CHOC Children's Researcher Detail - Michael G Muhonen, MD

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Michael G Muhonen, MD

Dr. Muhonen has staff privileges at CHOC in Orange

Location:
Orange, CA

Specialty:
Surgery, Neurological

Special Interests:
Hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brain tumors, Moyamoya disease, and vascular malformations of the brain

Research Focus:
Cerebral palsy, complicated hydrocephalus and traumatic head injury

Published Works:

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Office and Contact Information

West Coast Pediatric Neurosurgical Associates
1010 W La Veta Ave
#710
Orange, CA 92868
phone: (714) 835-2724
fax: (714) 835-2752
map & directions

Physician / Researcher Bio

Michael Muhonen M.D. is the Director of Neurosurgery and the Medical Director of the CHOC Neuroscience Institute. He joined CHOC in 1995 after being an assistant professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals for 3 years. He completed his residency at the same institution after attending medical school at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has published over 20 original manuscripts and book chapters, and has made over 100 national and international presentations on various pediatric neurosurgical topics. Dr. Muhonen’s clinical interests include hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brain tumors, Moyamoya disease, and vascular malformations of the brain.

Research

His research interests focus on cerebral palsy, complicated hydrocephalus and traumatic head injury. He served as primary investigator for the clinical trials of Medtronic's Strata Valve, a medical device used to treat hydrocephalus. He also led the CHOC research effort on the intrathecal baclofen pump for treatment of spasticity and dystonia of cerebral origin.

Among his current clinical research projects, Dr. Muhonen is studying the outcomes of hydrocephalus treated with different shunting devices. He is also currently studying cerebral injury in children who are victims of child abuse.

In addition to publishing in numerous journals, Dr. Muhonen has coauthored chapters in the texts Neurosurgical Aspects of Pregnancy for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Principles of Surgery for Lippinott-Raven, and Pediatric Neurosurgery, surgery of the developing nervous system for W.B. Saunders Company.

Board Certifications

Neurological Surgery

Honors and Awards

Dr. Muhonen has also been recognized as one of the “Best Doctors in Orange County, California, specialty of Neurological Surgery” as determined by Orange Coast Magazine in California and the Center for the Study of the Serviced in Washington D.C. for the

Why Come to CHOC
CHOC physicians, patients and their families talk about how CHOC provides expert pediatric care. Includes stories from our Heart, Neuroscience, Cancer and Critical Care programs. ...

What's Exciting About The New Operating Rooms: Dr. Muhonen
Dr. Michael Muhonen tells us why he is excited about the new operating rooms at CHOC. ...

People Make Greatness Happen
Change CHOC, Change the World Campaign Newsletter: Fall 2011
Dr. Mustafa Kabeer, a pediatric surgeon at CHOC Children’s, works eighty to eighty-five hours per week and performs nearly 600 operations a year. Dr. Michael Muhonen, CHOC’s director of Neurosurger...

Physicians Committed to “Change CHOC, Change the World”
Physician Connection: Summer 2010
How does a local pediatric facility become a sustainable, world-class children’s hospital? This process requires three key elements: a state-of-the-art facility, a significant endowment, and an affili...

Glass Slipper Guild Pledges $1 Million to Neuroscience Institute
Making a Mark: October 2007
In January, the CHOC Glass Slipper Guild pledged $1 million to create a research endowment for the CHOC Neuroscience Institute. So far, the guild has raised $260,000 toward their five-year goal....

CHOC, CHOC at Mission Install New Officers
Physician Connection: Spring 2007
Our success depends on the professional commitment and dedication of our medical staff. We truly appreciate the countless hours these individuals have given to ensure our hospitals provide the highe...

Brain Surgeon Unknowingly Plays Matchmaker
January 21, 2013
Two sophomores from Foothill High school, who both underwent brain surgery recently with the same doctor, went to the winter formal together....

Dr. Michael Muhonen to Appear on American Health Journal on Thursday, September 27th at 12:30 PM
September 10, 2012

CHOC Children's Gala, "Building Bigger Dreams," Lauds New Patient Care Tower
January 30, 2012
CHOC Children's held its fourth annual CHOC Cherishes Children gala on January 21st at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach....

