Our paediatric neurosurgery service carries out the second highest number of operations of any centre in the UK and Ireland. A large proportion of procedures are also performed on neonates because of our high incidence of congenital central nervous system anomalies such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus. This makes Temple Street one of Northern Europe’s most active neonatal neurosurgery services. In many instances; we can also offer antenatal diagnosis and counselling in a maternity hospital setting. There are regular neurosurgery foetal medicine clinics in Holles Street and the Coombe Hospital.
Spina bifida (Myelomeningocele) is one of the most frequent neurosurgical conditions we encounter. We have the highest incidence of this condition in Europe. These children require surgery for the spinal defect in the neonatal period and often require surgery for hydrocephalus.