A Specialist in Endovascular Neurosurgery
Dr. Alexander Drofa is an internationally recognized neurosurgeon and leader in cerebrovascular, endovascular and minimally invasive spine surgery at Sanford Health.
As Medical Director of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, he has pioneered advancements in stroke care, robotic spine surgery and artificial disc replacement, establishing one of the nation's top stroke and neurosurgical programs.
Dr. Drofa has earned global recognition for his expertise and surgical innovation, including his role in the historic separation of conjoined twins in Ghana, a groundbreaking surgery featured in international media.
Through his work with Sanford World Clinic, he has expanded access to neurosurgical care worldwide, improving stroke and brain surgery programs in underserved regions.
Diseases & Conditions Treated
Dr. Drofa specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex neurological, cerebrovascular and spine disorders, utilizing both minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.
Cerebrovascular & Vascular Disorders
- Brain Aneurysms – Ruptured and unruptured aneurysms treated with coiling, clipping, or endovascular embolization
- Stroke (Ischemic & Hemorrhagic) – Advanced stroke interventions, including thrombectomy, thrombolytic therapy, and carotid artery stenting
- Moyamoya Disease – Surgical revascularization for progressive cerebrovascular narrowing
- Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) – Microsurgical, endovascular, and radiosurgical treatments
- Carotid Artery Disease & Stenosis – Carotid endarterectomy, angioplasty, and stenting for stroke prevention
- Cerebral bypass surgery
- Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension) – Cerebral venous stenting and CSF shunting for relief of pressure-related symptoms
- Cerebral Venous Sinus Stenosis – Endovascular stenting to improve venous outflow and reduce intracranial pressure
Complex Minimally Invasive & Robotic Spine Surgery
- Herniated Discs & Spinal Stenosis – Robotic-assisted and minimally invasive decompression techniques
- Degenerative Disc Disease & Artificial Disc Replacement – Motion-preserving spinal surgery for long-term relief
- Complex Spinal Trauma – Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical reconstruction for severe spinal injuries
- Spinal Cord Vascular Lesions & AVMs – Endovascular and microsurgical treatments
- Spinal Vascular Malformations – Cutting-edge interventions for vascular abnormalities affecting the spinal cord
- Spinal Dural Fistulas – Embolization or surgical correction for spinal fluid leaks
- Spinal Fractures & Instability – Robotic-assisted spinal fusion and minimally invasive fixation techniques
- Complex Spinal Deformities & Scoliosis – Advanced robotic-guided correction for severe spinal misalignment
Cranial Nerve & Functional Neurosurgery
- Trigeminal Neuralgia – Microvascular decompression (MVD), Gamma Knife radiosurgery, and nerve ablation
- Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia & Hemifacial Spasm – Specialized MVD procedures for severe nerve compression disorders
- Skull Base Tumors & Brain Tumors – Multidisciplinary approach with minimally invasive and complex microsurgical techniques
- Brain Trauma & Hemorrhages – Emergency and elective surgical care for traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Hydrocephalus & CSF Disorders – Ventriculoperitoneal shunting and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for fluid buildup in the brain
Advanced Surgical & Minimally Invasive Treatments
- Endovascular Neurosurgery – Minimally invasive catheter-based treatments for vascular conditions
- Microsurgical Management of Cerebral Aneurysms & AVMs – Highly precise techniques for complex brain lesions
- Complex Minimally Invasive Robotic Spine Surgery – State-of-the-art spinal surgery for degenerative, traumatic, and vascular conditions
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery – Non-invasive treatment for tumors, AVMs and trigeminal neuralgia
- Carotid & Intracranial Angioplasty & Stenting – Restoring blood flow in blocked arteries to prevent stroke
- Thrombectomy & Stroke Interventions – Clot retrieval procedures for acute ischemic stroke
- Cerebral Venous Stenting – Minimally invasive stenting for venous sinus stenosis, reducing intracranial pressure in pseudotumor cerebri
- Preoperative Tumor Embolization – Minimizing blood loss and improving surgical outcomes
- Middle meningeal artery embolization
- Extra- to intracranial bypass surgery
- Vagal nerve stimulator placement for stroke rehabilitation (vivistim procedure)
Speaks: English