Washington University School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Department of Neurosurgery Department of Neurosurgery
OverviewPatient CareFacultyResidencyResearchGiving

CLINICAL

Justin M. Brown, M.D.
Michael R Chicoine, M.D.
William S Coxe, M.D.
Ralph G Dacey, Jr., M.D.
Joshua L Dowling, M.D.
Robert L Grubb Jr., M.D.
Jeffrey R Leonard, M.D.
Eric C Leuthardt, M.D.
David D Limbrick, M.D., PhD.
T.S. Park, M.D.
Keith M Rich, M.D.
Paul Santiago, M.D.
Matthew D Smyth,  M.D., FACS, FAAP
Todd J Stewart, M.D.
Neill M Wright, M.D.
Gregory J Zipfel, M.D.

RESEARCH

Hans H Dietrich, Ph.D.
Jeffrey M Gidday, Ph.D.
Henry Han, Ph.D.
Thomas A Woolsey, M.D.

JOINT

Dewitte Cross III, M.D.
Colin Derdeyn, M.D.
Robert Drzymala, Ph.D.
Mokhtar Gado, M.D.
Gerald P Linette, M.D., Ph.D.
Christopher Moran, M.D.

Department of Neurosurgery
Washington University
School of Medicine
Campus Box 8057
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-3577

Matthew D Smyth,
M.D., FACS, FAAP


Associate Professor of
Neurosurgery and Pediatrics
Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Program

Department of Neurosurgery
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Washington University School of Medicine
One Children's Place, Ste 4S20
St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1002, U.S.A.

Phone: 314-454-4454
Fax: 314-454-2818
Administrative Email: dobbss@nsurg.wustl.edu
Clinical Interests:
Pediatric neurosurgery, epilepsy, craniosynostosis, craniofacial surgery, brain tumors, neuro-endoscopy, chiari malformation, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, spasticity, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, cortical dysplasia
Research Interests:
Cortical dysplasia, animal models of epilepsy, cortical cooling for epilepsy, deep brain stimulation for epilepsy, genetic correlates of craniosynostosis. For more information visit Dr. Smyth's Lab.
Education:
BA, Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
1989-1992

MD, University of California, San Francisco
School of Medicine
San Francisco, California
1992-1996
Residency:
Intern, General Surgery
University of California, Irvine
School of Medicine
Irvine, California
1996 - 1997

Resident, Neurological Surgery
Surgery University of California, Irvine
School of Medicine
Irvine, California
July 1997- December 1997

Resident, Neurological Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
School of Medicine
San Francisco, California
December 1997 – June 2001

