Outcomes in Pediatric Neurosurgery

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decades, the concept of “outcomes” in neurosurgery has evolved profoundly. What was once a discipline focused primarily on life-saving interventions has transformed into one driven by functional restoration, long-term quality of life, and the reintegration of patients into social, educational, and professional spheres.

These priorities hold even greater significance in pediatric neurosurgery, where our patients represent our most valued population—our future generation. Their life trajectories depend heavily on our ability to deliver treatments that not only preserve neurological function but also optimize development, learning, psychosocial well-being, and life prospects. Increasingly, our objectives extend beyond survival to encompass participation, independence, and the broader dimensions of human flourishing, including happiness. We are confronted with the essential question: What outcomes are both desired and achievable for the children we serve?

This Special Issue is dedicated to and welcomes contributions that illuminate the current landscape of outcomes in pediatric neurosurgery:

• Define and characterize the present state of outcome measures across the spectrum of pediatric neurosurgical conditions.

• Identify areas of major improvement and unmet needs.
• Present tools, technologies, and innovative strategies that demonstrate that they enhance quality of life and long-term function, including for patients with rare or genetically driven disorders.
• Highlight advances not only in surgical techniques—such as robotics, image-guided interventions, and virtual-reality-based approaches—but also in diagnostics, including genetic insights, biomarker discovery, neurophysiological monitoring, and other methods that advance our ability to treat and teach complex conditions.
• Explore the expanding role of artificial intelligence, with perspectives on database design, clinical trial innovation, predictive analytics, and professional networking.

We encourage submissions from multidisciplinary teams, as the care of children with neurosurgical conditions spans neurosurgery, neurology, genetics, rehabilitation, psychology, and public health, including contributions that address local, national, and global health challenges.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of how innovations in science, technology, and care delivery can transform the futures of pediatric patients worldwide. We look forward to receiving your submissions and advancing this critical dialog together.

Prof. Dr. Petra Klinge
Konstantina Svokos
Guest Editors

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• functional outcomes
• pediatric neurosurgery
• quality of life
• innovative technologies
• global neurosurgery