More than 80 CHOC Children's Doctors Named "Physicians of Excellence"
January 03, 2012
More than 80 CHOC Children's physicians, including specialists and pediatricians, are named "Physicians of Excellence" by the Orange County Medical Association....

More than 60 CHOC Children’s Doctors Named “Physicians of Excellence”
January 04, 2011
More than 60 CHOC Children’s physicians, including specialists and pediatricians, are featured as "Physicians of Excellence" in the January 2011 issue of Orange Coast magazine. The "Physicians of Exc...

More than 50 CHOC Children's Doctors Named "Physicians of Excellence"
January 04, 2010
The Orange County Medical Association names more than 50 CHOC doctors "Physicians of Excellence."...

More News...

Dr. Muhonen
World-class neurosurgeon, Michael Muhonen,M.D., treats his patients and their parents like family. ...

Published Works

Mathews MS, Loudon WG, Muhonen MG, Sundine MJ. Vault reduction cranioplasty for extreme hydrocephalic macrocephaly. J Neurosurg. 2007 Oct;107(4 Suppl):332-7; discussion 330-1.

Westhout FD, Muhonen MG, Nwagwu CI. Early propofol infusion syndrome following cerebral angiographic embolization for giant aneurysm repair. Case report. J Neurosurg. 2007 Feb;106(2 Suppl):139-42.

Sundine MJ, Wirth GA, Brenner KA, Loudon WG, Muhonen MG, Greene CS, Rowen S, Sabzghagaei N. Cranial vault reduction cranioplasty in children with hydrocephalic macrocephaly. J Craniofac Surg. 2006 Jul;17(4):645-55.

Kestle, JRW, Walker ML, for the Strata investigators. A multicenter prospective cohort study of the Strata valve for the management of hydrocephalus in pediatric patients. J Neurosurg (Pediatrics 2) 102:141-145, 2005.

Muhonen, MG, et al. Giant Intracranial Teratoma and Lack of Cortical Development in a Fetus. J Neurosurg, 103(2):180-183, 2005.

Albright, AL, Awaad, Y, Muhonen, MG, et al. Performance and complications associated with the Synchromed 10-ml infusion pump for intrathecal baclofen administration in children. J Neurosurg (Pediatrics 1) 101:64-68, 2004.

Muhonen, MG. Seizures in the hydrocephalic patient. Life~Line 20(2), 3, 2000.

Muhonen MG, Greene C: Use of Gore-tex encircling ring grafts to prevent recurrent spinal cord and nerve root tethering. Child’s Nervous System 15(8):426, 1999

Muhonen MG, Menezes AH, Sawin PD, Weinstein SL: Scoliosis in pediatric Chiari malformations without myelodysplasia. J Neurosurg 70:69-77, 1992.

Muhonen MG. The Future of Pediatric Neurosurgery. California Pediatrician 15 (2): 37, 1999.

Muhonen MG, Robertson SC, Gerdes JS, Loftus CM. Effects of serotonin on cerebral circulation following middle cerebral artery occlusion. J Neurosurg 87:301-306, 1997.

Muhonen MG, Ooboshi H, Welsh MJ, Davidson BL, Heistad DD. Gene transfer after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke 28:822-829, 1997.

Robertson SC, Muhonen MG. Effects of serotonin (5-HT) and selective 5-HT receptor antagonists on regional cerebral blood flow after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Surgical Forum, 47:561-563, 1996.

Sawin PD, Muhonen MG, Menezes AH. Quantitative analysis of CSF spaces in infants with occipital positional molding. J Neurosurgery 85:428-434, 1996.

Sawin PS, Muhonen MG, Sato Y, Smith RJH. Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Temporal Bone Presenting as Hearing loss in a Child. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 33:275-84, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Heistad DH, Loftus CM. Effects of adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine on cerebral collateral vessels. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 15:1075-1081, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Piper JG, Menezes AH. Pathogenesis and treatment of growing skull fractures. Surgical Neurology, 43:367-73, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Piper JG, Moore SA, Menezes AH. Cervical epidural hematoma secondary to an extradural vascular malformation in an infant. Neurosurgery 36:585-588, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Gerdes JS, Martin DG, Loftus CM, Heistad DD: Effects of serotonin on normal and collateral-dependent cerebral blood flow. Stroke 26:168, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Mazzochi CA, Gerdes JS, Loftus CM: Responses of cerebral collateral vessels to inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium channels with glibenclamide. Circulation 90(4), October, 1994.

