPACT, software that helps coaches and athletic trainers understand and prevent sports-induced concussions. He spearheaded CINN’s donation of this software to several Chicago area high schools so that he could work with them to improve the care of their players.

“As a former football player, father of student athlete, and present-day doctor, I have a unique perspective on sports injuries among kids,” he says. “I know how important sports are to kids and I also know how devastating an incorrect tackle can be.”

Background on Dr. Dean Karahalios

A board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Karahalios is well versed across the spectrum of neurological disorders, and is a leading authority on the treatment of spinal tumors and other complex spinal disorders. He is particularly well known for his use of implants, fusion systems, instrumentation and other innovative complex spine techniques to treat patients with spinal metastases, infections and degenerative diseases of the spine.

Dr. Karahalios earned his medical degree in 1991 from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. After receiving his degree, Dr. Karahalios accepted a yearlong internship in general surgery at the Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. Continuing his education, he completed a residency in neurological surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, in 1998. While pursuing his residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute, Dr. Karahalios also completed a yearlong fellowship in spinal surgery.

Following his residency, Dr. Karahalios accepted an assistant professorship of neurosurgery position at Northwestern University Medical Center at Evanston Northwestern Hospital, Evanston, Ill. In 2002, Dr. Karahalios moved to Indianapolis where he accepted the positions of director of the Indiana Neurosciences Institute, chief division of spine surgery and director of the Spine Fellowship program for the Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group. Dr. Karahalios returned to Chicago and accepted his current position as director of CINN Spine Surgery at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago in 2004

Dr. Karahalios is an active author, lecturer and researcher. He has written numerous articles on the topics of complex spinal procedures and minimally invasive treatments. His many research studies have included evaluation of implantable hardware for spinal fusions and reconstructions as well as novel minimal access techniques. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves of the AANS/CNS and the Illinois Neurosurgical Society.