Discs are strong, elastic, jelly like structures, placed between the adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies (individual bone of spinal column) and are contained by a strong cover around it.
This structure is mainly responsible for weight transmission and bears the shocks of bending, jumping and routine other biomechanics forces that the spinal column is subjected in our daily activities.
Over a period of time,the elastic properties of the disc reduce s and they start hardening and develop cracks in it (Fissuring) —like an agricultural field cracks when it is dry.
When some sudden unexpected force is applied on the spine like unguarded sudden awkward bending, this hard fissured disc material, tears the capsule cover and herniates outside its confinement like a toothpaste coming out of its can and irritates the nerve roots and spinal cord behind to produce typical root pain and radicular pain or sciatica. Depending on the extent of herniation, symptoms may be just a simple back pain, radiating pain along the lower limbs and upper limbs, along the particular nerve root affected. In case of large and severe herniation, focal neurological deficit like weakness of muscle or a movement or numbness.
The well-established epilepsy surgery programme at our Hospital comprises a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals who specialise in investigation and treatment of epilepsy.
Inpatient referrals are accepted from any neuroscience ward within Salford Royal Hospital and from any health professional involved in the care of the patient.
Spinal instrumentation utilizes surgical procedures to implant titanium, titanium-alloy, stainless steel, or non-metallic devices into the spine. Instrumentation provides a permanent solution to spinal instability. Medical implants are specially designed and come in many shapes and sizes. Typically these include rods, hooks, braided cable, plates, screws, and interbody cages. Cages are simply structures that support bones (either between bones or in place of them) while new bone growth occurs through and around them.
Spinal fusion is a process using bone graft to cause two opposing bony surfaces to grow together. In medical terminology, this is called arthrodesis. Bone graft can be taken from the patient (termed autologous or allograft bone) during the primary surgical procedure or harvested from other individuals (termed allograft bone). Another option for some patients undergoing lumbar (low back) spine surgery is bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). BMP stimulates new bone to grow.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery is a type of state-of-the-art surgery that uses small tubular system or micro incisions, assisted with an endoscope for visualization. This type of Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) provides patients with quicker recovery and less pain than traditional spine surgery.
Microsurgery may be used to remove a tumor or tangle of blood vessels in the spinal cord, a procedure called microsurgical spinal cord tumor resection. It may be used to remove part of a damaged disc, as in a cervical microdiscectomy or a lumbar microdiscectomy.
A traumatic spinal cord injury may happen because of a sudden blow or cut to the spine.
A spinal cord injury often causes permanent loss of strength, sensation and function below the site of the injury.
Rehabilitation and assistive devices allow many people with spinal cord injuries to lead productive, independent lives. Treatments include drugs to reduce symptoms and surgery to stabilise the spine.
Also called swayback, the spine of a person with lordosis curves significantly inward at the lower back. Kyphosis.Kyphosis is characterized by an abnormally rounded upper back (more than 50 degrees of curvature).Scoliosis.
The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) comprises the occiput, atlas, and axis and is visible in most magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the brain. Craniometric measurements used in radiologic assessment of CVJ anomalies include the Chamberlain line, Wackenheim clivus baseline, Welcher basal angle, and atlantooccipital joint axis angle.
Vascular malformation is a general term that includes congenital vascular anomalies of only veins, only lymph vessels, both veins and lymph vessels, or both arteries and veins. Only veins: venous malformation (VM) Only lymph vessels: lymphatic malformations(LM)
M.Ch (Neurosurgery)
Chief and Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon
M.Ch (Neurosurgery)
Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon
MS;M.Ch(Neurosurgery)
Consultant Neurosurgeon