Best Neurosurgery and Neurology Clinics in Spain
Spain enjoys international prestige in the field of neurology. All known neurological diseases in adults and children are treated in the country: epilepsy, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, multiple sclerosis, degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, strokes, brain injuries, and others.
The success rate of epilepsy therapy in Spanish clinics is 95%. Moreover, in 70% of cases, doctors manage to relieve patients from seizures without surgery with the help of correctly prescribed drugs. In Spain, 30 types of antiepileptic drugs are registered for the treatment of epilepsy.
Also, thanks to the application of innovations, significant success is achieved in Spain and the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Doctors relieve patients from tremors and help regain control over movements, which significantly improves the quality of life of patients.
In addition, a distinctive feature of Spain is a favorable climate, which contributes to the recovery and improvement of the condition of patients. That is why Spain is considered an ideal country for the rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases. Successful treatment of diseases of the nervous system primarily depends on the correct diagnosis.
A disease detected in a timely manner responds better to treatment and is distinguished by its long-term results. Clinics in Spain have everything you need to make an accurate diagnosis in the shortest possible time - the latest generation equipment along with world-class neurologists and neurosurgeons.
Surgical treatment of neurological diseases is considered the most effective. Especially if it is carried out in neurosurgical centers in Spain. In 2015, Spanish doctors were among the first in the world of medicine to perform a neurosurgical operation, acting on the brain with ultrasound.
At the same time, the specialists did not open the cranium and did not use anesthesia. Also this year, surgery was performed to remove a brain tumor lasting 12 hours. During the operation, the patient was awake and even played the saxophone. Doctors of Spain were the second in history to perform such a complex neurosurgical operation.
Cost of neurology & neurosurgery procedures in Spain
The cost of treatment in the Spanish neurological departments differs for each patient, depending on the disease, the number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, medications, the need for hospitalization and rehabilitation, as well as other factors.
Procedures | Cost (starting from) |
Gamma knife radiosurgery | $17,000 |
Brain tumor surgery | $22,000 |
Brain MRI | $800 |
Deep brain stimulation | $51,000 |
Brain SPECT | $3000 |
craniotomy | $32000 |
Brain FDG PET | $2,000 |
Radiation therapy | $4,000 |
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Quironsalud Teknon Medical Center
Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Sant Joan de Déu Hospital
Hospital Quironsalud Torrevieja
Hospital Quironsalud Barcelona
Hospital Ruber Internacional
Procedure | Cost |
---|---|
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) | $ 43000 |
Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid
Quironsalud Valencia Hospital
Quironsalud Marbella Hospital
HM Madrid Hospital
Procedure | Cost |
---|---|
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) | $ 46000 |
Craniotomy | $ 35000 |
Benefits of neurosurgery in Spain
Clinics in Spain, in particular the University Hospital of Navarra and the Teknon Clinic, are equipped with the latest scanners for CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and PET (positron emission) diagnostics. These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify diseases of the nervous system at an early stage.
In brain cancer, MRI shows the neurosurgeon the exact size of the tumor, makes it possible to determine its cause, the rate of development, the presence of metastases from 2 mm and the degree of damage to the surrounding tissues. Also, MRI is used directly during the operation.
MRI with contrast agent illuminates the tumor borders, which makes neurosurgical operations in Spain safer and more successful. The surgeon brings endoscopic instruments directly to the neoplasm and does not injure healthy tissue.
Inoperable patients with pituitary adenoma, meningioma and trigeminal neuralgia are prescribed radiosurgery in Spanish clinics using the Cyberknife system, which irradiates the tumor from different angles. CyberKnife does not damage healthy organs due to the accuracy of directing the dose of radiation directly to the tumor.
Diagnostic procedures in Spain
Modern diagnostic methods used in clinics in Spain allow doctors to accurately determine the presence of pathology and establish the causes of its development. 30% of diagnoses made in domestic clinics are corrected after a second examination by Spanish specialists.
A comprehensive examination of the body in Spain lasts 2-3 days, in more complex cases, when it is necessary to study in detail the brain activity, determine the cause of seizures or trace the body's response to therapy, it takes more time. Diagnostic methods depend on the specific neurological disorder.
In Spain, in addition to standard procedures (neurological examination, blood and urine tests, etc.), doctors use the following informative technologies:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is the study of the electrical activity of the brain. In Spain, long-term encephalography using video monitoring is performed to diagnose epilepsy. The procedure lasts up to 4 days, at which time the patient takes various medications, and the doctor examines the reaction and brain activity.