Chief Resident, Neurological Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
School of Medicine
San Francisco, California
2002
Fellowship:
Fellow, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Children’s Hospital, University of
Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
2002 – 2003
Hospital Appointments:
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Shriner's Hospital for Children - St. Louis
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, Consulting Staff
Medical Licensure:
Missouri, Alabama, California
Board Certification:
American Board of Neurological Surgery (2005)
American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgeons (2006)
Publications:
  1. Smyth MD, Kesslak JP, Cummings BJ and Cotman CW. Analysis of brain injury following intrahippocampal administration of beta-amyloid in streptozotocin-treated rats. Neurobiology of Aging 15(2):153-159; 1994.
  2. Smyth MD, Cribbs DH, Tenner AJ, Shankle WR, Dick M, Kesslak JP and Cotman CW. Decreased levels of C1q in cerebrospinal fluid of living Alzheimer patients correlate with disease state. Neurobiology of Aging 15(5):609-614; 1994.
  3. Smyth M, Lawton MT: The posterior interhemispheric approach for cerebrovascular lesions. Journal of Neurosurgery 90 (1): 209A, 1999.
  4. Smyth MD and Peacock WJ. The Surgical Treatment of Spasticity. Muscle & Nerve 23(2):153-63; 2000.
  5. Smyth MD, Pitts L, Jackler RK and Aldape KD. Metastatic spinal ependymoma presenting as a vestibular schwannoma. Case illustration. Journal of Neurosurgery 92(2 Suppl):247; 2000.
  6. Smyth MD, Horn BN, Russo C, and Berger MS. Intracranial Ependymomas of Childhood: Current Management Strategies. Pediatric Neurosurgery 33(3):138-150; 2000.
  7. Von Koch CS, Park TS, Steinbok P, Smyth MD and Peackock WJ. Selective Posterior Rhizotomy and Intrathecal Baclofen for the Treatment of Spasticity. Pediatric Neurosurgery 35:57-65; 2001.
  8. Smyth MD, Sneed PK, Ciricillo SF, Edwards MS, Wara WM, Larson DA, Lawton MT, Gutin PH and McDermott MW. Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Pediatric Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations: The UCSF Experience. Journal of Neurosurgery 97:48-55; 2002.
  9. Karkar KM, Garcia PA, Bateman LM, Smyth MD, Barbaro NM, and Berger MS. Focal cooling suppresses spontaneous epileptiform activity without changing the cortical motor threshold. Epilepsia 43:932-935; 2002.
  10. Smyth MD, Barbaro NM and Baraban SC. Effects of antiepileptic drugs on induced epileptiform activity in a rat model of dysplasia. Epilepsy Research 50(3):251-264; 2002.
  11. Tubbs RS, Chambers MR, Smyth MD, Bartolucci AA, Bruner JP, Tulipan N and Oakes WJ. Late gestational intrauterine myelomeningocele repair does not improve lower extremity function. Pediatric Neurosurgery 38(3):128-132; 2003.
  12. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Salter G, and Oakes WJ. Anomalous traversement of the suprascapular artery through the suprascapular notch—an anatomical study. Medical Science Monitor 9(3):BR116-9; 2003.
  13. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD and Oakes WJ. Hemihypertrophy and the Chiari I malformation. Pediatric Neurosurgery 38(5):258-61; 2003.
  14. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Grabb PA and Oakes WJ. Life expectancy of ventriculosubgaleal shunt revisions. Pediatric Neurosurgery 38(5): 244-6; 2003.
  15. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Grabb PA and Oakes WJ. Atlantoaxial interlaminar distances in cervical flexion in children. Journal of Neurosurgery 98(3 Suppl.):271-274; 2003.
  16. Tubbs RS, Wellons JC, Smyth MD, Bartolucci AA, Blount JP, Oakes WJ and Grabb PA. Children with growth hormone deficiency and Chiari I malformation: A morphometric analysis of the posterior cranial fossa. Pediatric Neurosurgery 38(6):324-8; 2003.
  17. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, and Oakes WJ. Human horns: A Historical Review and Clinical Correlation. Neurosurgery 52(6):1443-8; 2003.
  18. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD and Oakes WJ. Chiari I Malformation and cloacal exstrophy: Report of a patient with both defects of blastogenesis. American Journal of Medical Genetics 119A(2):231-233;2003.
  19. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Grabb PA and Oakes WJ. Alternative uses for the subgaleal shunt in pediatric neurosurgery. Pediatric Neurosurgery 39(1):22-4; 2003.
  20. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD and Oakes WJ. Chiari I malformation and caudal regression syndrome: a previously unreported association. Clinical Dysmorphology 12(2):147-8; 2003.
  21. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, and Oakes WJ. Parietal foramina are not synonymous with giant parietal foramina. Pediatric Neurosurgery 39:216-217; 2003.
  22. Smyth MD, Tubbs RS, Bebin ME, Grabb PA and Blount JP. Complications of vagal nerve stimulation for epilepsy in the pediatric population. Journal of Neurosurgery 99(3):500-503, 2003.
  23. Smyth MD, Tubbs RS, Wellons III JC, Oakes WJ, Blount JP and Grabb PA. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus secondary to central nervous system infection or intraventricular hemorrhage in children. Pediatric Neurosurgery 39:258-263; 2003.
