Neurosurgery in Bahawalpur

The neurosurgery service covers surgical assessment and treatment of conditions affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nervous system. Patients are seen following referral for problems including spinal disc conditions, head injuries and other neurosurgical concerns.

About the neurosurgery department

Neurosurgery deals with conditions of the brain, spine and nerves that may need surgical assessment. Many people are referred for a neurosurgical opinion to understand whether an operation is necessary.

Not every condition seen by a neurosurgeon needs surgery. The first step is always a careful evaluation of the problem, and many patients are managed with non-surgical approaches.

Spine-related problems are among the most common reasons for neurosurgical referral. Conditions such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis can cause back pain, leg pain or weakness, and a neurosurgeon can advise whether surgery is likely to help or whether conservative management is the better option.

Common reasons patients seek care

Patients are commonly referred to neurosurgery for assessment of concerns that may include:

• Severe or persistent back pain that is not improving with usual treatment
• Neck pain with nerve symptoms such as arm pain, tingling or weakness
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• Weakness in a limb that may be related to a nerve or spinal condition
• Nerve compression symptoms, including sciatica (pain radiating down the leg)
• Head injuries, including concussion and more severe trauma
• Spine injuries
• Persistent headaches that need specialist assessment, particularly if there are associated neurological features
• Balance or coordination problems that may have a neurological cause
• Symptoms related to spinal disorders, such as difficulty walking or loss of bladder control
• Referral from another doctor for a neurosurgical opinion

Common conditions

The neurosurgery specialty commonly involves the assessment of conditions that may include:

• Herniated disc (slipped disc) in the lumbar or cervical spine
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Degenerative spine conditions, including spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
• Brain tumours requiring neurosurgical assessment
• Hydrocephalus (excess fluid in the brain)
• Head injuries, from mild concussion to more severe traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord conditions and spinal cord compression
• Nerve compression, including carpal tunnel syndrome where neurosurgical input is needed
• Spinal fractures
• Other conditions requiring neurosurgical evaluation

Treatments and procedures

Treatment options depend on your individual condition. Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor may discuss approaches that can include:

• Neurosurgical evaluation and assessment, including review of imaging
• Conservative management with medication, physiotherapy and monitoring
• Pain management strategies for spinal conditions
• Surgical treatment where the diagnosis calls for it
• Non-surgical advice when an operation is not required or not the best option
• Postoperative follow-up and rehabilitation referral

Procedures

Depending on the diagnosis, procedures in neurosurgery may include:

• Spine surgery, including approaches for disc herniation and spinal stenosis
• Lumbar and cervical decompression surgery to relieve pressure on nerves
• Discectomy (removal of herniated disc material)
• Spinal fusion where indicated for spinal instability
• Brain surgery for suitable conditions, depending on the diagnosis
• Trauma-related neurosurgery for head and spine injuries
• Shunt procedures for hydrocephalus
• Other established neurosurgical procedures depending on the condition

Diagnostic approaches

To reach a clear diagnosis, your doctor may use one or more of the following:

• MRI of the brain and spine for detailed assessment of neurological conditions
• CT scan for urgent assessment of head injuries and spinal fractures
• X-rays for spinal alignment and bony assessment
• Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) where nerve damage is suspected
• Clinical neurological examination, including assessment of power, sensation and reflexes

When to seek specialist care

Patients may seek assessment after a head or spine injury, for persistent back or neck problems with nerve symptoms such as arm or leg pain, numbness or weakness, or when another doctor recommends a neurosurgical opinion. Persistent headaches with neurological features, difficulty walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control should be assessed promptly. Depending on the diagnosis, imaging is usually reviewed as part of the assessment.

What patients can expect

The neurosurgeon reviews your symptoms and scans, explains the findings in plain language, and discusses whether surgery or another approach is appropriate. Many patients with spine conditions improve without surgery, and the neurosurgeon can advise on the likely outcome with and without an operation. The aim is a clear plan you understand.

Areas of neurosurgical assessment and care

Neurosurgery covers conditions of the brain, spine and nerves. The areas below describe the scope of neurosurgical assessment and care in general terms. Not every condition needs surgery, and the options depend on the individual diagnosis. Depending on the diagnosis, areas of care can include:

• Brain tumour assessment and surgery
• Spine conditions and spine surgery
• Stroke and neurovascular conditions
• Trauma and emergency neurosurgical care
• Peripheral nerve conditions
• Paediatric neurosurgical conditions
• Functional and epilepsy-related neurosurgery

Your neurosurgeon may recommend further assessment, imaging or a specific treatment based on your condition. Where an operation is not needed, non-surgical care may be advised instead.

When to seek urgent medical attention

Some neurological symptoms can be associated with serious conditions and should not be ignored. Seek urgent medical attention if you or someone else has:

• A sudden, severe headache that is unlike any headache before
• Weakness, numbness or drooping on one side of the face or body
• Sudden difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or with vision
• A head injury followed by drowsiness, repeated vomiting or confusion
• A seizure, particularly a first seizure
• Loss of bladder or bowel control together with back or leg weakness
• A level of alertness that is getting rapidly worse

In an emergency, seek medical help without delay rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Booking a consultation

You can request an appointment with the Neurosurgery team using the appointment form, or by calling the hospital on 0300 9687763. If you have previous imaging or reports, please bring them to your appointment.