Neurosurgery In Uganda

Neurosurgery is the surgical treatment of the nervous system, including the brain, peripheral nervous system, and spinal cord. The hospitals performing neurosurgery have special departments treating patients using top-class neurosurgery equipment and technologies. Neurosurgeons treating patients in Uganda have many years of experience and have been trained by the top hospitals of foreign. Compared to other countries, the Neurosurgery cost in Uganda is very affordable. The services of Ugandan hospitals are world-class, and the surgeons specialize in treating patients with nervous system diseases.

Who is a Neurosurgeon?

The brain, spinal cord, spine, and peripheral nerves all belong to the nervous system, which is treated by a medical specialist known as a neurosurgeon. Patients of all ages receive non-operative and surgical care from neurosurgeons.

History of Neurosurgery in Uganda

Neurosurgery was introduced in Uganda after the 1960s; before that, there was no neurosurgeon present in Uganda. Patients needed to travel to foreign countries and get treatment at high prices. Dr. Jovan Kiryabwire was the first surgeon to initiate Neurosurgery by setting up a neurosurgery unit at Mulago Hospital in Kampala. Then patients suffering from various brain and nervous illnesses need not go to another country; now, Mulago Hospital in Kampala has a neurosurgeon performing the best procedure and treatment.

There are many hospitals in Uganda now performing neurosurgeries; few hospitals are in partnering with Indian hospitals to provide training to the surgeons of Ugandan Hospital. However, because of the movement, hospitals in Uganda serve patients with brain illness and make a strong team of neurosurgeons providing a high success rate. Moreover, when the patients are getting treatment at Ugandan hospitals, they need not travel to other countries; the cost of neurosurgery in Uganda is reduced, which is an excellent benefit for Ugandans.

Neurosurgery cost In Uganda

Cost of  Top Neurosurgeries in Uganda

Craniotomy:

The temporary removal of a small chunk of the skull bone is known as a craniotomy. To gain access to the brain and treat any number of conditions, a neurosurgeon may perform a craniotomy. The replacement of the skull bone follows whatever procedure is required. The cost of craniotomy in Uganda is around $7230. Some patients who undergo a craniotomy can leave the hospital the following day. Other patients will require a more extended stay. After surgery, stitches or staples are typically removed 10 to 14 days later.

Hydrocephalus

A chronic neurological condition called hydrocephalus is brought on by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, which puts pressure on the brain. The cost of Hydrocephalus in Uganda is $5,970. The reported success rate for the procedure can be as high as 80%, according to reports, if the cause of the hydrocephalus is known.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

The shoulder, arm, and hand can move and feel thanks to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves. While the nerves that support the hand and fingers exit the spinal column lower in the neck, those that support the arm leave the spinal column high up. One of the most challenging and debilitating injuries is abrasion of the brachial plexus. Neurosurgeons can successfully help these patients regain their motor function thanks to improvements in microsurgical procedures. The average Brachial Plexus Injuries cost in Uganda is around $6600.

Brain Tumor Surgery

The critical aspect of performing brain tumor surgery is to remove as much possible of the tumor without seriously injuring healthy brain tissue. This requires knowledge, expertise, cutting-edge equipment, and a well-coordinated team. The cost of brain tumor surgery in Uganda is around $6750. Depending on the cancer stage, treating malignant tumors requires a comprehensive approach.

BT Shunt

A palliative procedure called a BT Shunt treats hypoplastic left heart syndrome in patients with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction or as the first stage of staged repair. The price of BT Shunt in Uganda is $7540. Surgery is carried out to ensure that the baby’s body receives normal blood flow. It is done to manage heart defect symptoms rather than to treat actual heart defects.

Cerebral Aneurysm

An abnormal ballooning in the artery wall of the brain is known as a cerebral aneurysm. Because they frequently resemble small berries in size, they are sometimes referred to as berry aneurysms. Most brain aneurysms don’t show symptoms until they enlarge, start leaking blood, or burst.

Open surgery might be advised, depending on a person’s risk factors. The neurosurgeon inserts a surgical clip around the aneurysm’s base while the patient is under general anesthesia. The cerebral aneurysm cost in Uganda is $5,810.

Cranioplasty

A defect in a skull bone may be surgically repaired with a cranioplasty. The flaw could be congenital, the result of head trauma, or a post-surgery complication. In addition to enhancing the appearance of the head, a cranioplasty may have additional health advantages. The brain is much better protected when the trouble spot is strengthened. The Cranioplasty price in Uganda is $7,544.