  24. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Salter G, Blount JP. Endoscopic corpus callosotomy: An animal study. Journal of Pediatric Neurology 1(1):25-28; 2003.
  25. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP and Oakes WJ. Cutaneous manifestations and the Chiari I malformation. Pediatric Neurology 29(3):250-2; 2003.
  26. Ammar K, Tubbs RS, Smyth, MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Salter G, and Oakes WJ. Anatomic Landmarks for the Cervical Portion of the Thoracic Duct. Neurosurgery 53(6): 1385-7; 2003.
  27. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP and Oakes WJ. Distances from the atlantal segment of the vertebral artery to the midline in children. Pediatric Neurosurgery 39:330-334, 2003.
  28. Smyth MD, Tubbs RS, Wellons JC, Oakes WJ. Efficacy of scheduled non-narcotic analgesics in children after suboccipital craniectomy. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 100:183-186, 2004.
  29. Tubbs RS, Doughty K, Smyth MD and Oakes WJ. Parietal Cephalocele. Pediatric Neurosurgery 40:37-8; 2004.
  30. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Oakes WJ and Blount JP. Duplication of the Massa Intermedia in a Child. Pediatric Neurosurgery 40:42-3; 2004.
  31. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC and Oakes WJ. Arachnoid veils and the Chiari I malformation. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine 100: 465-7; 2004.
  32. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Salter G, Doughty K, Blount JP. Eyebrow incision with supraorbital trephination for endoscopic corpus callosotomy: a feasibility study. Child’s Nervous System 20(3):188-91; 2004.
  33. Blount JP, Severson M, Atkins V, Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Grabb PA and Oakes JW. Sports and pediatric cerebrospinal fluid shunts: who can play? Neurosurgery 54 1190-8; 2004.
  34. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Wellons JC and Oakes WJ. Intramedullary hemorrhage in a neonate after lumbar puncture resulting in paraplegia: a case report. Pediatrics 113(5):1403-5; 2004.
  35. Tubbs RS, Smyth MD, Dure LS, and Oakes WJ. Exclusive lower extremity mirror movements and diastematomyelia. Pediatric Neurosurgery 40(3), 132-5; 2004.
  36. Tubbs RS, Webb D, Smyth MD and Oakes WJ. Magnetic resonance imaging evidence of posterior pharynx denervation in pediatric patients with Chiari I malformation and absent gag reflex. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 101:21-4, 2004.
  37. Tubbs RS, Banks JT, Soleau S, Smyth MD, Wellons JC, Blount JP, Grabb PA and Oakes WJ. Complications of the ventriculosubgaleal shunt in pediatric neurosurgery. Child’s Nervous System 21:48-51, 2005.
  38. Rothman SM, Smyth MD, Yang XF, Peterson GP. Focal cooling for epilepsy: An alternative therapy that might actually work. Epilepsy and Behavior 7:214-221, 2005.
  39. Ashley WW, McKinstry RC, Leonard JR, Smyth MD, Lee BC, Park TS. Utility of rapid-sequence MRI for evaluation of hydrocephalus in children. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 103:124-130, 2005.
  40. Mangano FT, Menendez J, Leonard JR, Park TS, Smyth MD. Early programmable valve failure in pediatric hydrocephalus. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 103:501-507 2005.
  41. Burton J, Peebles G, Binder DK, Rothman SM, Smyth MD. Transcortical cooling inhibits hippocampal-kindled seizures in the rat. Epilepsia, 46:1881-1887, 2005.
  42. Smyth MD, Ojemann JG, Zempel J, Robinson S, O’Brien DF, Saneto RP, Goyal M, Appleton RE, Park TS. Surgical outcomes for temporal lobe epilepsy in young children: A multi-institution analysis. (Abstract) Epilepsia, 46(8):158, 2005.
  43. Smyth MD, Burton JM, Peebles GA, Binder DK, Rothman SR. Transcortical cooling inhibits hippocampal-kindled seizures in the rat. (Abstract) Epilepsia, 46(8):302, 2005.
  44. Mangano FT, Limbrick D, Leonard JR, Park TS, Smyth MD. Simultaneous image-guided and endoscopic navigation without rigid skull fixation: application in infants: technical case report. Neurosurgery 58 (4 Suppl 2) ONS-E377; discussion ONS-E377, 2006.
  45. Mangano FT, Menendez J, Smyth MD, Leonard JR, Park TS. Neurosurgical injuries associated with all-terrain vehicles in pediatric patients: A ten year experience at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 105(1):2-5, 2006.
  46. Smyth MD, Narayan P, Tubbs RS, Leonard J, Park TS, Grabb PA. Potential association of malignancy and repeat diagnostic CT in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts: report of two cases. Journal of Pediatric Neurology 4(3):195-201, 2006.
  47. Smyth MD, Tennenbaum MJ, Kaufman C, Kane AA. ‘Clamshell Craniotomy’: a technique for previously uncorrected sagittal craniosynostosis in older children. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 105:245-51, 2006. (cover article)
  48. Johnston MJ Jr., Mangano FT, Ojemann JG, Park TS, Trevathan E, Smyth MD. Complications of invasive subdural grid and strip electrode monitoring at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, 1994-2005. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 105:343-347, 2006.
