The London Bridge Hospital has an international reputation for neurosurgery and the treatment of brain tumours.
For an appointment or for any further information on neurosurgery and brain tumour treatment, please call London Bridge Hospital on 0845 602 7906 or send an email.
Spinal procedures
Spinal procedures (excluding childhood and juvenile scoliosis) provided include cervical, thoracic and lumbar operations for degenerative, disc and neoplastic disorders. Where indicated the procedures will include fixation/fusion, with instrumentation. There is also a specialist interest in the management of patients with trigeminal neuralgia, including micro-vascular decompression via the posterior fossa route.
Sciatica and back pain
Neurological assessment, MRI scanning and treatment of sciatica and back pain. A holistic approach to management embracing physiotherapy, pain relief, and surgery where needed in the case of a slipped disc (microdiscectomy). In a microdiscectomy a small portion of the bone over the nerve and/or disc material from under the nerve is removed to relieve pressure. The pressure on the nerve root can cause severe leg pain, and while it may take months for the nerve root to fully heal and any numbness or weakness to get better, patients normally feel relief from leg pain almost immediately after a microdiscectomy.
Biopsy of Brain Tumour
The location of a tumour may make it unsuitable for removal, in which case a biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. A biopsy removes a small piece of the tumour so it may be examined under the microscope. Stereotactic biopsy is the safest and most accurate method by which to biopsy most brain tumours. Stereotactic frames are accurate to 1mm. The frame is applied to the patient's head while asleep and the tumour is located using either a CT or MRI scan. A 6mm hole is then made in the skull and a needle passed into the tumour to remove a piece for examination.
Debulking of Brain Tumour
If the tumour is in a relatively "silent" part of the brain or if it so large that it is causing symptoms of raised pressure and headaches, it may be debulked. The aim is to safely reduce the volume of the tumour. A craniotomy (removal of part of the skull) is performed under anaesthetic. The volume of tumour is reduced (debulked). Tumours spread in such a way that they cannot be cured by simply removing them. All patients ARE referred for an opinion to a neuro-oncologist for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Shunts for Hydrocephalus
Most patients with symptomatic hydrocephalus need a cerebral spinal fluid (csf) diversion procedure. The options are to divert the fluid from the head into another body cavity (abdomen or chest) or re-route the flow of fluid within the brain. In a shunt the diversion is performed by inserting a tube and a valve into the fluid chambers within the brain, and then running a further tube from the valve into the appropriate body cavity. This system is called a shunt, and is most commonly placed from the ventricle to the peritoneum (ventriculo-peritoneal shunt).
Endocsopic Third Ventriculostomy for Hydrocephalus
In some cases of hydrocephalus fluid can be re-routed within the brain. A new hole is made within the brain to bypass the obstruction in the brain. This is done using a "telescope". A 8mm hole is made in the skull around 6-8cm back from the level of the mid eyebrow and an endoscope placed through the brain into the fluid chambers. The scope is then guided into the third ventricle and a hole (6mm) punched into the floor of the third ventricle. This allows brain fluid to escape out of the brain cavities thus relieving hydrocephalus.
