Neurological Surgery is a discipline of medicine and that specialty of surgery which provides the operative and nonoperative management (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation) of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting structures and vascular supply; the evaluation and treatment of pathological processes that modify the function or activity of the nervous system, including the hypophysis: and the operative and non-operative management of pain. As such, neurological surgery encompasses the surgical, non-surgical and stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the nervous system: disorders of the brain, meninges, skull base, and their blood supply, including the surgical and endovascular treatment of disorders of the intracranial and extracranial vasculature supplying the brain and spinal cord; disorders of the pituitary gland; disorders of the spinal cord, meninges, and vertebral column, including those that may require treatment by heat fixation, instrumentation, or endovascular techniques; and disorders of the cranial and spinal nerves throughout their distribution.

The Department of Neurosurgery at St.Philomena’s Hospital is a relatively recent undertaking, headed by a senior Neurosurgeon, Dr. D.V.Rajakumar. Although still in its infancy, the department boasts of a complete Neurosurgical setup, from Macro to Micro- Neurosurgery and Neuro-endoscopy. It is capable of managing the entire spectrum of Neurological surgeries, elective as well as emergencies.

Surgical procedures range from Brain tumour surgeries and Neurovascular surgeries for aneurysms, Vascular malformations (AVMs) and Carotid artery stenosis. Pediatric Neurosurgical procedures are also performed for Hydrocephalus, Myelomeningoceles and Craniosynostoses. In addition, spine surgeries are performed, from disc prolapse excisions, spinal tumours, Tuberculosis of the spine and complex spinal fusions. Surgeries for peripheral nerve disorders and functional neurological disorders are also performed at the Department.

The Department is also geared up for all types of Neurological emergencies, with a junior Neurosurgeon available onsite around the clock. The emergency neurosurgery services extend to head and spine injuries, Hypertensive intracerebral hematomas, Strokes and Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.