Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

Queen’s University

1999, Kingston, Canada

Medical School

University of Toronto

2003, Toronto, Canada

Residency

Neurosurgery

University of Toronto

2013, Toronto, Canada

Fellowship

Pediatric Neurosurgery

Boston Children’s Hospital

2014, Boston, MA

Professional History

My practice is focused mainly on functional disorders in children, including treatments for movement disorders, spasticity, and epilepsy, with a focus on advance minimally invasive techniques such as MRI-guided laser ablation, deep brain stimulation, stereoelectroencephalography, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and neuroendoscopy.
 
I hold both a medical degree and a PhD in neuroscience from the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto, training that gives me a unique perspective on the treatment of neurosurgical patients. I completed the prestigious Shillito neurosurgical fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital in 2014, and am the founding surgical director of our department's movement disorders and deep brain stimulation program.
 
As an example, one of my clinical work focuses is on advanced neurosurgical treatments for dystonia, a movement disorder in which faulty brain signals cause involuntary muscle contractions in children. I specialize in deep brain stimulation, a surgical procedure in which I implant electrodes on different targets in the brain to deliver electrical stimulation to those areas via a simultaneously-implanted pacemaker-like device called a neurostimulator. Deep brain stimulation is currently indicated for primary dystonia, and holds enormous future potential for other conditions.
 
I also run a general neurosurgical practice, encompassing areas such as brain tumors, neuroendoscopy and epilepsy surgeries. I am a passionate advocate for dystonia awareness and the potential application of deep brain stimulation for patients, and have been an invited speaker locally and internationally on the topic.
 
As a surgeon-scientist, I am interested in encouraging functional regeneration and repair of the brain using targeting therapies such as deep brain stimulation.  Through understanding mechanisms of adult neurogenesis and neurostimulation, I am hopeful that we will be able to harness intrinsic brain mechanisms to repair and restore damaged and diseased brain.

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. Scellig Stone

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Epilepsy Q&A: Understanding the anatomy of the brain

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is vagal nerve stimulation?

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is single stage resection?

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Epilepsy Q&A: How surgical techniques map the brain

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is a laser ablation?

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is a hemispherectomy?

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Epilepsy Q&A: What are the different types of epilepsy surgery?

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is a deep brain stimulator?

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Epilepsy Q&A: What is a corpus callosotomy?

Publications

  1. Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor partially occluding the superior sagittal sinus: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2025 May 26; 9(21). View Abstract

  2. Intrathecal baclofen pump versus combined dorsal/ventral rhizotomy for spastic quadriplegia: healthcare cost and complication analysis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2025 May 16; 1-8. View Abstract

  3. Gabapentinoids confer survival benefit in human glioblastoma. Nat Commun. 2025 May 15; 16(1):4483. View Abstract

  4. Epilepsy surgery in Sturge-Weber syndrome with unilateral or bilateral asymmetric brain involvement: Boston Children's Hospital experience. Epilepsia. 2025 Mar 24. View Abstract

  5. A pre-operative gastrointestinal optimization protocol to improve outcomes after intrathecal baclofen pump surgery. Childs Nerv Syst. 2025 Mar 24; 41(1):139. View Abstract

  6. Analysis of DNA from brain tissue on stereo-EEG electrodes reveals mosaic epilepsy-related variants. Brain Commun. 2025; 7(2):fcaf113. View Abstract

  7. Neural correlates of minimal recognizable configurations in the human brain. Cell Rep. 2025 Mar 25; 44(3):115429. View Abstract

  8. Machine learning on interictal intracranial EEG predicts surgical outcome in drug resistant epilepsy. NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Mar 05; 8(1):138. View Abstract

  9. Evaluating the effectiveness of medical therapy in infantile epileptic spasms syndrome due to surgically-remediable lesions. Epilepsia. 2025 May; 66(5):1433-1446. View Abstract

  10. Spikes on ripples are better interictal biomarkers of epilepsy than spikes or ripples. Brain Commun. 2025; 7(1):fcaf056. View Abstract

  11. Overlap of spike and ripple propagation onset predicts surgical outcome in epilepsy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2024 Oct; 11(10):2530-2547. View Abstract

  12. Transient Ipsilateral Hemineglect Following Brain Laser Ablation in Patient with Focal Cortical Dysplasia. Neurol Int. 2024 Sep 03; 16(5):958-965. View Abstract