  49. Smyth MD, Limbrick D, Ojemann JG, Zempel J, Robinson S, O'Brien DF, Saneto RP, Goyal M, Appleton RE, Park TS. Outcome following surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy in pre-adolescent children with hippocampal pathology: emphasis on mesial temporal sclerosis. Journal of Neurosurgery:Pediatrics, 106:205-210, 2007.
  50. Johnston J, Vyas N, Kane AA, Molter D, Smyth MD: Giant intracranial teratoma with epignathus in a neonate: Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery:Pediatrics, 106:232-236, 2007.
  51. Seto ML, Hing AV, Chang JC, Hu M, Kapp-Simon KA, Patel PK, Burton BK, Kane AA, Smyth MD, Hopper R, Ellenbogen RG, Stevenson K, Speltz ML, Cunningham ML. Isolated sagittal and coronal craniosynostosis associated with TWIST box mutations. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 143A: 678-686, 2007.
  52. Smyth MD, Klein E, Dodson WE, Mansur D: Radiosurgical posterior corpus callosotomy in a child with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Journal of Neurosurgery:Pediatrics, 106(4):312-315, 2007.
  53. Blackburn SL, Smyth MD. Hydrogel-induced cervico-medullary compression after posterior fossa decompression for Chiari malformation: Case report. Journal of Neurosurgery:Pediatrics, 106(4):302-304, 2007.
  54. Refai D, Perrin R, Smyth MD: Iatrogenic intraspinal epidermoid cyst: Case illustration. Journal of Neurosurgery:Pediatrics, 106(4):32, 2007.
  55. Limbrick DD, Narayan P, Johnston JM, Ojemann JG, Park TS, Smyth MD: Outcomes following hemispherotomy: the St. Louis Children’s Hospital experience. (Abstract) Child’s Nervous System, 23(9):1062, 2007.
  56. O’Brien DF, Farrell M, Delanty N, Traunecker H, Perrin R, Smyth MD and Park TS. The Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumours. British Journal of Neurosurgery, 21(6):539-49, 2007.
  57. Shah M, Smyth MD, Woo A. Adverse facial edema associated with off-label use of rh-BMP-2 in cranial reconstruction for craniosynostosis: case report. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 1:255-257, 2008
  58. Smith MD, Narayan P, Tubbs RS, Leonard JR, Park TS, Loukas M, Grabb PA. Cumulative diagnostic radiation exposure in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts: a review. Child’s Nervous System, 24(4):493-7, 2008.
  59. Schalk G, Miller KJ, Anderson NR, Wilson JA, Smyth MD, Ojemann JG, Moran DW, Wolpaw JR, Leuthhardt EC. Two-dimensional movement control using electrocorticographic signals in humans. Journal of Neural Engineering, 5:75-84, 2008.
  60. Johnston JM, Vaishnavi SN, Smyth MD, He BJ, Zhang DY, Zempel JM, Shimony JS, Snyder AZ, Raichle ME. Loss of resting interhemispheric functional connectivity after complete section of the corpus callosum. Journal of Neuroscience, 18:28(25):6453-8, 2008.
  61. Wisneski KJ, Anderson NR, Blakely TM, Schalk G, Smyth MD, Morrisey M, Zempel J, Dowling J, Moran DW, Leuthardt EC. The unique cortical physiology associated with ipsilateral hand movements and neuroprosthetic implications. In press, Stroke, 2008.
  62. Reynolds MR, Blackburn SL, Smyth MD. Ossified pseudomeningocele following Chiari decompression in a patient with Kleeblattshädel deformity: Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2:203-06, 2008.
  63. Behdad A, Limbrick DL, Bertrand M, Smyth MD. Epilepsy surgery in children with seizures arising from the Rolandic cortex. In press, Epilepsia, August 2008.
  64. He BJ, Snyder AZ, Zempel JM, Smyth MD, Raichle ME. Electrophysiological correlates of the brain’s intrinsic large-scale functional architecture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(41):16039-44, 2008.
  65. Miller, JH, Limbrick DL, Callen M, Smyth, MD. Spontaneous resolution of type I Chiari malformation in monozygotic twins. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2:317-19, 2008.
  66. Smyth MD, Limbrick DD, Behdad A, Bertrand M. Epilepsy surgery in children with seizures arising from the Rolandic cortex. (Abstract) Child’s Nervous System, 24 1227, 2008.
  67. Smyth MD. Comment: Acute ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction following opening of the spinal subarachnoid space. Child’s Nervous System, Epub ahead of print, Jan 29, 2009.
  68. Gerlach DJ, Gurnett CA, Limpaphyayom N, Alaee F, Zhang Z, Porter KR, Kirchofer ML, Smyth MD, Dobbs MB: Early results of the Ponseti method for the treatment of clubfoot associated with myelomeningocele. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Am, 91:1350-9, 2009.
  69. Limbrick DD, Narayan P, Powers AK, Johnston J, Ojemann JG, Park TS, Bertrand M, Smyth MD. Hemispherotomy: efficacy and analysis of seizure recurrence. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 4:323-332, 2009.
  70. Zhang D, Johnston JM, Fox MD, Leuthardt E, Grubb RL, Chicoine MR, Smyth MD, Snyder AZ, Raichle ME, Shimony JS. Preoperative sensorimotor mapping in brain tumor patients using spontaneous fluctuations in neuronal activity imaged with fMRI: Initial experience. In press, Neurosurgery, 2009.
  71. Lee A, Van Pelt A, Smyth MD, Pilgram TK, Govier DP, Woo A, Kane AA. Comparison of perceptions and treatment practices between neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons for infants with deformational plagiocephaly. Accepted with revisions, Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 2009.


