Spinal Fusion: When Is It Recommended?
When your back or neck pain starts to limit how you move, work, or enjoy daily life, it can feel frustrating and worrying. What you may have once considered manageable can slowly become constant, restrictive, and exhausting. In some cases, these symptoms are caused by instability or damage within the spine. When this happens, spinal […]
How Common is Syringomyelia?
Syringomelia is a spinal condition that raises many questions. If you or a loved one are facing this diagnosis, you likely want to find out: how common is syringomyelia? Syringomyelia disease is considered an uncommon neurological condition. Population studies suggest a prevalence of 8 to 9 people per 100,000, although estimates vary between countries and […]
Trigeminal neuralgia: When is surgery needed?
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a painful condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain. It can cause sudden, severe facial pain that can be triggered by everyday activities such as brushing teeth, speaking, or exposure to wind. It’s a relatively rare condition, affecting only about 5 in 100,000 […]
Is it hydrocephalus? How fluid on the brain affects memory, walking and behaviour in adults
At 62, Janet started to forget names. Sometimes, she bumped into furniture. These were little things that were easy to dismiss at first. But over time, her walks to the local shops became slower and more uncertain, and even everyday conversations became challenging as she struggled to find the right words. Her family also noticed […]
Scoliosis in older adults: When is surgery needed?
In 2012, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery beneath a car park in Leicester – the remains of King Richard III. Historical descriptions of the king often mentioned ‘unequal shoulders’, and modern testing confirmed that he lived with a curved spine caused by a type of scoliosis. While Richard’s scoliosis likely began in adolescence, many […]
Gamma Knife surgery: a precision approach to treating brain tumours
Treating brain tumours using highly targeted, computer-guided radiation sounds like the ultimate in 21st-century medicine. But the idea dates back to the 1950s and the first Gamma Knife tools were developed in the 60s, 70s and 80s – almost a bygone era before the digital age of mobile phones and social media. What is Gamma […]
Trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm
Trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm are cranial nerve disorders caused by compression of the trigeminal and facial nerves as they emerge from the brainstem. Book an appointment What are cranial nerve syndromes? Cranial nerve syndromes occur when one or more of your 12 cranial nerves are affected by compression, inflammation or other abnormalities. Cranial nerves […]
What to expect during your neurosurgeon visit
If your GP has referred you to a neurosurgeon you may feel anxious or apprehensive. That’s completely understandable – most patients feel like this! We do our best to help you feel more at ease by explaining your condition, answering your questions and reassuring you about what’s involved in your treatment. Understanding what we do […]
Understanding the long-term side effects of craniotomy
Brain surgery is a big decision that’s never taken lightly. It’s done to diagnose or treat serious conditions that threaten your life or health. Any surgery involves risks such as bleeding, infection or a complication related to the procedure itself and/or to the anaesthesia. Craniotomy also involves those short-term risks but may also involve some […]
Intracranial aneurysm clipping: a closer look at the procedure and its benefits
Imagine a small balloon growing within the walls of your blood vessel in your brain. That’s what happens when an intracranial aneurysm forms. An unruptured aneurysm does not usually cause any symptoms unless it starts to leak. If that happens, you may experience headaches, double vision or eye pain. If the aneurysm bursts, it leads […]