  13. Intralesional epileptiform activity in a fourth ventricular hamartoma associated with epileptic hemifacial spasm in a toddler: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2024 Jul 29; 8(5). View Abstract

  14. In Search of a Common Language: The Standardized Electrode Nomenclature for Stereoelectroencephalography Applications. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 Jul 01; 41(5):405-409. View Abstract

  15. The Case for Neurosurgical Intervention in Cancer Neuroscience. Neurosurgery. 2025 Jan 01; 96(1):10-17. View Abstract

  16. Spinal catheter revision in pediatric intrathecal baclofen pumps: risk factors and postoperative outcomes. Neurosurg Focus. 2024 06; 56(6):E11. View Abstract

  17. Predictive factors for seizure freedom after epilepsy surgery for pediatric low-grade tumors and focal cortical dysplasia. Epilepsy Behav Rep. 2024; 27:100680. View Abstract

  18. Recommendations for the Management of Initial and Refractory Pediatric Status Dystonicus. Mov Disord. 2024 Sep; 39(9):1435-1445. View Abstract

  19. The role of occipital condyle and atlas anomalies on occipital cervical fusion outcomes in Chiari malformation type I with syringomyelia: a study from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2024 Jul 01; 34(1):66-74. View Abstract

  20. Interictal EEG source connectivity to localize the epileptogenic zone in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: A machine learning approach. Epilepsia. 2024 Apr; 65(4):944-960. View Abstract

  21. Somatic Mosaicism in PIK3CA Variant Correlates With Stereoelectroencephalography-Derived Electrophysiology. Neurol Genet. 2024 Feb; 10(1):e200117. View Abstract

  22. Deep Learning-Based Visual Complexity Analysis of Electroencephalography Time-Frequency Images: Can It Localize the Epileptogenic Zone in the Brain? Algorithms. 2023 Dec; 16(12). View Abstract

  23. Added value of corpus callosotomy following vagus nerve stimulation in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: A multicenter, multinational study. Epilepsia. 2023 Dec; 64(12):3205-3212. View Abstract

  24. Influence of extent and age at corpus callosotomy on seizure outcomes. A single center experience. Epilepsia Open. 2023 Dec; 8(4):1596-1601. View Abstract

  25. Machine learning models for predicting seizure outcome after MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 10 01; 32(6):739-749. View Abstract

  26. Sleep Spindle Generation Before and After Epilepsy Surgery: A Source Imaging Study in Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. Brain Topogr. 2024 01; 37(1):88-101. View Abstract

  27. Using robotics to move a neurosurgeon's hands to the tip of their endoscope. Sci Robot. 2023 09 20; 8(82):eadg6042. View Abstract

  28. Spike propagation mapping reveals effective connectivity and predicts surgical outcome in epilepsy. Brain. 2023 09 01; 146(9):3898-3912. View Abstract

  29. Focal drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy associated with an ipsilateral anterior choroidal artery aneurysm: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2023 Jun 26; 5(26). View Abstract

  30. Functional connectivity discriminates epileptogenic states and predicts surgical outcome in children with drug resistant epilepsy. Sci Rep. 2023 06 14; 13(1):9622. View Abstract

  31. Comparison of fMRI language laterality with and without sedation in pediatric epilepsy. Neuroimage Clin. 2023; 38:103448. View Abstract

  32. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization: predictors of long-term success and comparison with shunt placement for primary treatment of infant hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 08 01; 32(2):201-213. View Abstract

  33. Non-invasive mapping of epileptogenic networks predicts surgical outcome. Brain. 2023 05 02; 146(5):1916-1931. View Abstract

  34. Deep brain stimulation for medically refractory status dystonicus in UBA5-related disorder. Mov Disord. 2023 09; 38(9):1757-1759. View Abstract

  35. Recurrent abdominal dislodgement of intrathecal pump and utility of infraclavicular site for patients with elevated body mass index: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2023 Jan 23; 5(4). View Abstract

  36. Cross-task specificity and within-task invariance of cognitive control processes. Cell Rep. 2023 01 31; 42(1):111919. View Abstract

  37. Stereoelectroencephalography followed by combined electrode removal and MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy or open resection: a single-center series in pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 03 01; 31(3):206-211. View Abstract