Book Chapters:
  1. Peacock WJ and Smyth MD. Selective Doral Rhizotomy for Spasticity of the Peripheral Nervous System. Textbook of Neurological Surgery – Principles and Practice, HH Batjer, CM Loftus, TH Weinzerl (eds), Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 2002.
  2. Smyth MD and Peacock WJ. Spasticity. Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, Aminoff MJ and Daroff RB (eds), Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2003.
  3. Zakhary R, Smyth MD and Peacock WJ. Dorsal Rhizotomy for Spasticity, Handbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, M Schulder (ed) Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, Feb 2003.
  4. Horn BN and Smyth MD. Ependymoma. Pediatric CNS Tumors, Gupta N, Banerjee A, Haas-Kogan D (eds), Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, 2004.
  5. Ojemann SG, Smyth MD, and Peacock WJ. Functional Neurosurgery in the Child, Handbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Frim DM and Gupta N (eds), Landes Bioscience, Georgetown TX, 2006.
  6. Johnston JM, Smyth MD, McKinstry RC. Basics of Neuroimaging in Pediatric Epilepsy. Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Therapy, Third Edition, Pellock, Dodson, Bourgeois, Nordli, Sankar (eds), 2008.
  7. Shah MM, Smyth MD. Increased intracranial pressure. American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care, 5th edition. McInerny TK (ed). Chapter 352. American Academy of Pediatrics Department of Publications, 2008.
  8. Limbrick DD, Smyth MD. Vagal Nerve Stimulation. Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery: Preoperative Assessment and Surgical Treatment. Catalepe O, Jallo G (eds). Thieme Publishers, in press, 2009.
  9. Smyth MD, Marchac D, Renier D,: Syndromic Craniosynostosis: Open Surgery. Youman’s Textbook of Neurological Surgery, 6th edition. Winn HR (ed). Elsevier, in press, 2009.
  10. Smyth MD, Horn BN, Rubin J. Ependymoma. Pediatric CNS Tumors, second edition. Gupta N, Banerjee A, Haas-Kogan D (eds), Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg Germany, in press, 2009.
  11. Ojemann JG, Smyth MD, Schramm J. Mapping, Disconnection and Resective Surgery in Childhood Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Overview. Schmidek & Sweet. Operative Neurosurgical Techniques, 6th edition. In preparation.
  12. Johnston JM, Smyth MD. Corpus callosotomy. Anterior and Complete. Essential Techniques in Operative Neurosurgery. Jandial R, McCormick P, Black P (eds). In preparation.



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