Matthew J. Pierson, MD FAANS

POSITION

Neurosurgeon

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

  • Benign and malignant brain tumor surgery
  • Skull base neurosurgery
  • Cerebrovascular neurosurgery including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and cerebrovascular bypass surgery
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Endoscopic Neurosurgery
  • Degenerative spine disease
  • Spine and spinal cord tumors
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Trauma surgery and neurocritical care

Dr. Pierson is a Kansas born native and received his medical school degree from the University of Kansas in 2012.

He completed his neurosurgical residency at Saint Louis University and also completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery at Saint Louis University.

Video Testimonials

News

Written Testimonials

Geriann Boyd

In August of 2019, 33 year-old Geriann began to have very severe sciatic nerve pain that was interfering with her everyday life. Normally an active person who enjoys going on walks with her dogs, Gracie and Murphy, Geriann could hardly get out of bed.

“I have always been healthy and active so this was something new to me. I had so much discomfort, and I had never felt anything quite like this before,” recalls Geriann.

Under the care of her Primary Care Physician (PCP), Geriann exhausted nearly every option to prevent surgery and relieve the pain, including muscle relaxers, pain medication, two different rounds of steroid injections and physical therapy. As a last resort, Geriann’s PCP ordered an MRI.

The MRI showed that a disc in Geriann’s lower back was pinching her sciatic nerve. Although she was still in pain, Geriann was relieved that finally she had an answer.

Geriann’s PCP referred her to an anesthesiologist who gave her epidural injections in her lower back. After receiving multiple epidural injections, she was feeling better, but was still experiencing pain.

Finally, her PCP referred her to neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Pierson who performed a minimally invasive discectomy at L5/S1.

“When I met Dr. Pierson, he was so sincere and kind. I felt cared for and like he really was interested in my story and helping me figure out a solution. Referring me to Dr. Pierson was the best thing my PCP ever did,” said Geriann, “I have never regretted my decision to have the procedure done and I never will. Not only is Dr. Pierson a wonderful human being, he also helped me get my life back, and for that, I will be forever grateful to him.”

Greg Mosier

In June 2020, 45 year-old Greg Mosier herniated a disc while enjoying one of his favorite hobbies – volleyball.

While playing, Greg developed pain radiating from the base of his neck down his right arm to his right hand. Three of his fingers were numb, tingling and weak. His right hand felt uncoordinated, and he recalls his grip strength being about half of what it normally is.

Greg consulted an orthopedic specialist who diagnosed him with a disc rupture. After completing physical therapy without significant improvement, he was referred to a neurosurgeon who recommended surgical fusion of his C7 and T1 vertebrae.

Before committing to a surgical fusion, Greg sought out a second opinion from neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Pierson who recommended disc replacement as an alternative to a surgical fusion.

“Dr. Pierson described how the replacement disc functioned and explained how it resulted in increased range of motion and significantly decreased recovery time compared to fusion,” said Greg, “This was exactly what I was looking for. Volleyball is a crucial stress outlet for me, and I selfishly wanted to miss as little as necessary.”

Greg scheduled the surgery for late October 2020. He stayed at Research Medical Center overnight and went home the next morning. He was even able to take his son to volleyball practice that same week. Greg returned to work as a KCMO police officer on light duty after just two weeks and was back to enjoying volleyball again in March 2021.

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

B.S., Kansas State University, 2004-2008
Manhattan, Kansas
Biology, Magna Cum Laude

M.D., University of Kansas School of Medicine
Kansas City, KS May 2008-2012

Internship in General Surgery, July 2012 to June 2013
Department of Surgery
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO

Resident in Neurological Surgery, July 2013 to June 2019
Department of Neurological Surgery
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO

Fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery
July 2019 – June 2020
Department of Neurologic Surgery
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO

MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS

Board Status
American Board of Neurological Surgery Written Examination –Passed 2016

Professional Society Membership
Resident Member of American Association of Neurological Surgeons – July 2013 to June 2019

Committee Memberships:
Saint Louis University Hospital Ethics Committee – Member, 2014 to present

Awards:
2016 Saint Louis University Hospital Caring Physician Award
2018 SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital “I am the Mission” recipient

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Pierson M, Birinyi PV, Bhimireddy S, Coppens JR. Analysis of Decompressive Craniectomies with Subsequent Cranioplasties in the Presence of Collagen Matrix Dural Substitute and Polytetrafluoroethylene as an Adhesion Preventative Material. World Neurosurg. 2016 Feb;86:153-60. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.09.078. Epub 2015 Dec 22. PubMed PMID: 26433096.

Marwaha N, Batanian JR, Coppens JR, Pierson MJ, Richards-Yutz J, Ebrahimzadeh J, Ganguly A, Guzman MA. Subcutaneous melanocytoma mimicking a lipoma: A rare presentation of a rare neoplasm with histological, immunohistochemical, cytogenetic and molecular characterization. J Cutan Pathol. 2016 Aug 30. doi: 10.1111/cup.12808. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27573466.

