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Neurosurgery covers the surgical and non-surgical management of conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Our clinic at Gleneagles Medical Centre assesses these conditions and treats them, with non-invasive options considered before open surgery.
The nervous system runs from the brain through the spinal cord to the nerves reaching every part of the body. Because a single symptom can originate anywhere along that path, neurosurgery is organised less by symptom than by where the problem sits.
Twelve pairs of cranial nerves emerge directly from the brain, carrying sensory and motor function for the head and neck. The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary function through its sympathetic and parasympathetic components. Conditions affecting these structures include migraine, seizures and stroke.
The spinal cord is a cylindrical bundle of nerve fibres running inside the vertebral column from the base of the brain to the lumbar region. It is the main conduit between brain and body, and processes reflexes independently. Dorsal nerve roots carry sensory information inward; ventral roots carry motor commands outward. Conditions affecting the spine include herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spinal cord injury, producing symptoms that range from pain to paralysis.
Beyond the brain and cord, the peripheral nerves connect the central nervous system to the limbs and organs. Compression, injury or disease along these nerves produces pain, numbness, weakness or, in the case of the sympathetic chain, excessive sweating.
Every condition below has its own page explaining symptoms, diagnosis and the treatment options available.
Surgery is not the starting point. Where it is needed, these are the techniques used here.
Non-invasive treatment is prioritised before open surgery is considered, with the aim of minimising morbidity and returning you to normal function quickly. In spinal conditions specifically, the preference is for motion preservation and for reversible treatments that can be repeated, rather than fusion.
Where surgery is necessary, minimally invasive and endoscopic “keyhole” microsurgery techniques generally mean less pain, minimal scarring, a faster recovery and a lower risk of chronic pain than open approaches.
Sudden severe headache, sudden weakness on one side, loss of speech or loss of consciousness are medical emergencies. Go to an emergency department or call 995 — do not wait for a clinic appointment.
Dr Tung treats disorders of the brain and spine, with particular focus on back pain, neck pain, nerve pain and headaches. He has been practising medicine since 1984 and specialising in neurosurgery since 1991.
No. You can book a consultation directly. If you have been referred by a GP or another specialist, bring the referral letter and any imaging with you.
Most people who consult a neurosurgeon do not end up having surgery. The consultation is to establish what is causing your symptoms and what the options are, and non-invasive treatment is considered first.
Yes. Bring any MRI, CT or X-ray images and reports, ideally on disc or via your imaging provider's portal rather than as photographs of a screen.
No — they are separate specialties. A neurologist diagnoses and manages nervous system conditions medically. A neurosurgeon is a surgeon who also manages many of the same conditions and can operate when that is needed. Our clinic's specialist is a neurosurgeon.
That is exactly what a first consultation is for. Both are assessed here, so you will not need to be referred elsewhere to find out.