  38. Seizure outcome of pediatric magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy versus open surgery: A matched noninferiority cohort study. Epilepsia. 2023 01; 64(1):114-126. View Abstract

  39. Interictal Connectivity Revealed by Granger Analysis of Stereoelectroencephalography: Association With Ictal Onset Zone, Resection, and Outcome. Neurosurgery. 2022 10 01; 91(4):583-589. View Abstract

  40. Discrepant expressive language lateralization in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2022 09; 9(9):1459-1464. View Abstract

  41. Limited utility of structural MRI to identify the epileptogenic zone in young children with tuberous sclerosis. J Neuroimaging. 2022 09; 32(5):991-1000. View Abstract

  42. Nusinersen for Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: 1415 Doses via an Interdisciplinary Institutional Approach. Pediatr Neurol. 2022 07; 132:33-40. View Abstract

  43. Complications and outcomes of posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty versus without duraplasty for pediatric patients with Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia: a study from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Jul 01; 30(1):39-51. View Abstract

  44. Epidural Analgesia Versus Lumbar Plexus Blockade After Hip Reconstruction Surgery in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Intrathecal Baclofen Pumps: A Comparison of Safety and Efficacy. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022 Apr 01; 42(4):222-228. View Abstract

  45. Mendelian etiologies identified with whole exome sequencing in cerebral palsy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2022 02; 9(2):193-205. View Abstract

  46. Socioeconomic and demographic factors in the diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Mar 01; 29(3):288-297. View Abstract

  47. The low utility of routine cranial imaging after pediatric shunt revision. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Mar 01; 29(3):276-282. View Abstract

  48. A Standardized Electrode Nomenclature for Stereoelectroencephalography Applications. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 Nov 01; 38(6):509-515. View Abstract

  49. Intrathecal catheter and port placement for nusinersen infusion in children with spinal muscular atrophy and spinal fusion. Pediatr Radiol. 2021 12; 51(13):2588-2595. View Abstract

  50. Extradural decompression versus duraplasty in Chiari malformation type I with syrinx: outcomes on scoliosis from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 08 01; 28(2):167-175. View Abstract

  51. Epidural analgesia for reduction of postoperative systemic opioid use following selective dorsal rhizotomy in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 05 01; 27(5):594-599. View Abstract

  52. Dural augmentation approaches and complication rates after posterior fossa decompression for Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia: a Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium study. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 04 01; 27(4):459-468. View Abstract

  53. Occipital-Cervical Fusion and Ventral Decompression in the Surgical Management of Chiari-1 Malformation and Syringomyelia: Analysis of Data From the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. Neurosurgery. 2021 01 13; 88(2):332-341. View Abstract

  54. Anesthetic management and outcomes for MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for seizure focus in pediatrics: A single-centre experience with 10 consecutive patients. Paediatr Anaesth. 2021 02; 31(2):234-236. View Abstract

  55. Epidural catheter placement in children with baclofen pumps. Paediatr Anaesth. 2021 02; 31(2):178-185. View Abstract

  56. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser-induced thermal therapy for functional hemispherotomy in a child with refractory epilepsy and multiple medical comorbidities. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 01 01; 27(1):30-35. View Abstract

  57. Endoscope-assisted microsurgical resection of intrinsic brainstem epidermoid: technical note and review of the literature. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 12 01; 26(6):654-660. View Abstract

  58. Drug-Responsive Inhomogeneous Cortical Modulation by Direct Current Stimulation. Ann Neurol. 2020 09; 88(3):489-502. View Abstract

  59. Complex Management of Hydrocephalus Secondary To Choroid Plexus Hyperplasia. World Neurosurg. 2020 09; 141:101-109. View Abstract

  60. Pilot Study of Neurodevelopmental Impact of Early Epilepsy Surgery in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Pediatr Neurol. 2020 08; 109:39-46. View Abstract

  61. Factors associated with syrinx size in pediatric patients treated for Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia: a study from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 06 01; 25(6):629-639. View Abstract

  62. Lesion-Constrained Electrical Source Imaging: A Novel Approach in Epilepsy Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2020 Jan; 37(1):79-86. View Abstract

  63. The Palliative Use of Intrathecal Baclofen in Niemann-Pick Disease Type C. Pediatrics. 2019 11; 144(5). View Abstract