Abdulrauf SI, Ashour AM, Marvin E, Coppens J, Kang B, Hsieh TY, Nery B, Penanes JR, Alsahlawi AK, Moore S, Abou Al-Shaar H, Kemp J, Chawla K, Sujijantarat N, Najeeb A, Parkar N, Shetty V, Vafaie T, Antisdel J, Mikulec TA, Edgell R, Lebovitz J, Pierson M, Pires de Aguiar PH, Buchanan P, Di Cosola A, Stevens G. Proposed clinical internal carotid artery classification system. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine. 2016 Jul-Sep;7(3):161-70. doi: 10.4103/0974-8237.188412.

Pierson M, Marwaha N, Guzman M, Mikulec AA, Coppens JR. Multifocal melanocytoma of the posterior fossa and subcutaneous scalp in the absence of neurocutaneous melanosis. Surg Neurol Int. 2016 Sep 1;7(Suppl 23):S591-5. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.189728. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27656317; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5025953.

Pierson MJ, Elbabaa SK. Endoscope-Assisted Management of Syndromic and Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis Part I—Introduction and Pathophysiology. Contemporary Neurosurgery. 38(16):1-3, November 15, 2016.

Pierson MJ, Elbabaa SK. Endoscope-Assisted Management of Syndromic and Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis Part II—Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: Sagittal, Unilateral Coronal, Metopic, and Lambdoid Sutures. Contemporary Neurosurgery. 38(17): 1-5, November 30, 2016.

Pierson MJ, Elbabaa SK. Endoscope-Assisted Management of Syndromic and Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis Part III—Syndromic Craniosynostosis. Contemporary Neurosurgery. 38(18): 1-5, December 30, 2016.

Pierson MJ, Wehrmann D, Albers JA, El Tecle NE, Costa D, Elbabaa SK. Programmable shunt valve interactions with osseointegrated hearing devices. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2017 Feb 10:1-7. doi: 10.3171/2016.11.PEDS16501.

Elbabaa SK, Gildehaus AM, Pierson MJ, Albers JA, Vlastos EJ. First 60 fetal in-utero myelomeningocele repairs at Saint Louis Fetal Care Institute in the post-MOMS trial era: hydrocephalus treatment outcomes (endoscopic third ventriculostomy versus ventriculo-peritoneal shunt). Childs Nerv Syst. 2017 Jul;33(7):1157-1168. doi: 10.1007/s00381-017-3428-8. Epub 2017 May 3.

Yaltırık K, El Tecle NE, Pierson MJ, Puryear A, Atalay B, Elbabaa SK. Management of concomitant scoliosis and tethered cord syndrome in non-spina bifida pediatric population. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017 Jul 10. doi: 10.1007/s00381-017-3504-0. [Epub ahead of print]

Sujijantarat N, Pierson MJ, Kemp J, Coppens JR. Staged Trapping of Traumatic Basilar Trunk Pseudoaneurysm: Case Report and Review of Literature. World Neurosurg. 2017 Sep 1. pii: S1878-8750(17)31445-6. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.08.144. [Epub ahead of print]

Sujijantarat N, Tecle NE, Pierson M, Urquiaga JF, Quadri NF, Ashour AM, Khan MQ, Buchanan P, Kumar A, Feen E, Coppens J. Trans-Sulcal Endoport-Assisted Evacuation of Supratentorial Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Initial Single-Institution Experience Compared to Matched Medically Managed Patients and Effect on 30-day Mortality. Oper Neurosurg. 2017 Jul 22. doi: 10.1093/ons/opx161. [Epub ahead of print]

Abdulrauf SI, Urquiaga JF, Patel R, Albers JA, Sampat VB, Baumer M, Marvin E, Pierson M, Kragel R, Walsh J. Awake Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Concept and Initial Results. World Neurosurg. 2018 May;113:e309-e313. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.019. Epub 2018 Feb 13. PMID: 29452326

TEXTBOOKS & BOOK CHAPTERS

Birinyi PV, El Tecle N, Marvin E, Zamora C, Prayson R, Elbabaa SK, Pierson M, Huynh K. The Comprehensive Neurosurgery Board Preparation Book: Illustrated Questions and Answers. New York, NY: Thieme Publishing, 2016.

Pierson MJ, Elbabaa SK: Hydrocephalus and Myelomeningocele. In Cinalli G, Ozek M, Saint-Rose C (Eds): Pediatric Hydrocephalus (2nd Edition). Springer Publisher, 2019.

Pierson M, Edgell R, Elbabaa SK. Vein of Galen Malformation. In: Neurosurgery Case Review, 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Thieme Publishing. (in process)

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Pierson MJ, Gildehaus A, Buchanan PM, Vlastos EJ, Elbabaa SK. Microneurosurgical Placode Tulbularization on Reducing Spinal Cord Tethering and Inclusion Cysts Following 60 Fetal Myelomeningocele Repairs. AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery 46th Annual Meeting. Houston, TX, December 1, 2017.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Pierson MJ, Whermann D, Albers JA, El Tecle N, Costa DJ, Elbabaa SK. Programmable shunt valve interactions with osseointegrated hearing devices. AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery 45th Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, December 5-8, 2016.

INVITED LECTURER

Pierson M. Glasgow Coma Scale, Trauma Grand Rounds, August 6th, 2014. St. John’s Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.