Best Spinal Cord Abscess Doctors in Turkey for Australians

Dr Ertugrul Pinar manages complex spinal conditions at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental – a JCI-accredited facility known for high safety standards. He specialises in neurosurgery for both adults and children with critical spine diseases.

• Performs laminoplasty – a procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord while maintaining stability
• Expertise in intramedullary surgery – treats delicate conditions located inside the spinal cord itself
• Manages paediatric spine cases with a focus on long-term functional recovery
• Trained at Marmara University – one of leading medical research institutions in the region

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hilmi Kaya is a professor of neurosurgery at Anadolu Medical Center in Gebze, Turkey. He earned his MD from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa (English program). He completed his neurosurgery residency there from 1996 to 2003. He became a professor in 2015. He also completed observerships at Maastricht University in 2007 and 2009.

His clinical focus includes functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, including deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. He also treats spinal tumors and spinal stenosis and performs spinal instrumentation. He manages skull base and brain tumors. He performs vascular surgery of the central nervous system.

Achievements include leading a Parkinson’s research project at Ondokuz Mayıs University (BAP, Project No. T.597, 2008). He supervised a neurosurgery thesis in 2008. His awards include third place at the 2nd National Congress of the Society of Neurosurgery in 2006, the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Overseas Scholarship in 2008, and the Aysima Altınok Thesis Award in 2009. Several of his papers ranked at the 22nd and 23rd Turkish Neurosurgical Society Scientific Congresses in 2008 and 2009. He is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society and the Turkish Medical Association.

Associate Professor Melih Uc brings elite perspective to neurosurgery following a specialised fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in the United States.

• Treats complex infections and masses within the spinal canal and spinal cord
• Specialises in minimally invasive neurosurgery to reduce tissue damage and recovery time
• Published researcher in percutaneous repair techniques for spinal stability
• Trained at Bakirkoy Hospital, a major centre for mental and neurological diseases
• Expertise includes managing spinal canal stenosis and tumours affecting the nerves

Professor Erhan Arslan is a senior neurosurgeon at VM Medical Park Pendik Hospital with deep expertise in managing complex spinal cord procedures.

• Specialises in spinal cord surgery and minimally invasive techniques for faster recovery
• Holds a Professorship in Neurosurgery, reflecting his high level of clinical authority
• Completed a clinical observership at Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland
• Published extensive research on spinal cord ischemia and neurosurgical outcomes
• Member of the Turkish Neurosurgery Association and Turkish Society of Neurological Surgery

Professor Dogan Gucluhan Guclu is a senior neurosurgery specialist at VM Medical Park Florya who focuses on surgical management of complex spinal conditions and neurological infections.

• Specialises in spinal surgery and microsurgery for complex cases involving the central nervous system
• Trained at the prestigious Bakirkoy Mazhar Osman Hospital – a major hub for neurology and neurosurgery
• Expert in pediatric neurosurgery for treating children with spinal and brain disorders
• Actively publishes research on improving surgical outcomes and patient recovery in neurosurgery journals
• Uses minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques to reduce trauma and speed up hospital discharge

Professor Ersoy Kocabicak is a leading neurosurgeon at Atlas University Hospital and the current Rector of Atlas University. He holds a prestigious PhD from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, specialising in advanced neuromodulation and functional neurosurgery.

• European Association of Neurosurgery (EANS) functional group committee member
• Expert in managing abscesses and lesions involving the brain and spinal cord
• Founding Board Member of the International Deep Brain Stimulation Association
• Uses microelectrode recording to ensure high precision during delicate spinal procedures
• Published over 40 international papers on neurological surgical outcomes

Dr Ramazan Uyar is a brain and nerve specialist at Medical Park Antalya with a prize-winning background in neurosurgical research.

• Specialises in complex spine surgery and cerebrospinal interventions
• Awarded the Dr Cengiz Çetin thesis prize for research into nerve stimulation
• Expertise includes paediatric neurosurgery for younger patients needing spinal care
• Performed neurosurgery and served as Deputy Chief Physician at Sanliurfa State Hospital
• Focuses on managing cerebrospinal tumours and spinal hernias

Professor Hasan Ozgur Ozdemir is a leading neurosurgeon at Medical Park Antalya who ranked first in the Turkish Neurosurgical Society proficiency exam.

• Specialises in minimally invasive spine surgery using small incisions for faster patient recovery
• Performs endoscopic brain surgery to treat complex conditions with less trauma to surrounding tissue
• Expert in managing spinal tumours and fractures using surgical techniques
• Extensive academic background as a former Associate Professor at Baskent University
• Member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society and the Turkish Medical Association

Dr Musa Boztepe is a neurosurgery specialist at Büyük Anadolu Hospitals with intensive training in spinal and peripheral nerve surgery.

