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Praxis für Neurochirurgie
Dr. Elmar Patz
Dr. Patz and Frau Kern at the surgery

We treat the following conditions

Please don't be put off – some diagnoses sound worse than
they are and they are often easy to treat.
We would be delighted to treat:   

diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system including surgery:

  • tumours affecting the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
  • vascular malformation of the brain and spinal cord
  • cerebral haemorrhage
  • craniocerebral trauma (concussion)
  • hydrocephalus ("water on the brain"), congenital or acquired
  • nerve compression syndrome, e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar compression syndrome (cubital tunnel syndrome)
  • injuries to the spine, especially involving the spinal cord
  • slipped discs or bony stenosis (narrowing) in the lumbar and cervical spine

 

 

 
 
Range of surgical procedures

We not only specialise in treatment but also in offering a wide range of surgical procedures.

Cervical spine:

Nerve compression syndrome (nerve root compression syndrome) due to a slipped disc or bony narrowing of the opening where the nerve exits (foraminal stenosis):

  • microsurgical removal/decompression mainly dorsally (from the back), less often ventrally (from the front)

Narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis) due to narrowing affecting bone and/or soft tissue:

  • microsurgical decompression and enlargement of spinal canal dorsally or ventrally
Lumbar spine:

Nerve compression syndrome (nerve root compression syndrome) due to a slipped disc in the lumbar spine region:

  • microsurgical removal dorsally
  • endoscopic removal ("keyhole surgery") using a transforaminal technique (i.e. via the opening where the nerve exits) under local anaesthetic


Bony narrowing in lumbar spinal canal (claudicatio spinalis):

  • microsurgical decompression and enlargement of spinal canal dorsally

 

Detailed view of operating microscope

Such procedures, which are all minimally invasive, are carried out using an operating microscope. The operating microscope highlights important structures such as the nerve roots, spinal cord and cerebral membrane of the brain (dura mater), giving the surgeon an optimum view at all times. This ensures that sensitive structures can be identified in time and protected from damage. Smaller incisions significantly reduce trauma to the soft tissue of the muscles and tendon attachments. Patients thus experience fewer postoperative problems and regain their mobility more quickly. The average length of hospitalisation is between three and five days.

Peripheral nerves

Nerve compression syndrome of median nerve in the hand (carpal tunnel syndrome) and the ulnar nerve in the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome), performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic:

  • decompression by releasing the constricting soft tissue structures (ligaments, tendons and muscles)
Pain therapy

Injecting the zygapophyseal joints (facet joints) with cortisone under X-ray guidance (facet block), performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic.

Facet denervation (coagulation of zygapophyseal joints / facet joints) with RF current under X-ray guidance, performed as an outpatient procedure.

IDET / intradiscal electrothermal therapy (coagulation of the ring of fibre around the disc) with fluoroscopic guidance, performed as an inpatient procedure under local anaesthetic.

Also see:
» Slipped disc in cervical or lumbar spine
» Bony narrowing of the spinal canal
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Praxis für Neurochirurgie · Dr. Elmar Patz · Boxgraben 95 · 52064 Aachen