Brain & Spine Procedures / Surgeries

Brain tumor surgery means an operation to take a sample (a biopsy) or to remove as much of a growth as can be done safely. The plan depends on the scan, the likely type of tumor, and how close it sits to areas that control speech, movement, or vision.

Some people are advised a stereotactic or image-guided biopsy rather than an open removal. Some are advised to see an oncologist for radiation or chemotherapy instead of, or after, surgery. You should leave the consultation knowing what is being proposed, the main risks in your case, and what the operation cannot do.

Open this topic

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses smaller incisions and tubular or endoscopic instruments for selected disc and stenosis problems. A smaller cut does not mean the procedure is minor, and it does not mean there is no discomfort afterwards. It is not the right route for every slip disc, every stenosis, or a spine that has slipped out of line.

Endoscopic spine surgery is one of these techniques. The surgeon chooses it when the disc fragment and the anatomy suit a small working channel. If the spine also needs to be stabilised, a fusion with implants may still be required. Ask which method is being suggested for your MRI, and why.

Open this topic

Fusion means encouraging two or more vertebrae to heal as one segment, usually with screws, rods, or a cage, plus bone graft. It is used when the spine is unstable, after some fractures, with some slips of one bone on another, or together with a decompression when removing bone would leave the segment too loose.

Implants hold the position while bone heals. They do not promise that back pain will disappear, and neighbouring levels can still wear over the years. Dr. Deepak Kumar trained in spinal implants in Germany. Whether you need a fusion is a specific decision, not an automatic addition to every disc operation.

Open this topic

DBS surgery is done for selected movement disorders, most often Parkinson's disease, and sometimes other tremor conditions after a specialist work-up. The operation is stereotactic: a frame or navigation system is used to reach a small target deep in the brain.

Expect a discussion of benefits that are possible, benefits that are unlikely, programming visits after surgery, future battery changes, and risks including bleeding, infection, and effects on speech or balance. DBS is not a cure.

Open this topic

Stereotactic surgery reaches a chosen point in the brain using coordinates, a frame or navigation, and a small opening. It is used for some biopsies, for selected deep targets, and as the method behind deep brain stimulation.

Dr. Deepak Kumar trained in stereotactic surgery and deep brain stimulation at Inomed, Germany. The technique does not, by itself, decide whether an operation is the right treatment.

Open this topic