BRAIN PROCEDURES
A brain tumour is an abnormal growth of cells in the brain. They can be arising directly from the brain cells. These are called primary brain tumours. Sometimes, cancer spreads to the brain from other parts of the body. These are called secondary brain tumours, also called metastatic brain tumours. Brain tumours are sometimes treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
To remove a brain tumour, a neurosurgeon makes an opening in the skull (craniotomy). Whenever possible, the neurosurgeon will attempt to remove the entire tumour.
Arnold Chiari malformation, in which the brain tissue protrudes into the spinal canal at the back of the skull. The condition may be present at birth or may develop later in life. Chiari decompression is a surgical treatment of choice it involves removal of the bone at the back of the skull to widen the foramen magnum and create space for the brain.
VP shunting is a surgical procedure that primarily treats a condition called hydrocephalus. This condition occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) does not drain out of the hollow spaces inside the brain (called ventricles). Neurosurgeon surgically place VP shunts inside one of the brain’s ventricles to divert fluid away from the brain and restore normal flow and absorption of CSF.
SPINAL PROCEDURES
Cervical Discs
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a surgery to remove a herniated or degenerative disc in the neck. A graft (Cage) is inserted to fuse together the bones above and below the disc metal plate may be placed to secure the bones as they heal.
Cervical spine refers to the neck area of the spine. It consists of bones with a covering called the lamina, which encloses the spinal canal. Cervical laminectomy involves removing the lamina from a neck bone to expose the spinal canal. Lateral mass screw fixation is a common surgery used for posterior fusion in the cervical spine.
Fusion C1-C2 vertebrae. This surgery is performed at the back of the neck (cervical spine). The vertebra is fixed together with screws and roads. This surgery provides a high level of stability to the damaged vertebrae.
Occipito-cervical fusion (OCF) stabilizes the junction between the occipital bone (head) and the cervical spine (neck). Fixation devices such as screws, road and/or bone grafts may be utilised in the portion of the spine to be fused.
Lumbar Discs
Lumbar decompression surgery is a type of surgery used to treat compressed nerves in the lower spine. The surgery aims to improve symptoms such as persistent pain and numbness in the legs caused by pressure on the nerves in the spine. It’s only recommended when non-surgical treatments haven’t helped. This could include removal part of the bone that covers the spinal canal from a bone in the back, ligamentum flavum thickening and hypertrophic facet joint.
A Microdiscectomy is generally considered the gold standard for removing the herniated portion of a disc that is pressing on a nerve. The success rate is 90-95 percent.
Recurrent lumbar disc herniation is a complication that could occur after microdiscectomy. The rate of recurrence of lumbar disc herniation after surgery is between 5 to 10 percent. a pure microsurgical redo-discectomy delivers satisfactory clinical results in a high percentage of patients
Spinal tumours is an abnormal mass of tissue within or surrounding the spinal cord or arising from the spinal column. The cells grow and multiply, spinal tumours can be Benign (non-cancerous) or Malignant (cancerous). Primary tumours can originate from the spinal column or spinal cord, or they can be secondary tumours resulting from cancer spreading from another site.
Fusion Procedures
ALIF is an approach to the lumbar spinal in which the neurosurgeon accesses the lumbar spine from the front (anterior) of the patient’s body rather than from the back. This is usually accomplished through a lower abdominal small incision. The disc is then removed and pressure on the nerves can be relieved. A cage is then placed in the space where the disc was located.
TLIF is an approach to the lumbar spinal in which the neurosurgeon accesses the lumbar spine from the back of the lower spine through the intervertebral foramen. The intervertebral foramen is the opening between the bones of the spine, called vertebrae, through which nerves leave the spinal cord and enter other parts of the body. The two spinal vertebrae are joined by removing a portion of the spinal disc between them and placing a cage, supplemented by screws and rods.
XLIF approach to the lumbar spinal in which the neurosurgeon accesses the lumbar spine from the side of the body. The disc is then removed and pressure on the nerves can be relieved. A cage is then placed in the space where the disc was located.
Thoracic Discs
This involves approaching the spine through the chest cavity (instead of through the back). Thoracic herniated disc surgery is reserved for cases of progressive lower extremity weakness (myelopathy).
Keyhole, Endoscopic & Robotic Spinal Surgery
Keyhole or minimal access surgery to the spine is an advanced and less invasive procedure compared to open surgery (conventional). It offers numerous advantages, including reduced patient discomfort and the need for pain relief medications. Patients can regain mobility earlier and return to their normal activities within a week. This approach minimises muscle damage, decreases bleeding, lowers the risk of wound infections, and reduces the formation of scar tissue. Additionally, it has a decreased likelihood of failed back surgeries, leading to increased patient satisfaction and shorter hospital stays.
BENEFIT OF KEYHOLE SURGERY
We recommend keyhole surgery for Microdiscectomy or Lumbar Decompression procedures
Robotic spine surgery describes the use of robotic technology to assist with guidance during spinal neurosurgery.
Robots can improve the accuracy of procedures, such as those involving planning and the placement of rods or screws, the ability to decrease radiation exposure during spine surgery, a shorter operative time, reduced damage to muscle tissue, due to the small incisions and the way muscles are separated instead of torn through, there is significantly less blood loss when it comes to robotic spine surgery.