- Neuroimaging is a detailed study of the functional areas of the brain, its structure, tissues, and blood vessels. For example, with the help of magnetic encephalography, Spanish doctors have the opportunity to detect an epileptic focus in the brain, and with the help of an MRI machine, they can examine the brain in detail, assess the degree of tissue damage, and determine the presence of other pathologies. Also, in clinics in Spain, patients with neurological diseases are examined using powerful CT and PET-CT machines, which allow studying the circulatory system of the brain and metabolically active pathological areas.
- Genetic research- In clinics in Spain, specialists conduct blood and saliva tests of patients to determine genetic mutations that can cause the development of neurological diseases.
Treatment procedures in Spain
In Spain, each patient with neurological disease is treated comprehensively, and several specialists are involved in the process, depending on the specifics of the pathology (neurologist, epileptologist, neurosurgeon, physiotherapist, rehabilitologist, and others).
It is known that many diseases of the central nervous system are difficult to treat. In this case, Spanish specialists are doing everything possible to stop the progression of the disease and alleviate the patient's condition.
- Drug therapy- All patients with epilepsy are treated according to the same scheme and 2-3 types of antiepileptic drugs are used. A wide range of medicines is available in Spain for the treatment of neurological pathologies. For example, 30 drugs are used to treat epilepsy, each for a specific type of seizure, 15 more are under development and testing. The drug and its dosage are selected using pharmacogenetic testing, as well as during long-term EEG monitoring with the introduction of microdoses of drugs. The analysis allows you to determine which drug is best for epileptic seizures.
- Surgery- If drug treatment does not bring the desired effect, doctors decide to perform a surgical operation. According to the American Foundation for Epilepsy, in 30% of cases, the disease does not respond to drug therapy. In this case, minimally invasive surgery is used in Spain. The operation is performed with special instruments through a small hole (up to 5 cm).The process is controlled using imaging equipment and neuronavigation, therefore the risk of damage to healthy tissues is minimum. Minimally invasive surgery takes less time to recover.
- Surgical resection- The method of removing the affected area of the brain responsible for seizures depends on its location - in the temporal, frontal, parietal, or occipital lobes. If it is impossible to safely remove the epileptogenic area, then Spanish neurosurgeons make multiple subpial dissections around the pathological zone. This prevents the seizures from spreading.
- Epilepsy treatment- In Spain, innovative methods are also used to treat patients with epilepsy, which give excellent results even in the most difficult cases. For example, a procedure is performed to stimulate the vagus nerve (an electronic device placed under the patient's skin generates electrical impulses that block seizures). This method leads to a decrease in the number of seizures in 72% of patients.
- Parkinson's treatment-For Parkinson's disease and epilepsy in Spain, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is performed. The effectiveness of the method can be up to 90%. This is a minimally invasive surgery in which electrodes are implanted in the brain tissue. As a result, the patients show the disappearance of tremors, normalization of movements, and sleep returns to normal
- Ultrasound scalpel- In addition to deep brain stimulation in clinics in Spain, Parkinson's disease is treated with the “ultrasound scalpel” (MRiFUS). This is a non-invasive method, the essence of which is the effect of ultrasound on pathological areas of the brain.
- Physiotherapy- Also in clinics in Spain, patients with various diseases of the nervous system are prescribed modern methods of physiotherapy, speech therapists, rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, and nutritionists work. For problems with the musculoskeletal system, patients are provided with special mechanical beds, wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and other assistive devices. In almost any clinic, it is possible to accommodate relatives in the same room as the patient.
After the completion of therapy, Spanish doctors keep in touch with patients remotely and, if necessary, adjust the treatment regimen.
Best Neurology & Neurosurgery Clinics & Specialists in Spain
For the treatment of neurological diseases, patients turn to the clinics of one of the largest medical groups in Europe - QuironSalud. This network consists of 125 high-profile and narrow-profile centers located in various cities in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Torrevieja, Marbella, etc.). More than 400,000 specialists work here, serving patients from all over the world. In the field of neurosurgery, the leading specialists of the QuironSalud network are Professor Antonio Russi and Dr. Bartolomé Oliver.
Professor of Epileptology and President of the International Congress on Epilepsy Antonio Russi is considered one of the best specialists in Europe. More than 30 years ago, he founded the Institute of Epileptology at the Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona, where he is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in adults and children. More than 95% of patients report significant improvement in their condition and cessation of seizures after treatment with Dr.Russi.
Also at the Teknon clinic is the president of the Catalan neurosurgeon community, the head of the neurosurgical department, Dr. Bartolomé Oliver. His experience is over 35 years. Every year the doctor performs 200 different operations on the brain, including minimally invasive ones, knows modern methods of treatment, for example, deep brain stimulation or the use of CyberKnife or Novalis radiosurgical units. During surgery, the doctor uses the latest Renishaw Neuromate robotic navigation system, which accurately determines the location of the pathology.