• Completed specialist training in spinal surgery and peripheral nerve surgery
• Specialises in managing spina bifida and complex spinal cord conditions
• Member of the Turkish Neurosurgery Association
• Trained at Göztepe Training and Research Hospital in neurosurgical procedures
• Expertise includes functional neurosurgery and trauma-related spinal care

Prof. Erkan Kaptanoğlu, M.D. was born in Balikesir, Turkey in 1966. After completing his primary school, secondary school and high school education in Balikesir, he graduated from Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine in 1990. He completed his internship at Peterborough District Hospital and Lincoln County Hospital in the United Kingdom. After a year of compulsory medical service, he completed his residency, which he had started in 1992, at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital in 1997 and became a Neurosurgery Specialist. After being assigned at the same hospital as Chief Resident in the same year, he studied “spinal cord injury and spinal cord regeneration” as a “research fellow” alongside Prof. Charles Tator, M.D., at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1998-1999. After returning from Canada in 1999, he was tasked by the Ministry of Health to establish a Field Hospital and to work in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent Society at Hakkari, Şemdinli for two months. Following this assignment, he volunteered to work for the 1999 Marmara Earthquake relief effort.

He became an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery in 2004. He earned the title Doctor of Science (Ph.D.) by completing a doctorate program on Advanced Neuroscience between 2000-2005, at Hacettepe University Institute of Medical Sciences. He joined the project for autologous stem cell therapy in human spinal cord injuries with the Departments of Neurosurgery and Hematology at the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. In 2009, he was appointed as Deputy Chief to the 1st Neurosurgery Clinic at the Ankara Numune Hospital, where he had been working.

At this hospital, in which he worked until 2010, he supervised and attended complex cranial, pediatric, spinal, trauma and vascular neurosurgery operations. He continued his academic research at Ankara University, Department of Anatomy and research laboratories of Ankara University and Hacettepe University for the purpose of developing strategies for complex spinal surgery operations.

With his research on spinal cord injuries and spinal anatomy, he won many awards such as the Acibadem Hospital Medical Research Award, 1st Place in 2000, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Dr. Mahir Tevruz Scientific Research Award, Tübitak and Brain Research Society Wheyt Award in 2001, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Hamit Ziya Gokalp Young Neurosurgeons Research Award, 2nd Place in 2002, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Yildiz Yalcinlar Scientific Research Award in 2004.

In 2010, he went to Cyprus to found the Near East University Faculty of Medicine Hospital with the guidance of Hacettepe University, and was appointed as full Professor. Between 2010-2015, he served as the Founder and Head of Department at the Near East University and Founder and Deputy Chief Physician at the University Training and Research Hospital in TRNC.

In 2000-2001, he served as a member of the editorial board for Türk Nöroşirurji Dergisi and Turkish Neurosurgery journal. Between the years 2001-2006, he served as an assistant editor for Türk Nöroşirurji Dergisi and Turkish Neurosurgery journals. In 2002-2003, he served as the Chairman of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee under the Turkish Neurosurgical Society. He was elected to the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors to serve between 2003-2009. In 2013, he was again elected as a member to the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors. In 2015, he became the Chairman of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors. In 2018, he was elected as a member to the Board of Turkish Neurosurgery Academy.

In 2015, he was appointed to the Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery and was elected as the Head of Department. During the same period, he also served as the Director of the Institute of Neuroscience. In 2018, he completed his tenure as the Head of Department. Reaching the end of this tenure in 2019, he retired from his duties as the Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and as a Member of the Faculty of Medicine. During his tenure at Marmara University, he supervised and accompanied surgical operations for complex cases from cranial patients to brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas and hypophysis adenomas in particular), cerebral hemorrhages, Parkinson’s disease, trauma and vascular neurosurgery. He performed complex spinal surgery operations such as surgeries for spinal deformities (e.g. scoliosis and kyphosis), thoracoscopic spinal surgeries and sacral tumor surgeries. He conducted research and experimental studies on stem cell therapy and regeneration in spinal cord injuries. Between 2019-2020, currently He continues his clinical practice and surgeries along with his local and international academic studies, from his private clinic and Istanbul Brain and Spine Center.

He has attended numerous national and international courses and meetings as an instructor and speaker, was a guest speaker in over 100 events and conferences. He has published 65 international, 35 national scientific articles, edited 7 books, written 52 book chapters. He has served in the organizational committee 5 times in international meetings and 22 times in national meetings.

He is a member of the Turkish Medical Association, Turkish Cypriot Medical Association, Turkish Neurosurgical Society, Turkish Spine Society, EUROSPINE, AO Spine, Turkish Neurosurgery Academy.

Dr. Emad Adden Abdallah is a neurosurgery specialist. He completed his residency at Balikesir University Health Practice and Research Hospital in Balıkesir, Turkey. He earned his medical degree from Balikesir University Faculty of Medicine.

He co-authored "Paraoxonase 1 Activity and Phenotype Distribution in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients" (Turk Neurosurg. 2024;34(4):655-659; doi:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.44307-23.2; PMID:38874244). His thesis was "Therapeutic Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Chondroitinase ABC Combination in Rat Spinal Cord Injuries." Courses: Dr. Mehmet Zileli Advanced Spinal Surgery (2021), Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Symposium (2021), Pediatric Neurosurgery Course (2020).

