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Neurosurgery is the specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of diseases of the nervous system composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column, as well as the nerves that travel through all parts of the body. Modern day neurosurgery, however, is very different from what has been seen earlier. Among medical specialties, neurosurgery is by far, one of the most technically advanced. There is virtually no area of the brain where lesions cannot be approached with a high degree of safety and accuracy through modern techniques like image-guided surgery. The advent of techniques of minimally invasive surgery have contributed to a much shorter hospital stay and heightened patient comfort, while maximizing the efficacy of the procedure.
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The Department of Neurosurgery at AIMS is fully equipped to perform all types of surgeries
for a wide
range of illnesses. These include:
- Congenital diseases of the brain and spine and other illnesses affecting children
- Tumours of the brain, spine and spinal cord
- Vascular diseases such as aneurysms and vascular malformations
- Degenerative disc and other spinal diseases
- Instrumentation of the spine and the cranio-vertebral junction
- Diseases of the pituitary gland
- Stereotactic surgery
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Surgery for epilepsy and movement disorders
- Stroke and haemorrhage in the brain and spinal cord
- Surgery for injuries and tumors of the peripheral nerves
A large number of diseases previously considered untreatable or unsuitable for surgery are now being routinely managed with a high probability of success; these include diseases like epilepsy, which were earlier treated only with medicines. There have been several exciting advances in the treatment of malignant brain tumours, spinal cord injuries, stroke, chronic pain, and severe head trauma that have significantly improved the results of treatment. The department is well-supported by other clinical services including Radiology, Neurology, Oncology, Head and Neck surgery, Endocrinology and Pathology.
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Neurooncology and skull base
surgery |
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| Paediatric Neurosurgery |
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| Cerebrovascular surgery |
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Minimally invasive surgery-
Stereotactic, Endoscopic and
endoscope assisted surgery |
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| Spine surgery |
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| Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) |
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| Craniospinal trauma |
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| Craniofacial reconstructive surgery |
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| Peripheral nerve and plexus surgery |
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Services Offered
- Neuro-Oncology
- Paediatric neurosurgery
- Cerebrovascular surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery - Stereotactic, Endoscopic and endoscope-assisted surgery
- Spine surgery
- Skull base surgery
- Craniospinal trauma
- Craniofacial reconstructive surgery
- Peripheral nerve and plexus surgery
- Functional neurosurgery
- Neuro- Endocrine Surgery
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (X-Knife)
Disorders Treated
Brain tumors
The management of entire spectrum of brain tumors including benign and malignant tumors are routinely performed. This includes the most advanced techniques used to preserve functional integrity of the brain and spine including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), neuronavigation for image-guided surgery, awake surgery for brain tumours, intraoperative electrophysiology like sensory, motor-evoked potential monitoring and corticography. Ours is the only center in Kerala with a facility for stereotactic radiosurgery (aka Gamma Knife, X-Knife, or Cyberknife) that allows for 'bloodless' radiosurgery of many small tumors. Vascular disorders of the brain
AIMS has one of the few centers in Kerala equipped with all facilities to treat any abnormality of the blood vessels of the brain and spine. This includes aneurysms and vascular malformation of complex types. All cerebrovascular disorders are managed comprehensively with the best of microsurgery, endovascular coiling/embolization, and radiosurgery facilities.
Traumatic and other spinal disorders
Age related and other degenerative conditions of the spine like disc prolapse, spondylolisthesis, complex craniovertebral junction anomalies and other conditions of the vertebral column like traumatic spine fractures are routinely treated. The treatment options we offer range from routine microdiscectomies to artificial disc replacement surgeries of the lumbar and cervical spine. Spinal stabilization which includes various types of complex instrumentation at all spinal levels is routinely performed for a variety of conditions.
Spine tumors
Various spinal tumors including meningiomas, schwannomas, ependymomas, gliomas, etc. are treated using most advanced intra-operative monitoring modalities to give an optimal outcome and maximize functional recovery.
Congenital disorders
Disorders like congenital hydrocephalus, spina bifida and tethered cord are treated . Congenital craniofacial anomalies are managed in conjunction with the Departments of Maxillofacial Surgery and Plastic Surgery.
Brain and spine trauma
The neurosurgical trauma care attends to a wide range of brain and complex spine trauma which usually need emergent surgical treatment.
Facilities
The department is supported by state-of-the-art dedicated neurosurgical operation theaters equipped with:
- Carl Zeiss Operating Microscopes: OPMI Pentero and OPMI NC4 with digital recording and documentation facilities.
- Karl Storz Ventriculoscope and Transnasal Neuroendoscopy system
- Stryker 3-chip HD Endoscopic camera
- Midas Rex (Legend) and Anspach high speed pneumatic drill system
- Valley Lab Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical aspirator (CUSA)
- Siemens C-arm with facility for DSA
- Codman and Aescullap operating instruments
- Leksell Stereotactic frame
- KTP Laser
- Exeltek Protector electrophysiological monitoring
- Xomed Cranial nerve monitor
- The Brain Lab Vector Vision Image Guided surgery system is a recent addition
to the surgical armamentarium; the first of its kind in the state of Kerala.
