| Feature | Neurologist | Neurosurgeon |
|---|---|---|
| Main Focus | How disease affects the function of the nervous system | Structural conditions affecting the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nerves |
| Typical Management | Medication, ongoing medical management, long-term care of chronic conditions | Assessment of structural problems, conservative care, and surgery where indicated |
| Common Conditions | Epilepsy, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies | Brain or spinal tumours, aneurysms, spinal cord/nerve compression, head or spine injuries |
| Performs Surgery | No | Yes, where clinically appropriate |
| Common Tests Used | Neurological examination, MRI, CT, EEG, nerve conduction studies | Neurological examination, MRI, CT, X-ray, angiography |
Neurosurgeon in Singapore for Filipino Patients
A neurosurgeon in Singapore assesses and treats selected conditions affecting the brain, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Assessment begins with a consultation, neurological examination, and review of your imaging. Many conditions are managed without an operation, and surgery is considered only where it is clinically appropriate for the individual patient.
What Does a Neurosurgeon Do?
A neurosurgeon is a medical doctor who has completed specialist training in neurosurgery to diagnose and manage conditions of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
Neurosurgery encompasses both non-surgical and surgical management. In practice, a neurosurgeon’s clinical work involves:
- Reviewing symptoms, medical history, and previous investigations
- Performing detailed neurological examinations
- Interpreting MRI, CT, and other diagnostic imaging
- Identifying whether a structural anatomical problem is present
- Advising whether an operation is appropriate or if conservative management is preferred
- Performing surgery where clinically indicated
- Collaborating with neurologists, oncologists, radiologists, and rehabilitation specialists
Despite the word “surgeon”, a consultation does not automatically lead to an operation. For many conditions, a neurosurgeon considers medication, physiotherapy, targeted injections, or a period of monitoring before surgery is ever discussed.
In Singapore, a doctor may only practise as a neurosurgeon after being accredited by the Specialists Accreditation Board and entered onto the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Specialists.
Neurosurgeon or Neurologist: Which Specialist Should You See?
Neurology and neurosurgery are separate medical specialties. Both require distinct accreditation and registration. The general distinction is that a neurologist medically manages disorders of the nervous system function, while a neurosurgeon manages structural conditions that may require surgical intervention.
When to See a Neurosurgeon
A neurosurgical assessment may be appropriate in situations such as:
- A brain or spinal tumour has been identified or is suspected on scans
- A brain aneurysm or blood vessel abnormality is found on imaging
- Imaging demonstrates compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root
- Weakness, numbness, or clumsiness is progressing rather than settling
- Symptoms of cervical myelopathy present (e.g., changes in hand function, balance, or walking)
- Disc-related symptoms, including a slipped disc, persist despite non-surgical treatment
- Hydrocephalus has been diagnosed
- A head or spine injury requires specialist structural review
- Surgery has been recommended elsewhere and you are seeking a second opinion
Most routine headaches, back pain, neck pain, and transient dizziness are not caused by conditions requiring neurosurgery. A neurosurgical opinion is generally relevant once imaging or clinical examination suggests a structural problem.
Emergency Triage Warning: Seek emergency medical care immediately for sudden severe headaches, sudden weakness/numbness on one side of the body, sudden difficulty speaking, loss of vision, a first seizure, or new loss of bladder/bowel control accompanied by back pain (a warning sign of cauda equina syndrome). If you are in the Philippines, go to your nearest emergency department immediately. Do not delay urgent care to plan travel to Singapore.
Conditions a Neurosurgeon May Assess
Brain Conditions
Benign and malignant brain tumours, hydrocephalus, and selected traumatic brain injuries. Management may involve diagnostic biopsies, surgical resection, or ongoing monitoring.
Cerebrovascular Conditions
Brain aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Management depends on size, location, bleeding history, and general health.
Spine and Spinal Cord Conditions
Herniated (slipped) discs, spinal stenosis, spinal cord compression, cervical myelopathy, spondylolisthesis, and spinal tumours. Spine conditions make up a large portion of neurosurgical practice, focusing on whether nerves are compressed and if the spine is structurally stable.
Peripheral Nerve Conditions
Compression syndromes of nerves outside the brain/spinal cord and selected peripheral nerve injuries.
How Neurosurgical Conditions Are Assessed
Assessment is individualised to the suspected condition and may involve:
| Diagnostic Step | Clinical Purpose |
|---|---|
| Medical History | Reviewing symptom onset, progression, previous treatments, and general health |
| Neurological Examination | Testing motor strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, balance, and cranial nerves |
| MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) | Providing detailed high-resolution images of the brain, spinal cord, discs, and nerve roots |
| CT (Computed Tomography) | Useful for evaluating bone detail, acute bleeding, and trauma |
| X-ray | Assessing spinal alignment and structural stability, often in weight-bearing positions |
| Angiography | Visualizing blood vessel architecture for selected cerebrovascular conditions |
Review of Imaging You Already Have
Patients who have been investigated elsewhere frequently arrive with existing scans. A neurosurgeon will review existing MRI/CT images, X-rays, and pathology reports. Where possible, providing the original digital image files (DICOM format) is more useful than the written report alone. Repeat imaging is sometimes necessary if previous scans lack specific sequences needed for surgical planning.
