Conditions & Treatments

Although I am trained in various aspects of Brain and Spine surgery, there are certain conditions that are part and parcel of my everyday work and research interests within the NHS and this is where my expertise will remain. For conditions that I treat very occasionally, there are usually other colleagues who can provide you with a far better service and outcome – and I will not hesitate to recommend or refer you to them. This tenet of my practice holds true in both NHS and Private settings.

Areas of Expertise

The following are some of the more common conditions I can offer advice and treatment strategies. I will provide you with explanations and give you my impartial advice which will be bespoke. This generally means that my role will be in relaying to you all reasonable options along with risks and benefits. This will empower you to make a choice that best suits your circumstances. I do not give out blanket advice which, in my experience, can be
very counterproductive.

Degenerative Disorders Of The Lumbar Spine

Sciatica and lower back pain from disc prolapse or
ligamentous hypertrophy (these are common terms used to describe various structures that may be compromising the nerves supplying sensation and motor function to your lower limbs)

• Lumbar transforaminal nerve root injections
• Lumbar decompression
• Lumbar microdiscectomy

Surgery for Facial Pain and Cranial Nerve Hyperactive disorders

• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
• Geniculate Neuralgia
• Hemifacial Spasm

Procedures:
• Botulinum neurotoxin for Trigeminal Neuralgia and Trigeminal neuropathic pain
• Botulinum neurotoxin for hemifacial spasm
• Drug therapies
• Alcohol neurolysis
• Microvascular Decompression Surgery (MVD) for the above conditions

Degenerative disorders of the cervical spine

• Brachialgia (pains radiating from your neck/shoulder to your arm or fingers) from disc prolapse or foraminal stenosis

• Myelopathy (the inability to use your hands or legs due to loss of dexterity) from spinal cord compression in the neck

Procedures Performed
• Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
• Cervical foraminotomy
• Cervical laminectomy (and stabilisation if required)

Brain Tumors

• Malignant brain tumours
(glioblastoma, metastatic disease)
• Diffuse Low Grade Glioma
• Meningioma and other benign tumours
(not pituitary tumours)

Procedures/Technology
• GLIOLAN (5-ALA) or the ‘Pink Drink’ for malignant glioma surgery
• Awake surgery for both low and high grade tumours (and why it is important to remain awake for some of these tumours)
• Real time ultrasound and brain mapping

Spinal Cord Tumours

• Spinal meningiomas
• Intramedullary Spinal Cord tumours (astrocytoma, ependymoma)

Procedures/Monitoring
Intraoperative Neurophysiological monitoring of limb function under general anaesthesia (this is to keep your limbs as safe as possible whilst achieving maximum tumour reduction)

Disorders of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics

• Hydrocephalus from obstructive causes (most of this will have been dealt with as an emergency)
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
• Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)

Procedures
• Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
• Third Ventriculostomy

Disorders of theCranio-Cervical Junction

• Rheumatoid arthritis of the neck
• Chari Malformations

Procedures
• C1-C2 stabilisation and decompression
• Atlanto-Occipital stabilisation

Get In Touch

I will be very happy to respond to any queries you may have - especially if you are unsure whether my expertise is what you are looking for. I will also guide you to a more relevant person / specialty if this is the case.