Piper JG, Muhonen MG, Sawin P, Menezes AH. Chiari malformation database report: Long-term follow-up review of surgical treatment modalities. J Neurosurg 80:383A, 1994.

Muhonen MG, Heistad DD, Faraci FM, Loftus CM. Augmentation of blood flow through cerebral collaterals by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 14(5):704-714, 1994.

Mayr NA, Yuh WTC, Muhonen MG, Fisher DJ, Nguyen D, Ehrhardt JC, Wen BC, Dornbos F, Hussey DH. Cost-effectiveness analysis of high-dose MR contrast studies in the evaluation of brain metastases. Am J Neuroradiol, 15:1053-1061, 1994.

Muhonen MG, Greene GM, Heistad DD, Loftus CM. Mechanism of redistribution of cerebral blood flow during hypercarbia and seizures. Am J Physiol 266: H2075-H2081, 1994.

Muhonen MG, Menezes AH, Sawin PD, Weinstein SL: Scoliosis in pediatric Chiari malformations without myelodysplasia. Hydrocephalus, 1993.

Muhonen MG, Godersky JC, VanGilder JC: Cerebral aneurysms associated with neurofibromatosis. Year Book of Neuroradiology, 39-42, 1993.

Mayr NA, Yuh WT, Muhonen MG, Koci TM, Tali ET, Nguyen HD, Bergman RA. Jinkins JR: Pituitary metastases: MR findings. J Comp Assist Tomogr 17(3):432-437, 1993.

Muhonen MG, Sawin PD, Loftus CM, Heistad DD: Pressure-flow relations in canine collateral-dependent cerebrum. Stroke 23:988-994, 1992.

Muhonen MG, Greene GM, Heistad DD, Loftus CM: Mechanism of cerebral vascular “steal” phenomenon during hypercarbia and seizures. Stroke 23:139, 1992.

Greene GM, Muhonen MG, Detwiler KN, Heistad DD, Loftus CM: Stem pressure at the origin of intracranial collateral vessels. Am J Physiol 262:HI294-HI297, 1992.

Yuh WT, Engelken JD, Muhonen MG, Mayr NA, Fisher DJ: High-dose gadolinium imaging in the evaluation of brain metastases. Am J Neuroradiol 13:335-345, 1992.

Muhonen MG, Godersky JC, VanGilder JC: Cerebral aneurysms associated with neurofibromatosis. Surg Neurol 36:470-475, 1991.

Muhonen MG, Menezes AH: Weaver syndrome and instability of the upper cervical spine. J Pediatr 116:596-599, 1989.

Muhonen MG, Showman J, Couch R: Nutrient absorption by Spirodelia Polyrrhiza. J Aq Plant Mgmt 21:107-109, 1983. Books or Chapters
Muhonen MG: Spasticity and the baclofen pump, in McLone, DG: Pediatric Neurosurgery, surgery of the developing nervous system. W.B. Saunders Company, 2000, pp 1066-1074.

Muhonen MG, Wellman B: Hydrocephalus and benign intracranial cysts, in Loftus CM and Grossman R (eds): Principles of Neurosurgery. Lippincott - Raven, 1999, pp 93-113.

Muhonen MG, Bakken H: Developmental neurosurgical disorders during pregnancy, in Loftus CM (ed). Neurosurgical Aspects of Pregnancy, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Park Ridge, IL, 1995.

Muhonen MG, Zunkeler B: Acute hydrocephalus, in Loftus CM (ed): Neurosurgical Emergencies: I, American Association of Neurosurgeons. Park Ridge, IL, 1994. pp 29-41. Loftus CM (ed).

Muhonen MG, Heistad DD, Loftus CM: Microcirculatory consequences of collateral circulation during arterial occlusion: implications for a penumbra, in Tomita M, (ed): Symposium on Microcirculatory Stasis in the Brain. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Holland, 1993, pp 241-248.

Menezes AH, Muhonen MG: Management of occipital-cervical instability, in Cooper PR (ed): Management of Posttraumatic Spinal Instability. American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Park Ridge. IL, 1990.