Neurosurgery Treatment Options in Singapore
Management spans from active monitoring to complex surgery, depending on diagnosis, severity, neurological symptoms, and individual health.
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Observation and Monitoring
Certain slow-growing tumours or stable vascular abnormalities are monitored via scheduled imaging rather than treated immediately.
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Medication and Non-Surgical Care
Physiotherapy, activity modification, targeted injections, and medications are utilized for many spine/nerve conditions prior to discussing surgery.
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Brain Surgery
Procedures include craniotomy for access, biopsies, tumour resections, or cerebrospinal fluid diversion (for hydrocephalus).
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Spine Surgery
Includes discectomy, spinal decompression, laminectomy, and spinal fusion. Minimally invasive spine surgery is used for selected anatomically suitable conditions.
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Cerebrovascular Procedures
Surgical or endovascular interventions for aneurysms and AVMs.
When Is Neurosurgery Considered?
Surgery may be discussed when:
- There is significant compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root
- A tumour requires biopsy for diagnosis or surgical removal
- The spinal column is structurally unstable
- Neurological function is threatened, deteriorating, or causing severe pain unresponsive to conservative care
- A cerebrovascular abnormality poses a clinically significant risk of rupture
Risks and Limitations of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery carries inherent risks. No operation is risk-free, and no procedure guarantees a specific outcome. General risks include infection, bleeding, neural injury, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and anaesthesia complications. Furthermore, surgery may address a structural issue without completely resolving pre-existing symptoms, especially if irreversible nerve damage has already occurred. Your neurosurgeon will review all risks specific to your clinical profile before any decisions are made.
Neurosurgeon in Singapore
Dr Teo Kejia
Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon
Director, Precision Neurosurgery
Dr Teo Kejia is a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon managing complex brain and spine conditions in Singapore.
- Medical Degree: MBBS, National University of Singapore (2006)
- Postgraduate Qualifications: MRCS (Edinburgh, 2010); FRCS (Surgical Neurology, Edinburgh, 2015)
- Specialist Accreditation: Registered Specialist in Neurosurgery, Singapore Medical Council; FAMS (Neurosurgery)
- Subspecialty Fellowships: Brain mapping and awake brain surgery fellowships at Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan) and Gui de Chauliac Hospital (Montpellier)
- Professional Memberships: IFAANS; Member, Singapore Spine Society; Board Member, Chapter of Neurosurgeons (Singapore)
- Clinical Focus: Brain and spinal tumours, functional neurosurgery, neurovascular disorders, skull base surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery
- Languages Spoken: English, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Hokkien, Teochew
- Practice Locations: Dr Teo consults at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Parkway East Medical Centre in Singapore.
Considering Neurosurgery Care in Singapore from the Philippines
All healthcare services described on this website are provided in Singapore. Ascle Healthcare Group does not operate a hospital, clinic, or medical facility in the Philippines.
Preparing Medical Records for Review
Patients in the Philippines considering a neurosurgical assessment in Singapore can submit an enquiry prior to making travel arrangements. To facilitate a useful review, the specialist team may request:
- MRI and CT images (preferably DICOM digital files) and written reports
- X-rays and Angiography reports
- Pathology or biopsy results
- Reports from your attending neurologist or primary physician
- Hospital discharge summaries and operative notes from previous surgeries
- A current list of medications and medical history
Data Privacy Notice: Please do not send medical records or digital imaging files until our International Patient Liaison Centre has provided a secure transfer method. Confidential health information should not be sent via unsecured email or public messaging.
Note: An initial remote enquiry does not constitute medical advice or guarantee that surgery will be recommended. Final treatment planning requires in-person clinical assessment.
- 24-Hour Patient Liaison Line: +65 6956 6588
- 24-Hour WhatsApp: +65 8877 3318
Speak with a Neurosurgeon in Singapore
If you have been diagnosed with a brain or spine condition, if imaging has identified something that needs specialist review, or if surgery has been recommended and you would like the recommendation reviewed, you can enquire about an assessment with a neurosurgeon in Singapore.
All consultations and procedures take place in Singapore. An enquiry is the first step, and it carries no obligation to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I see a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic spine surgeon for a spine problem?
Both neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine surgeons undergo extensive training to treat spinal conditions. Neurosurgical training emphasizes the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots), while orthopaedic training emphasizes the musculoskeletal system (bones and joints). For most common spine operations, both are appropriately qualified. The more important factor is the surgeon’s specific experience with your exact condition.
Do I need a doctor's referral to see a neurosurgeon in Singapore?
A formal referral letter is not strictly required to arrange a private specialist consultation in Singapore. However, providing a referral letter alongside your imaging and clinical reports gives the neurosurgeon a comprehensive understanding of your medical history at the first appointment.
Can a neurosurgeon review a case where surgery was already performed elsewhere?
Yes. A neurosurgeon can provide a second opinion or review a case following previous brain or spine surgery, particularly if symptoms have persisted, returned, or changed. This review assesses the original diagnosis, the surgical intervention performed, and current post-operative imaging.
Will I need an MRI or CT scan before seeing a neurosurgeon?
Existing MRI or CT scans are highly useful and should be provided prior to consultation. However, if you do not have scans, do not arrange them blindly; the neurosurgeon will evaluate your symptoms during the consultation and order the specific imaging sequences clinically required for your condition.
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