Before the advent of this technology, surgeons would have to study two-dimensional diagnostic scans, such as X-rays, and then determine how those images corresponded to the patient's actual body. Image-guided surgery allows a surgeon to now look inside the body and see everything in precise, three-dimensional detail -- the lobe of a brain, the twisting passageways of nasal cavities, the structure of vertebrae in the spine. Image-guided surgery technology has revolutionized traditional surgical techniques by providing surgeons with a way to navigate through the body using three dimensional (3D) images as their guide. Furthermore, those images can be changed, manipulated and merged to provide a level of detail not seen before in the operating room. 

Surgeons are now able to create an exact, detailed plan for the surgery - where the best spot is to make the incision, the optimal path to the targeted area, and what critical structures must be avoided. The technology allows surgeons to view the human body - a dynamic, three dimensional structure itself- in real-time 3D. The technology creates images that allow surgeons to see the abnormality, such as a brain tumor, and distinguish it from surrounding healthy tissue. It also enables them to manipulate the 3D view in real-time during surgery. The constant flow of information helps surgeons make minute adjustments to ensure they are treating the exact areas they need to treat.

The technology aids in shortening operating times, decreasing the size of the patient's incision, reducing the procedure's invasiveness - all of which can lead to better patient outcomes and faster recoveries. Image-guided surgery also provides new alternatives for patients with multiple medical problems, patients who may not be able to tolerate large, invasive surgeries, and patients whose conditions in the past would have been considered inoperable. 

Long Island Neuroscience Specialists is a multi-disciplinary group of neurosurgeons and pain management interventionists. We treat patients with a wide range of neurologic disorders and chronic pain conditions. We believe in using state-of-the-art technology to improve patients' outcomes and strive to treat each individual with compassion and respect.

Our Specialties include:

Dr. Steven P. Leon received his Bachelors degree of Science in Biochemistry and Philosophy from Boston College in 1989 where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended Harvard Medical School and received his M.D. degree in 1994 with honors for research in the field of brain tumors. Dr. Leon spent additional time during medical school performing research as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow applying molecular genetic techniques to the study of pituitary tumors. After medical school, he went on to complete his residency in Neurological Surgery at the Harvard Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital/The Children’s Hospital in Boston, MA. During this time, he developed an interest in treatment of disorders of the spine and spinal chord. As a result, he completed an additional year of specialized fellowship training in Spinal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery under the guidance of Dr. Robert McLain and Dr. Edward Benzel.

Dr. Leon practices general neurosurgery with expertise in disorders of the spine and spinal cord requiring reconstructive surgery. Dr. Leon specializes in a broad spectrum of diseases affecting the spine throughout all of its regions (occipital, cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral). These conditions include spine and spinal cord tumors, fractures of the spine, spinal cord injury, infections of the spine (osteomyelitis), degenerative conditions of the spine (such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis), congenital disorders, inflammatory disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis), spinal instability and spinal deformity. He has expertise in spinal fusion and spinal  instrumentation for reconstruction of the spine. He has expertise in the treatment of vertebral fractures secondary to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma and certain types of metastatic cancer through the minimally invasive techniques of vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty. He also offers the minimally invasive IDET procedure for the treatment of diagnostic back pain. Dr. Leon evaluates and treats patients who have undergone previous spinal surgery that has failed. 

Dr. Leon has authored original publications and chapters for medical textbooks, as well as conducted numerous presentations at national meetings. His work appeared in journals of Spine, Cancer, Neurosurgery, and Journal of Neuroscience. The topics of his writings have included image-guided (stereotactic) applications to spinal surgery, cervical spine fusion, central nervous system regeneration, and brain tumor biology. 

MEDICAL EDUCATION
        Harvard Medical School
        Boston, MA (1994)

General Surgery Internship
        Brigham and Women’s Hospital
        Harvard Medical School
        Boston, MA (1995)

Neurosurgery Residency
        Brigham and Women’s Hospital
        The Children’s Hospital
        Harvard Medical School
        Boston, MA (2000)

FELLOWSHIP IN SPINAL SURGERY
        Cleveland Clinic Foundation
        Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery
        Cleveland, OH (2001)

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS
        
        Brookhaven Memorial Hospital
        St. Charles Hospital
        John T. Mather Memorial Hospital
        St. Catherine of Sienna Medical Center

Dr. Sathi obtained his B.S. Neuroscience with high distinction in research, summa cum laude, and was salutatorian of his graduating class at the University of Rochester (1985). He is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. 

He finished his M.D. at Harvard Medical School (1989) in Boston, MA and continued his interest in the neurosciences by training in neurosurgery.

He served as a general surgery intern and neurosurgery resident at the Harvard Medical School program, The Children’s Hospital, and the Brigham and Women’s in Boston, MA (1989-1995). He also supervised the cerebrovascular research laboratory involved in neuroprotection. After finishing his residency, he entered a skull base and cerebrovascular surgery fellowship under the tutelage of Dr. John Tew, Jr. at Mayfield Institute and the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (1995-1996).

He has published numerous original papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as presented at multiple national neurosurgical meetings. He continues to remain active in education of medical students, nurses, and physician assistant students and has received numerous honors for his research activities over the years.

Dr. Sathi has been in practice in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY for greater than ten years. He focuses on both complicated brain and spine surgery including minimal invasive approaches; he also has experience in gamma knife radiosurgery. He is chief of the division of neurosurgery at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center and John T. Mather Memorial Hospital. 

Dr. Sathi is the founding member of Long Island Neuroscience Specialists. The practice is a multi-disciplinary group of neuro-spine surgeons and interventional pain management anesthesiologist.

Medical School
        Harvard Medical School
        Boston, MA (1989)

Surgical Internship
        Brigham & Women’s Hospital
        Harvard Medical School
        Boston, MA (1995)

Cerebrovascular/Skull Base
        Mayfield  Neurological Institute
        University of Cincinnati
        Cincinnati, OH (1996)

Brookhaven Memorial Hospital 
        John T. Mather Memorial Hospital
        St. Charles Hospital
        St. Catherine’s Hospital
        South Nassau Communities Hospital

Visit the links below to learn more about the world of Neuroscience:

• AANS
• CNS
• American Brain Tumor Association
• National Cancer Institute
• PAIN.com
• WebMD - Pain Management