The complex cervical spine program at Boston Children’s Hospital treats infants, children and young adults with rare and severe cervical spine abnormalities. Established in 1998 and ranked number one for neurosurgery and neurology by US News & World Report, the program is uniquely designed to treat numerous issues. Many of the patients have rare conditions with no clear-cut protocol for treatment. The program brings together experts from Boston Children’s spine division and department of neurosurgery to treat the most challenging cervical spine conditions. This combined expertise enables Boston Children’s to safely address cases of cervical spine instability that would be far riskier for a single surgeon to correct on their own. The program has established a strong record of success treating cervical spine instability caused by these and other conditions: basilar invagination, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, os odontoideum and osteogenesis imperfecta. In addition, the team has an effective treatment to correct many spin deformities through spinal fusion surgery.