- Transcranial Doppler Sonography
- Elekta LINAC-based X-Knife Radiosurgery Unit
- Exeltek Monitoring system for intracranial EEG monitoring and cortical mapping in epilepsy
A dedicated 10 bed Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, with ventilators and multichannel invasive monitors for all beds, provides comprehensive care for postoperative and acutely ill patients.
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Specialty OPD Schedules
The availability of all associated departments under a single roof makes the management of most malignancies easier for the patient and physician. There is a strong emphasis on multi-disciplinary approach to treat the patient, with tumor board meetings being held regularly to discuss the cases and decide the best management options for the patient.
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| Neurooncology and cerebrovascular surgery clinic |
Tuesday and Thursday |
| Hydrocephalus and spina bifida clinic |
Monday |
| Paediatric Neurosurgery Clinic |
Saturday |
| Low backache and degenerative spine clinic |
Wednesday |
| Spine tumor and trauma clinic |
Friday |
| Neuroendocrine clinic |
Monday |
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Specialty Clinics
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| Brachial plexus clinic |
Every Thursday |
Combined clinic with Neurology, Plastic surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The clinic sees patients with peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries and nerve entrapment syndromes. Offers comprehensive diagnosis, multidisciplinary management and rehabilitation.
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| Epilepsy clinic |
Every Tuesday |
Combined clinic with Neurology |
| Hydrocephalus clinic |
Once a month Saturday |
Combined clinic with Neurology, Physical Medicine and Radiology |
| Phakomatosis clinic |
Twice a month on alternate Tuesdays |
Combined clinic with Neurology, Plastic surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The clinic sees patients with phakomatosis syndromes including neurofibromatosis, von Hippel Lindau syndrome etc. Offers family screening, comprehensive management and counseling.
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| Neuroendocrine meet |
Last Thursday of every month |
Combined clinic with Endocrinology.
Discusses patients with pituitary tumours and other lesions affecting endocrine function. Offers comprehensive diagnosis and multidisciplinary management.
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| Neuroradiology meet |
Every Wednesday |
Combined clinic with Neurology and Radiology |
| Tumour Board |
Every Tuesday |
Combined clinic with Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology and Radiology.
Discusses tumour cases seen or operated in the past one week to plan further management. Offers comprehensive diagnosis and multidisciplinary management. |
| Clinical Pathological Correlation meet |
Every alternate Saturday |
Combined clinic with Pathology and Radiology |
| Craniofacial Clinic |
Every Thursday |
Combined clinic with Craniomaxillofacial Surgery
The clinic sees children with craniosynostosis, complex craniofacial deformities and craniofacial trauma. Offers comprehensive multidisciplinary management including counseling. |
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Our Doctors
Dr. Dilip Panikar, M.S., M.Ch.
Clinical Professor and Head
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Dr. Dilip Panikar's areas of expertise include neurooncology, skull base surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, craniofacial reconstructive surgery and functional neurosurgery. He runs the neuro-oncology and cerebrovascular services and leads the craniofacial and epilepsy clinics. |
Dr. Sajesh K. Menon, M.S. (Ortho), Dip NB (Ortho), M.Ch.
Clinical Professor
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Dr. Sajesh K. Menon practices spine surgery including degenerative disease, deformity, tumour, infection and trauma. He runs the spine services and lead the low back and degenerative spine clinics. |
Dr. A. Parasuraman, M.Ch.
Clinical Professor
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Dr. Parasuraman is the faculty in charge of neurosurgery resident training program. His fields of expertise are craniofacial surgery, skullbase and cerebrovascular surgeries. |
Dr. Shyam Sundar S., M.S., M.Ch.
Clinical Associate Professor
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Dr. Shyam Sundar's fields of specialization include skull base and cerebrovascular surgeries, endoscopic skull base surgery and pituitary tumours. He runs the neuro-endocrine clinic. His research focuses on local drug delivery systems for high grade gliomas. |
Dr. Ashok Pillai, M.D., DipNB (Neurosurgery)
Clinical Associate Professor
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Dr. Ashok Pillai brings his skills and expertise in the areas of functional neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, peripheral nerve surgeries, neurooncology and paediatric neurosurgery. He leads the brachial plexus and peripheral nerve clinic and phakomatosis clinic (Von Hippel Lindau, Neurofibromatosis 1, Neurofibromatosis 2, Tuberous Sclerosis). His current research focuses on molecular biological studies in phakomatoses and surgical management of refractory epilepsy. |
Dr. Suhas Udayakumaran, M.S., M.Ch., MRCSed, Fellowship in Paediatric Neurosurgery
Clinical Assistant Professor
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Dr. Suhas Udayakumaran is a paediatric neurosurgeon and leads the hydrocephalus clinic. |
Contact Us
Phone: 0484 - 2851309/4001309/4001316
Email: neurosurgery@aims.amrita.edu
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