The Spine Centre of the Academic Hospital Solingen at the University of Cologne treats spinal disorders. Spine treatment in Germany cannot be overestimated, as the department employs the most experienced German orthopaedists and neurosurgeons who have many years of experience and impeccable reputation in performing surgical minimally invasive and neurosurgical operations in the treatment of the most complex spine diseases. Early diagnosis, treatment and prevention are the main principles of work for the doctors of the department. The centre uses only new and proven techniques to help the patient as much as possible, reduce the time spent in hospital, relieve pain and discomfort, return a person to a full lifestyle in the shortest possible time.

Spine Centre specialisation
The Spine Centre of the University Hospital Solingen specialises in the most common spine diseases, such as:

• intervertebral disc herniation
• osteochondrosis
• spondyloarthrosis
• ankylosing hyperostosis
• spondylolisthesis
• spinal canal stenosis
• inflammatory diseases
• spinal tumours.

Chief Physicians of the centre
The chief physicians of the Spine Centre and the Department of Neurosurgery are Professor Sascha Floe, MD and Ralph Buhl, MD. Doctor Buhl specialises in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. Privat-docent Dr Ralph Bulhl is a widely renowned surgeon and oncologist in Europe. Author of numerous medical articles and papers. He is co-founder of the Brain Tumour Research and Treatment Foundation. Doctor Buhl performs more than 700 surgical interventions per year on the spine and more than 300 surgical interventions per year on the brain.
In turn, Professor Sascha Floe, MD, is a leading specialist in trauma, orthopaedics and hand surgery.

Techniques and methods of treatment
The choice of treatment depends on the course of the disease and the apparent symptomatology. In acute pain, appropriate analgesics in tablet, injection or infusion forms are prescribed. As soon as the patient’s condition allows, he is prescribed therapeutic exercise. ‘School of the back’ completes the measures for the prevention of recurrences.
If the patient requires surgical treatment, specialists carry out the following:

• discectomy
• laminectomy
• neurosurgical removal of spinal tumours
• vertebral arthrodesis
• vertebroplasty
• intervertebral disc transplantation and prosthetics.

Minor invasive treatment methods:

• laser vaporisation
• nucleoplasty
• epiduroscopy
• endoscopic spinal surgery

Professor Buhl in his practice uses minimally invasive robotic methods for the treatment of patients with such diseases:

• brain tumor / tumor of the spinal cord
• acoustic neuromas
• diseases of the intervertebral discs
• diseases of the peripheral nervous system
• epilepsy
• west syndrome
• glioma
• medulloblastoma
• astrocytoma
• meningioma

Widely known surgeon and oncologist in Europe. Author of numerous medical articles and papers. Co-founder of the Foundation for the Study and Treatment of Brain Tumors.

Member of societies:

• German Society for Neurosurgery
• German Cancer Society
• Neuro-oncological working community
• German Society for Skull Surgery

More than 700 surgical interventions per year on the spine. More than 300 surgical interventions per year on the brain.

Specialization:

• Neurosurgery
• Neuro-оncology

Work experience:

• 1991 Graduated from the Medical University of Essen
• 1992 Leeds General Surgery Clinic, UK
• 1993 General Surgery Clinic, Cambridge, UK
• 1993-1996 Assistant Physician, Department of Neurology, Trade Union Hospital Recklinghausen
• 1994 Doctoral dissertation defense
• 1996-2006 Scientific Assistant at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Kiel
• 2006 Deputy Chief Physician of the Neurosurgical Clinic of the Clemenshospital Münster
• since 2009 Chief Physician of the Department of Neurosurgery of the Municipal Clinical Hospital Solingen, Germany
• since 2015 Medical Director of the Municipal Clinical Hospital Solingen, Germany.

Prof. Dr Sascha Flohé – Chief Physician, Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery

Eberhard Heindl – Senior Physician, Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery

Dr Claudia Janz – Senior Consultant, Clinic for Neurosurgery

Dr Ingo Witte – Senior Physician, Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery