All kind of neurosurgical operations can be performed at ACIBADEM Hospitals.
Skull base lesions constitute a group of tumoral and vascular lesions located at the base of the brain in a delicate and intricate anatomical region. Treatment of these lesions poses great difficulties for the doctors, as it is necessary to provide relief from tumor-associated problems, while simultaneously preserving and protecting normal anatomy and function. Hence, advanced surgical skills, proficiency and high-end techn
ology are required for the operation. At ACIBADEM Healthcare Group hospitals, all skull-base pathologies, -including tumors such as meningiomas, chordomas, schwannomas and skull-base vascular malformations like aneurysms and arteriorvenous and cavernous malformations are regularly performed. Innovative technologies such as the 3T intraoperative MRI and Gamma-knife radiosurgery available at ACIBADEM make these treatments safer than ever. Our neurosurgical department is one of the leading centers of the world, with members and leaderships in international organizations and participation in and organization of international meetings.
The ACIBADEM Healthcare Group Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery Department, performs all types of surgical interventions available in epilepsy surgery. Although the primary treatment of epilepsy is medical, patients do not respond to medication in about 20-30% of the cases. In such patients, an alternative is surgery. All three methods of epilepsy surgery (resective surgery, disconnection surgery, and vagal nerve stimulation) are performed with success at the ACIBADEM Healthcare Group.
1) Epilepsy is an entirely clinical diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis can be made following the hearing of a detailed history of the patient, or following the observation of a fit.
2) The EEG (electroansephalography), a brain MRI (magnetic resonance), a PET scan, SPECT, and neuropsychological evaluation are methods that help in the diagnosis of epilepsy.
1) Treatment with medication
The patient is started on medication immediately after a diagnosis of epilepsy has been made. The decision on the type of medication to be used is made taking into consideration the types of seizures, the category of the epilepsy, and EEG and MRI findings. The most frequently observed side effects are peeling of the skin, an increase in liver functions, and pressure on the spinal cord. Relatives of the patient are informed and cautioned about these side effects. Certain medication necessitates that the liver functions and blood counts of the patient be monitored in certain intervals. Although it varies with each patient, medication must be continued to be used for at least two years. At the end of this term, it may be discontinued under the doctor’s supervision.
2) Surgical treatment
Treatment through surgery may be possible for patients who do not response to treatment with medicine (epilepsy with endurance). Most of these patients have abnormal MRIs. These patients undergo methods such as focal resection (the excision of the area of concern), corpus callosotomy (the disconnection of the cerebral hemispheres), hemispherectomy (the disconnection of a single hemisphere of the brain with the other, in cases in which only side of the brain is damaged), and batteries (vagus nerve stimulation).
All kind of neurosurgical operations can be performed at ACIBADEM Hospitals.
In this center, patients undergo medical and surgical treatments of epilepsy. Divisions such as pediatric epileptology, pediatric neurology, pediatric brain surgery, pedagogy, neuroradiology, speech therapy, and physiotherapy work in together in collaboration in this center.
Monthly Spasticity Councils are held during which a multi-disciplinary team of pediatric and functional neurosurgeons, pediatric neurologists, orthopedists, speech therapists, and rehabilitation specialists evaluate and plan treatments for spastic children from throughout the country. Baclofen Pump Implantations, pallidotomies, thalamotomies, Deep Brain Stimulation implantations, and Selective Dorsal Rizotomies are performed on appropriate patients with promising results.
In each and every council, a high rate of guarantee of treatment by highly experienced physicians and superb medical infrastructure lead to the finest results with success rates that exceed international medical averages.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement and form linked to damage in the brain caused before or after birth, or during delivery.
Cerebral palsy portrays different characteristics and is divided into categories in accordance with the location of the damage in the brain.
1- The Spastic type
Spasticity is the increased tone of muscle in the arms and legs. This limits movement. It is divided into types based on the location of the spasticity in the body.
2- The Dyskinetic types
Spasticity surgery should be undertaken if rehabilitation fails to yield results, spasms make daily care difficult and cause pain upon the child.
Shortening of the muscles that prevent the growth of the child, or structural irregularities in the joints require orthopedic intervention.
Special education in cerebral palsy begins with the interventions upon the child in proportion with his/her physical insufficiency and training of the child on the usage of the supplementary equipment necessary. After independence in the usage of such equipment has been obtained, education is planned in accordance with the intellectual performance of the individual.
The patient is evaluated based upon his/her language development and speech particularities, determining the level and method of communication established. Goals of communication aiming to increase independence in daily life are identified, and therapy is provided. Nutritional therapy, including the support and education of the family is provided, based on an evaluation of chewing and swallowing skills. The selection and usage of alternative systems of communication and other therapy tools to enable or advance communication serve as a guide for the family.
The treatment of cerebral palsy is done by a multidisciplinary team. All members of the team must be present in the center in which the child with cerebral palsy is undergoing treatment. Periodic councils must be organized, in which all members of the team are present for a joint evaluation of the patient. The objective of such councils is for a simultaneous evaluation of the patient by all members of the team, and the formation of a treatment plan.
Treatment of cerebral palsy at ACIBADEM Hospitals is done by multidisciplinary councils. Such teams consist of child brain surgeons, orthopedists, child neurology specialists, radiologists, speech therapists, and personnel of the laboratory for the analysis of movement and walkingThe council is free of charge. Patients are reviewed for participation in the council.
What is an analysis of walk? It is the numerical measurement, identification, and evaluation of movements. A physical examination is not always enough in the identification of the joint or muscle from which arises the walking disorder. In an effort to remedy the walking disorder, the brain utilizes mechanisms of compensation, -thereby making more difficult the determination of the main area or muscles of disorder. Thus, walking analysis technology is needed for the numerical interpretation, recording, and re-evaluation of the problem, and for an objective measurement of the effectiveness of the therapy. The analysis of walk defines in clear terms the disorders in movement, with a high rate of accuracy.
It does not inflict pain or fatigue, and as such, is usually easily adapted by the patients.
There are three different types of analysis in the analysis for walking:
The walking analysis takes approximately one hour, and the evaluation result is presented to you in CD format.