Neurosurgical Associates of Central Jersey

We have all felt the sensation of our arm or leg going to sleep, or the uncomfortable tingling that happens when we hit our funny bone. These experiences don’t usually last more than a few seconds, but if tingling, numbness, or pain last, it could be signs of nerve compression. Nerve compression syndrome, also called […]

What is 5-ALA Fluorescent Dye? 5-ALA Fluorescent Dye, nicknamed the “Pink Drink,” is an optical imaging agent that is administered orally to brain cancer patients prior to surgery. 5-ALA, or 5-Aminolevulinic Acid, consists of fluorescent dye that glows when placed under UV light. Once ingested, only the cancerous cells glow. This allows neurosurgeons to target […]

©2020 Novocure. All rights reserved. Dr. James M. Chimenti and Dr. Richard V. Buonocore are now certified to prescribe Optune® for the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). This wearable and portable medical device is the first FDA-approved treatment in more than a decade for newly diagnosed GBM. Optune is approved for the […]

What is the Brain Made Of? The brain is composed of 40 percent gray matter, which is made of neurons, and 60 percent white matter, which is made of dendrites and axons that the neurons utilize. The two types of prominent brain cells are the glial cells and the neurons. While neurons in the brain […]

Craniotomy: To a veteran neurosurgeon, it’s just another day in the office, not even close to the most complex procedure one will perform in a given week. But a modern neurosurgeon has access to a variety of state-of-the-art imaging studies, precisely machined tools made specifically for neurosurgery, and thousands upon thousands of hours of practice. […]

Imagine a culture in which back pain barely exists. It wouldn’t be our culture, that’s for certain. With 80 to 90 percent of Americans experiencing back pain at one point in their lives, “oh, my aching back” is almost a cliché. Subsequently, the list of spine conditions and procedures Americans commonly experience and undergo is […]

Low back pain can really be a pain in the—well, back. This condition is one of the most common health issues around. In fact, 31 million Americans experience low back pain at any given time, and it is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. In many cases, low back pain can resolve itself over […]

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) has designated August as Neurosurgery Awareness Month. Every year, this prestigious organization chooses a particular focus to highlight within the field. This year, the AANS has chosen to shed some light on trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a rare disorder that causes pain in certain areas of the face and […]

The ulnar nerve, one of the three main nerves in the arm, runs from the neck area and extends to the hand…

Dr. James Chimenti is the co-principle investigator at Somerset Medical Center of a clinical trial being run by the National Cancer Institute to determine which type of radiation treatment is best for patients after they have undergone surgery to resect a metastatic brain tumor.  The study, N107C, is a phase III trial of post-surgical stereotactic […]

Among our treatments at Neurosurgical Associates of Central Jersey are solutions for spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the channels that house the spinal nerves in the lumbar spine (lower back) or cervical spine (neck). Spinal stenosis generates pressure on the spinal nerves by compressing the available space in which they can function. […]

September is designated as Healthy Aging Month by Healthy Aging®, which is a national health initiative developed to help individuals think more positively about growing older. Fifteen years ago, they began the celebration of Healthy Aging Month, which promotes taking charge of one’s health past age 50. This includes on varying levels, from physically, socially, […]

August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness month. To help spread awareness of this condition, here are some facts about Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a degenerative neuro muscular disease that affects the motor neurons in the human body, causing severe spinal deformities and muscular atrophy. Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, is the number one […]

There are many things you can do to keep yourself strong and injury-free, particularly in the case of the spine—your basic foundation. Being conscious of the function of the spine, and the “do’s and don’ts” is often a matter of common sense, but there are steps you can take to maximize your spine health. Wear […]

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) was first performed in the 1980s, but has seen rapid advances in the past few years. Technological advances have enabled spine surgeons to expand patient selection and treat an evolving array of spinal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, fractures, tumors, infections, instability, and deformity. One of the […]

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs in the wrist when the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and muscles compress the median nerve causing pain. The risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome does not come from single industry or job, but is especially common in those performing assembly line work, such as manufacturing. However, it can come from any repetitive […]

A herniated or “slipped” disc is a common spine injury that occurs when the jelly-like substance inside the intravertebral discs is forced outward, either creating…