Gamma Knife

The gamma knife is an alternative to traditional brain surgery and whole-brain radiation therapy for treating complex, challenging brain conditions. Due to its accuracy and proven results, Gamma Knife is preferred by top centers around the world. The cost of a Gamma Knife in Uganda is $5810.Various neurological conditions, such as brain metastases, facial nerve pain (trigeminal neuralgia), arteriovenous malformations, meningiomas, gliomas, acoustic neuromas, and pituitary tumors, can be treated with the Gamma Knife.

VP Shunt Surgery

A VP shunt’s primary function is to drain the brain of extra fluid. Brain pressure can rise as a result of fluid accumulation, which is dangerous. A VP shunt lowers brain pressure to a safe level by draining extra brain fluid. The price of VP Shunt Surgery in Uganda is $7150. A one-way valve, a component that only permits fluid to move down and away from the brain, is a VP shunt feature.

Why choose Uganda for Neurosurgery?

Top trained Neurosurgeons perform surgeries and treat patients from all over the country.

Neurosurgery in Uganda costs cheaper than in foreign countries, with top-class facilities.

Hospitals in Uganda have partnered with top Indian hospitals and have trained surgeons to provide patients with highly successful treatment.

Facilities of Hospitals in Uganda are excellent, and they have all the medical equipment, technologies, and best medical facilitate rooms.

Technologies used for Neurosurgery in Uganda

The technology available for Neurosurgery at most hospitals in Uganda:

• Intraoperative MRI
• Intraoperative computed tomography
• Stereotactic computer-assisted neurosurgery
• Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC)

Advanced Technology of Immersive Technologies used in Uganda

Neurosurgery benefits most from technologies that enhance structural visualization out of all surgical subspecialties in Uganda. The complex micro-anatomy and closed nature of the cranium and spine place a natural restriction on the operations that can be carried out without invasive methods of exposure. With modern neurosurgery becoming heavily dependent on imaging for surgical success, advances in imaging technology have revolutionized neurosurgical care. The use of less invasive techniques has been made possible by routine pre- and post-operative use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while surgical accuracy has increased.

New Strategic Partnership Announced by CURE Uganda

To increase the accessibility of pediatric neurosurgical care globally through training and residency opportunities, CURE Uganda launched the CURE Neuro program in 2011. International experts come to CURE Uganda to learn the newest procedures from the hospital’s skilled faculty and surgical and clinical teams. In addition, more African physicians and surgeons visit and receive training to treat neurological conditions more successfully.

CURE is improving the trajectory of neurological healthcare in Uganda by educating African physicians and surgeons to treat neurological disorders. Due to the partnership, Ugandan neurosurgery residents from Mulago National Referral Hospital and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital have more access to highly specialized pediatric neurosurgical training. The thousands of infants with hydrocephalus and other conditions requiring neurosurgery born each year will receive the necessary care from specialists within Uganda.

Duke Neurosurgery Program in Uganda

The Duke Neurosurgery Program has strategized with a three-pronged strategy to increase Uganda’s capacity for neurosurgery over the past eight years. The strategy combines training, twinning, and technology.

The technology component is concentrated on developing the technological capabilities to perform neurosurgery correctly, to provide safe anesthesia, and then to give a recovery room, intensive care unit, and general ward care that will allow patients to recover as best they can after their neurosurgical procedure, as well as the biomedical expertise to service and repair the equipment. Finally, it focuses on providing patients with the best equipment and hospital facilities.

The twinning depends on creating a cooperative effort between the LMIC Neurosurgery Department at Uganda’s national referral hospital, Mulago Hospital, and a developed academic medical center, Duke University Health System. It mainly focuses on combining efforts of top hospitals in Uganda to get together and provide the best treatment.

Beyond surgical boot camps, the training component includes a residency-training program. The burden of disease cannot be adequately met by surgical camps, which train all healthcare professionals. The only way to address the shortage is by creating a program to train Ugandan surgeons in the neurosurgical department.

Conditions treated by Neurosurgery in Uganda.

• Intracranial aneurysms
• Pinched nerves
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Spinal stenosis
• Brain tumors
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak
• Essential tremor
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Chronic pain in your back or neck
• Hydrocephalus
• Sciatica
• Parkinson’s disease

Quality Neurosurgery in Uganda at a Low Cost

The Ugandan Hospital has every facility, and everything has been expertly put together to ensure that patients receive high-quality care, from the quality of the medications to the well-trained, skilled, and experienced surgeons. The hospital staff emphasizes the quick turnaround time for patient care services. All the expert treatment services in Uganda are estimated at a low cost, but the quality is world-class, with a high success rate. Hospitals in Uganda provide the best medical care to patients in the convenience of their homes thanks to the innovative practice of video consultation.

