Patients with brain tumor and spinal diseases will be able to consult a leading neurosurgeon from Turkey free of charge in Varna on 26 and 27 May. Prof. Dr. Zafer Orkun Toktash from Medical Park Göztepe Hospital will be visiting our maritime capital at the invitation of the Medical Karadži Health Information Center, as part of our initiative to provide Bulgarian patients with access to the most advanced methods in medicine by partnering with some of the best medical institutions and specialists from around the world.
Assoc. Zafer Orkun Toktash specialized in neurosurgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Marmara, where he also continued his PhD studies. In 2014, he participated in research activities in the field of spinal tumors at Harvard University. Together with Prof. Dr. Dennis Konya, they have patented as an invention adjustable implants that are used in spinal surgery. Assoc. Toktash has authored a number of scientific papers in the field of spinal disorders and is one of the leading authorities in our southern neighborhood on the treatment of disc herniations of the spine and cervical spine, spinal tumors, scoliosis and spinal deformities. He teaches at the Faculty of Medicine of Bahcesehir University and sees patients at the Medical Park Göztepe Hospital, where they have a Center of Excellence for the treatment of scoliosis.
Tumors of the brain and spinal cord
Assoc. Zafer Orkun Toktash has accumulated considerable experience and expertise in the treatment of brain tumors, and his arsenal includes all of the most advanced methods in this rapidly evolving medical field. Nowadays, neurosurgeons in high-tech hospitals work with techniques that allow minimizing errors during surgery to zero. With intraoperative scanning and navigation technologies, it is possible for the surgeon to track how much of the tumor he has cleaned during the surgery itself. One of the frequently applied new methods is the use of tomography and angiography in the operating room. Or, in short, in modern hospitals almost all radiological examinations can now also be applied in operating theatres. The method of monitoring the nervous system during surgery is also increasingly being used. This creates good prerequisites for preventing probable damage, including paralysis after brain surgery.
Significant progress is also being made in the development of radiotherapeutic methods. In many cases, thanks to the so-called stereotactic radiosurgery method, surgery is not resorted to, but radiation is delivered only to the tumour tissue. Or, as it is usually said, the tumour is 'burnt'. Using this method, certain types of spinal tumours can be destroyed or their growth stopped. In the case of multiple metastases (neck, back, sacrum), for example, if surgical intervention is not required, stereotactic radiotherapy is the most preferred method. Thanks to it, unwanted manifestations such as pain and paralysis can be avoided.
Spinal surgery and microsurgery
The development of new technologies in medicine has led to revolutionary advances in the field of spinal surgery in recent years. For example, neuromonitoring equipment makes it possible to avoid risky movements during surgery, and this increases the success rate of surgical interventions. Microscopic surgeries with a high degree of precision are used. For example, in discopathy, when surgical intervention is required, the affected area is accessed through a 1 - 1.5 cm skin incision, working with a special microscope for better visualization. The microsurgical method is applicable to both single and multiple affected vertebrae. With it, the patient recovers significantly faster and the scarring is minimal.
Now patients from Varna and the region can take advantage of the opportunity for a free consultation with Dr. Zafer Orkun Toktash, by making an appointment in advance on the phones of "Medical Karadži": 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402. They will have to provide on the spot all medical documents and imaging tests available to date.
