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Christopher Chandler has been a Consultant Adult and Paediatric Neurosurgeon since 1997. He has a BSc in Physiology and obtained his medical degree from the University of London (Westminster Medical School) in 1986. His neurosurgical training was in London (Atkinson Morley Hospital, King's College Hospital), Bristol (Frenchay Hospital) and Nottingham (Queens Medical Centre). He undertook Fellowships in Epilepsy Surgery (King's College Hospital) and Paediatric Neurosurgery (Nottingham).

In addition to his expertise in degenerative spine disease which includes the management of back and neck pain, arm pain and sciatica together with peripheral nerve disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome; his main interests are in all aspects of paediatric neurosurgery. This includes the management of brain and spinal cord tumours in all age groups, metastatic brain tumours, epilepsy surgery and hydrocephalus. He leads the Paediatric and Adolescent (teenage and young adult) Neurosurgical Service at King's College Hospital. He also is one of the designated neurosurgeons to the regional Adult Brain and Spinal Cord Tumour Service, which covers South East London, Kent and East Sussex and is the largest brain tumour service in the UK.

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joined 11 years, 5 months ago

The London Neurosurgery Partnership is a unique concept in the provision of neurosurgical care. The team comprises eleven Consultant Neurosurgeons, all of whom are recognised superspecialists in their given area of expertise. As a result we can ensure that every patient seen by the group is matched with the Consultant Neurosurgeon best placed by virtue of their training and expertise to deliver the individualised and state of the art care each patient deserves.

Working as a team also ensures that our patients can access high quality neurosurgical care at all times from a consultant who will be familiar with their treatment plan at a location convenient to the patient. When appropriate, advice and treatment can be delivered by the composite team.

The London Neurosurgery Partnership has access to all of the latest neurosurgical technologies including the CyberKnife® and Gamma Knife® for radiosurgery which avoids the use of conventional open surgery in some cases and Minimally Invasive Techniques for both Cranial and Spinal neurosurgery when this is not possible. A key aspect of making use of such cutting edge technologies is the decision making process involved and this, in our opinion, is best done by a group of clinicians who are used to working together as a team to ensure that the latest technology and techniques are used appropriately based on the latest clinical guidelines.


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This is neurosurgery in children, and requires dedicated paediatric neurosurgeons with experience of operating on the developing nervous system working in close collaboration with paediatricians to achieve the best outcome for each child.  The London Neurosurgery Partnership has assembled just such a group.

Although brain tumours are rare in childhood, they are now the commonest solid cancer seen in children in the UK. There are 300 new cases in the UK every year and thanks to ongoing research, advances in both survival and quality of life continue.

 

Symptoms of Tumours
Tumours can present with a variety of symptoms, partly depending on the child’s age.  These symptoms include headaches, usually early morning, nausea and vomiting, fits or seizures, focal neurological deficit (weakness of limb or numbness), balance problems, increasing head size (babies from 0-18 mths), failure to put on weight and regression of milestones.
 
Investigation
If there is any question of a neurological problem in a child then a CT or MRI scan is mandatory. For babies the scan can be done under oral sedation. Beyond six months children will need a general anaesthetic (GA) for a scan and from 6-12 years old one may be able to MRI the child without any sedation or GA.
 
Treatment
Following admission to a neurosurgical unit all children must have a brain and spine MRI and blood should be sent for tumour markers. Steroids may be commenced to reduce swelling around the tumour and any hydrocephalus treated (by shunt or ventriculostomy or removal of tumour).All cases should be discussed with an oncologist and a plan should be made for excision or biopsy of the tumour.  Occasionally some tumours may be treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy as a first line.

 

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