Professor Savas Ceylan is a specialist neurosurgeon who has performed over 5,600 successful surgeries. He leads the neurosurgery department and is known for managing complex cases involving the central nervous system.

• Trained at the Midland Centre for Neurosurgery and Neurology in Birmingham
• Expert in treating syringomyelia – fluid-filled cysts within the spinal cord
• Member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
• Recognised with the Turkish Neurosurgery Association Service Award
• Elected to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Skull Base Committee

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necati Kaplan is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain, spine, and peripheral nerve surgery. He treats tumors, vascular disorders, hydrocephalus, trauma, degenerative spine disease, pediatric neurosurgical conditions, and Chiari malformation. He also works with experimental stem cell and exosome therapies.

He graduated from Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2000. He completed training in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Techniques in Mainz/Tuttlingen in 2016. He also trained in Advanced Neuroendoscopy (2004), the Keyhole concept (2003), Microsurgery at GATA (2005), Pediatric Neurosurgery (2015), and minimally invasive lumbar surgery (2015).

He has served as a Board Member of the Association of Nervous System Surgery since 2018. He is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Association (since 2008) and the Association of Stem Cell and Cellular Therapies (since 2019). He co-authored series on vertebroplasty (111 patients/140 segments), 200 anterior cervical surgeries, 271 lumbar microdiscectomies, 673 mild head trauma cases, and stem cell therapies.

Associate Professor Ozdogan Selcuk trained under the world-renowned Professor Gazi Yasargil at Saint Louis University, mastering complex neurosurgical techniques. He completed a prestigious clinical fellowship at Yeditepe University focusing on brain and nerve surgery.

• Member of the Turkish Spine Association and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
• Holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine, integrating advanced biological insights into spinal care
• Specialises in neurovascular surgery to manage blood flow during delicate spinal procedures
• Former Lead Assistant at Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, mentoring junior surgeons

Professor Serkan Kitis is a neurosurgery specialist at Memorial Şişli Hospital with a decade of senior experience at Bezmialem Vakif University.

• Specialises in neurosurgery, focusing on complex spinal infections and surgical drainage
• Held a long-term clinical role at Bezmialem University Faculty of Medicine
• Practices at Memorial Şişli, a hospital recognised for surgical precision and patient safety
• Expertise includes managing both brain and nerve surgery cases requiring urgent intervention
• Completed his medical training at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, a top-ranked Turkish institution

Professor Ilhan Elmaci leads the neurosurgery department at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital and is a founding chairman of Turkey's Skull Base Society.

• Trained in microsurgery at Zurich University under world-leading neurosurgical pioneers
• Completed subspecialty training in neuro-oncology at Johns Hopkins University in the US
• Uses neuromonitoring to track nerve function in real-time during spinal procedures
• Specialises in endoscopic and neuronavigation techniques for safer spinal access
• Published over 110 scientific papers on complex brain and spinal conditions

Associate Professor Ramazan Sari is a specialist neurosurgeon at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital who completed his clinical accreditation with the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.

• Specialises in neurosurgery cases involving the spinal column and delicate nerve tissues
• Former lecturer at Medipol University where he helped establish the neurosurgery department
• Completed specialist training at Göztepe Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul
• Holds an Associate Professorship, reflecting his senior standing in neurological surgical care

Professor Onur Yaman is a neurosurgery expert at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital who holds a patent for inventing his own spinal surgical plating system.

• Treats complex infections of the spine including abscesses and inflammatory conditions
• Serves as a member of Euro Spine and the World Spinal Column Society
• Specialises in neurosurgery and spine surgery with a focus on surgical innovation
• Recognised with multiple best presentation awards for his research in spinal care
• Professor at the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council for medical device development

Professor Salih Murat Imer is a highly accomplished neurosurgeon who founded the Neurosurgery Department at Okan University Hospital and holds a five-year European Board certification.

• Specialises in full-endoscopic spine surgery – uses tiny incisions for faster recovery and less tissue damage
• Expert in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, focused on precise targeting of deep spinal and brain structures
• Published 68 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters on complex neurosurgical outcomes
• Completed advanced fellowships across Europe, including specialist training in Finland, Germany, and France

Professor Baran Yil is a highly credentialed neurosurgeon who completed a fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine, specialising in complex disorders of the central nervous system.

• Brings international expertise from Yale to the neurosurgery team at Valued Med Hub Hospitals
• Won the prestigious Young Neurosurgeon Encouragement First Prize from the Turkish Neurosurgery Society
• Active member of AOSpine, an international community dedicated to innovative spinal treatment
• Member of the Turkish Spine Association, focusing on surgical outcomes and clinical safety
• Former instructor for skull base anatomy courses, training other surgeons in delicate procedures