Neurosurgery Reviews in Uganda

Although Uganda has one of the highest rates of unmet neurosurgical needs globally, Mulago National Referral Hospital and a few other hospitals have made significant advancements in neurosurgery. Ugandan hospitals now have the latest technologies and equipment to treat patients and perform neurosurgeries. Patients suffering from neurological conditions do not have to go to foreign countries as they can get the same quality treatment in Uganda. Past patients write positive reviews about neurosurgery in Uganda.

Medical Insurance Companies for Neurosurgery in Uganda

The government of Uganda has a policy requiring that all surgical procedures performed at public hospitals in Uganda be accessible to patients. , But Neurosurgery in Uganda’s Government hospital is not performed effectively. The private hospitals in Uganda provide the best services regarding neurosurgeries. Top medical insurance companies in Uganda cover insurance of Neurosurgery are:

• Jubilee Insurance Company Ltd
• UAP Insurance (U) Ltd
• International Sos (Pty) Ltd
• International Medical Link
• Minet Insurance Brokers
• Allianz Worldwide Care Limited
• Britam Insurance-South Sudan

Success Rate of Neurosurgery in Uganda

The success rates of neurosurgery have dramatically increased in Uganda due to the country’s technological advancements. A decade ago, the majority of complex cases in Uganda could not be successfully managed by today’s skilled, equipped, and trained neurosurgeons. Uganda has a well-equipped hospital and a neurosurgeon with experience and a track record of success. The success rate of neurosurgery in Uganda is around 92%, which may vary depending on the age and condition of the patient.

Neurosurgery Hospitals in Uganda

International Hospital Kampala:

International Hospital Kampala is a COHSASA-accredited hospital in Uganda known for its Neurosurgery specialty. The hospital has many experienced neurosurgeons treating patients from all over the country and providing them with highly successful results. Modern operating facilities are available at IHK, such as an operating microscope for complex neurosurgery procedures supported by an advanced drill, a neuro monitor, and neurosurgical diagnostics.

Lubaga Hospital:

Since the hospital’s founding in 1899, Lubaga Hospital has provided patients with the highest level of care. Being the second-oldest hospital in the nation, they take pride in serving Ugandans’ medical needs for 122 years. In addition to stroke, headache, epilepsy, coma, neuropathies, myopathies, clots, and tumors, the team of neurosurgeons at Lubaga Hospital is well-equipped to treat these conditions.

Mulago hospital:

Mulago hospital in Uganda operates a bed capacity of 1,500. It serves patients from all over the country at an affordable price and provides them with all the facilities and required treatment. Top institutes train the hospital’s doctors, and super-specialized services are increasing across many departments. By partnering with Yashodha Hospital and setting up a week’s camp, a group of surgeons from Yashoda Hospital, assisted by surgeons from Uganda, performed the neurosurgery.

CURE Uganda:

CURE Uganda is a recognized leader in shunt-free, minimally invasive hydrocephalus treatment. CURE Uganda frequently sends mobile clinics to remote regions of the nation to locate children needing treatment and to check in on those who have already received it to expand its reach beyond its central location. Children’s neurosurgical needs are met by CURE Uganda, a specialized teaching hospital emphasizing neurological conditions.

Best Neurosurgeons in Uganda

Dr. Joel Kiryabwire:

The surgeon actively contributed to establishing the neurosurgical department at Mulago Hospital and disproved the myth that neurosurgery could not be practiced in Uganda. He was the first to introduce neurosurgery in East and Central Africa. Kiryabwire joined the Mulago Hospital staff full-time and is credited with turning the neurosurgery department into a reputable division.

Dr Alex Wamala Mugalu

Dr. Alex Wamala Mugalu is an experienced surgeon working at Mulago National Referral Hospital as a Neurosurgeon in Uganda. He is well-trained to serve Ugandan patients and treat neurological conditions effectively.

Dr. Alexander Muhindo:

In Uganda, Dr. Alex Wamala Mugalu practices as a neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital. He has the skills necessary to treat neurological conditions in Ugandan patients effectively.

Dr. Justin Onen:

Dr. Justin Onen has been a neurosurgeon for more than 17 years. He provides specialized care for tumors of the brain and spinal cord. He currently serves as the International Hospital Kampala’s head neurosurgeon.

FAQs on Neurosurgery in Uganda