Spinal surgery – spinal neurosurgery and robotics

Outpatient consultation

• During spinal consultations, our neurosurgery team provides patients with detailed, individual advice on all diseases of the spine and spinal cord.
• We promptly initiate all necessary steps for further clarification and provide patients with detailed information about the possible therapies.
• Our goal is to find the best and most suitable therapy with the lowest possible risk.
• We also always offer the option of obtaining a second opinion.

Non-surgical, conservative treatment

• Faceted joint treatments and nerve treatments (PRT), in collaboration with the Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology
• Multimodal and individual physical therapy concepts (inpatient/outpatient), in collaboration with the Central Physiotherapy Department at the UKA

Surgical treatment

• Microsurgical and minimally invasive/endoscopic surgery for herniated discs and narrowing of the nerve canal (spinal canal stenosis) in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine
• Microsurgical operations on tumours within the spinal cord membrane (e.g. meningioma), the spinal cord (e.g. ependymoma) and vascular processes with neurophysiological monitoring on all sections of the spine
• Replacement of diseased intervertebral discs with disc prostheses in the cervical spine
• CT-guided (AIRO©) implantations: dynamic, non-stiffening stabilisation of the lumbar spine
• Fusion surgery for instabilities and malalignments such as degenerative scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, myelopathy
• Fusion surgery for inflammation of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs (spondylitis and spondylodiscitis)
• Stabilisation of vertebral fractures in osteoporosis with bone cement (vertebroplasty) of the thoracic and lumbar spine
• Stabilisation and decompression surgery for rheumatism, fractures and injuries (vertebral fractures, vertebral dislocations)
• Pain-relieving stabilisation measures and fusion surgery for primary and secondary spinal tumours (metastases)
• Special forms of therapy for Arnold Chiari malformation, spinal cord malformations and syringomyelia

Since 2017, we have been performing our stabilisation and fusion operations using intraoperative CT (see AIRO©, Brainlab). This intraoperative computed tomography provides high-resolution images of the spine directly in the operating theatre during the procedure. Together with navigation software, a three-dimensional plan of the relevant area of the body is generated. With the help of imaging, we can carry out the necessary surgical steps according to plan and, for example, insert implants with very high precision. This new surgical technique helps to treat patients safely and gently, especially in complicated spinal procedures. Intraoperative imaging, directly in the operating theatre, allows complex operations to be performed more accurately and safely, and enables the surgeon to check the results during the operation and optimise them if necessary. This significantly reduces the need for stressful follow-up operations and considerably improves the quality of treatment and safety for patients.