  64. Long-term outcomes of lumbar microdiscectomy in the pediatric population: a large single-institution case series. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019 11 01; 24(5):549-557. View Abstract

  65. Radiological and clinical predictors of scoliosis in patients with Chiari malformation type I and spinal cord syrinx from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019 11 01; 24(5):520-527. View Abstract

  66. Noninvasive Thermal Evaluation of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Patency and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Using a Flow Enhancing Device. Neurosurgery. 2019 08 01; 85(2):240-249. View Abstract

  67. VAC14 Gene-Related Parkinsonism-Dystonia With Response to Deep Brain Stimulation. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2019 Jul; 6(6):494-497. View Abstract

  68. Disrupted N-linked glycosylation as a disease mechanism in deficiency of ADA2. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 10; 142(4):1363-1365.e8. View Abstract

  69. Deep brain stimulation for monogenic dystonia. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2017 Dec; 29(6):691-696. View Abstract

  70. Localization of stereo-electroencephalography signals using a finite difference complete electrode model. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2017 Jul; 2017:3600-3603. View Abstract

  71. Entorhinal Cortical Deep Brain Stimulation Rescues Memory Deficits in Both Young and Old Mice Genetically Engineered to Model Alzheimer's Disease. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Dec; 42(13):2493-2503. View Abstract

  72. Comparative effectiveness of flexible versus rigid neuroendoscopy for endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization: a propensity score-matched cohort and survival analysis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2017 May; 19(5):585-591. View Abstract

  73. High frequency stimulation of the infralimbic cortex induces morphological changes in rat hippocampal neurons. Brain Stimul. 2017 Mar - Apr; 10(2):315-323. View Abstract

  74. Episodic ventriculomegaly due to hypernatremia mimicking shunt malfunction: case report. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2015 Oct; 16(4):406-9. View Abstract

  75. Reopening of an obstructed third ventriculostomy: long-term success and factors affecting outcome in 215 infants. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2015 Apr; 15(4):399-405. View Abstract

  76. The neurosurgical treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a review. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2014; 92(5):269-81. View Abstract

  77. Combined endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization as primary treatment for infant hydrocephalus: a prospective North American series. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14(5):439-46. View Abstract

  78. Occipital pial synangiosis. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2014 Jul; 156(7):1297-300. View Abstract

  79. Cranial sutures: a multidisciplinary review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2013 Jun; 29(6):893-905. View Abstract

  80. Phosphorylation prevents polyglucosan transport in Lafora disease. Neurology. 2012 Jul 03; 79(1):100-2. View Abstract

  81. Stimulation of entorhinal cortex promotes adult neurogenesis and facilitates spatial memory. J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 21; 31(38):13469-84. View Abstract

  82. Memory rescue and enhanced neurogenesis following electrical stimulation of the anterior thalamus in rats treated with corticosterone. Exp Neurol. 2011 Nov; 232(1):100-4. View Abstract

  83. Impact of early adverse experience on complexity of adult-generated neurons. Transl Psychiatry. 2011 Aug 30; 1:e35. View Abstract

  84. The subcallosal cingulate gyrus in the context of major depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2011 Feb 15; 69(4):301-8. View Abstract

  85. Functional convergence of developmentally and adult-generated granule cells in dentate gyrus circuits supporting hippocampus-dependent memory. Hippocampus. 2011 Dec; 21(12):1348-62. View Abstract

  86. Anterior thalamus deep brain stimulation at high current impairs memory in rats. Exp Neurol. 2010 Sep; 225(1):154-62. View Abstract

  87. Utility of neuronavigation and neuromonitoring in epilepsy surgery. Neurosurg Focus. 2008 Sep; 25(3):E17. View Abstract

  88. Prospective error recording in surgery: an analysis of 1108 elective neurosurgical cases. Neurosurgery. 2007 Jun; 60(6):1075-80; discussion 1080-2. View Abstract

  89. The pedunculopontine nucleus and movement disorders: anatomy and the role for deep brain stimulation. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2007; 13 Suppl 3:S276-80. View Abstract

My approach to care reflects the satisfaction I get from helping a child suffering from neurologic illness. I find working with kids inspiring. They are usually much braver patients than adults and their potential for recovery is often great. Giving a child the ability to reach his or her full potential is something that motivates my work every day.

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