Conditions & procedures
What is minimally invasive neurosurgery?
Smaller incisions, less muscle damage, faster recovery — where it applies. But smaller is not automatically better; the operation still has to fit the problem.
Minimally invasive neurosurgery covers techniques that achieve the same surgical goal through a smaller opening, with less disruption to healthy tissue.
On the spine, this includes tubular microdiscectomy, minimally invasive lumbar decompression, and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. Recovery is usually faster, blood loss is lower, and post-operative pain is less.
On the cranial side, endoscopic transnasal surgery for pituitary tumours goes through the nose without any external incision. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy treats hydrocephalus without inserting a shunt. Keyhole craniotomies use small openings for selected tumours.
The important honest caveat: minimally invasive is a tool, not a virtue. If a problem is best solved with a traditional open approach, doing it through a smaller hole for the sake of it makes surgery harder and outcomes worse. I will always recommend the approach that gives the best result for your specific case.
Important
This article is general information from Dr Ian Human's practice and is not a substitute for an in-person consultation. If any of it applies to you, please book a consultation so we can look at your specific situation.
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- Conditions & procedures
Do neurosurgeons remove brain tumours?
Yes — brain tumour surgery is one of the core areas of neurosurgical practice, and modern techniques make it far safer than most people fear.
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What conditions do neurosurgeons treat?
Neurosurgery covers the brain, spine and peripheral nerves — from ruptured discs to aneurysms, tumours and hydrocephalus.
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Can neurosurgeons treat spine problems?
Spinal surgery is roughly half of most neurosurgical practices — from microdiscectomy and decompression to fusion for instability and tumours.
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