Dr. G. Balamurali
Spine Surgery
Designation: Head of Spine Service, Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai.
Qualification: M.B.B.S., M.R.C.S.(Ed), M.D.(UK), F.R.C.S.(Neurosurgery)
- M.B.B.S.: Bangalore University. India (1997)
- M.R.C.S.(Edinburgh): Member of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. UK (2001)
- F.R.C.S.(Surgical Neurology): Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. UK (2008)
- M.D.(Research): University of Central Lancashire. Preston, U.K (2010)
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:
Dr. G. Balamurali is an internationally trained Spinal Neurosurgeon with 24 years of surgical experience, 16 years from UK. He is extensively trained in all niche aspects of spinal surgery with several fellowships from the UK (Liverpool & Nottingham), USA (San Francisco & Chicago) and Switzerland (Zurich). He is the Senior Spine and Neurosurgeon in India since 2011. He has a vast experience in all spine related problems and heads an academy called the international Spine Academy (iSpine) which imparts knowledge to aspiring spine surgeons.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP:
- Prof. Alan Crockard International Travel Fellowship Award winner, Spine Section American Association Of Neurological Surgeons, Orlando, USA – Feb 2010.
- International Travel Scholarship Synthes – Switzerland and Medtronic, USA – January – 2010.
- Health Care Administration (HCA) International Foundation Travel Fellowship Award winner, London, UK – 2009
- Best Doctor Award from Government of Tamil Nadu in recognition for Excellence in Medical Profession, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, August- 2019
SPECIAL INTEREST:
- Minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery
- Spinal cord tumour surgery
- Paediatric spine surgery
- Brachial plexus (DREZ) lesioning and other pain procedures
- Complex spine surgery
- Deformity spine surgery
CORE OPERATIVE SKILLS:
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery – TLIF and OLIF (fusion procedures), decompression and foraminotomy, percutaneous screws for deformity correction, intradural procedures for tumour and tethered cord through tubes, minimally invasive fixation for fracture spine and vertebroplasty.
- Pain procedures – Dorsal Root Entry Zone (DREZ) Rhizotomy, cordotomy, spinal cord stimulator
- Injection procedures – Nerve root blocks, caudal epidural, discogram, facet injection and ganglion block
- Spasticity procedures – DREZ Rhizotomy, selective dorsal rhizotomy and baclofen pumps
- Complex Spinal procedures – Minimally invasive trans-thoracic discectomy, trans-oral and trans-mandibular approach to anterior CVJ, OC fusion, C1-2 procedures, degenerative scoliosis and anterior lumbar procedures, vertebrectomy and reconstruction for tumours, complex trauma to any part of the spine.
- Percutaneous procedure – Kypho and vertebroplasty, percutaneous C1-2 screws, ant odontoid screws
- Spinal Cord Tumors – Complex large intradural and intramedullary tumours, metastatic spine tumours, bony tumour reconstruction and AVM
- Deformity Surgery – Congenital, adolescent idiopathic and adult deformity spine surgery – Scoliosis and Kyphoscoliosis
- Congenital Paediatric anomalies of the spinal cord – Split cord syndrome, lipomyelomeningocele, open myelomeningocele, tethered cord, foramen magnum decompression, deformity correction and syringopleural shunts
- Cranial Surgeries – General neurosurgery including trauma, tumours, hydrocephalus shunts, infection and paediatric neurosurgery.
FELLOWSHIPS IN SPINE AND NEUROSURGERY:
- Nottingham Senior Spinal Fellowship (UK), 2011 – AO Spine accredited, Dr. Bronek Boszczyk, Mr. Mike Grevitt, Mr. John Webb
- University of California, San Francisco (USA – 2010) – AANS & NASS accredited Spine Fellowship, Dr. Praveen Mummaneni (Minimally invasive spine surgery)
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago (USA – 2010) – AANS & NASS accredited Spine Fellowship, Prof. Richard Fessler (Minimally invasive spine surgery)
- Schulte’s Klink, Zurich (Switzerland – 2009) – AOSpine, Internationally accredited Spinal Fellowship, Prof. Deiter Grob (Complex spine surgery)
- Liverpool Spinal Fellowship (UK-2009) – Nationally accredited Neuro-Ortho spine fellowship, Mr. Gordon Findlay, Mr. R Pillay, Mr. DeMatas
- Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (UK- 2007- 2008) – Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Neuro and Spinal surgery, Mr. I Kamaly, Mr. J Thorne, Mr. J Leggate
PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS:
- Assistant Editor of The Journal of Spine Surgeries (JOSS)
- Executive Member of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons of Bharath (MISSAB)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
- General Medical Council (UK), Full Registration
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- Association of Spinal Surgeons of India (ASSI)
- International Spinal Cord Society (ISCS)
- Spinal Cord Society (SCS)
- Neurological Society of India (NSI)
- Neuro Spine Surgeons Association (NSSA)
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons of Bharath (MISSAB)
RESEARCH – DOCTORATE IN MEDICINE (MD)
- MD Thesis (2004 – 2008)
- Topic: Predicting the response to ventriculoperitoneal shunt in patients with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Collaborators: University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire Teaching Hospital, Preston and Hope Hospital, Manchester. UK
PROFESSIONAL CAREER – 23 Years across 4 countries
- Head of Spine Service – Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon (Jan 2015 – Till date)
Kauvery Advanced Spine Centre, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, India - Senior Consultant Spine and Neurosurgeon (Oct 2011 – Dec 2014)
Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, India - Consultant Spine Surgeon (2010-2011)
Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham. UK. - International Spine Fellowships (2008-2010)
University of California, San Francisco, USA
Northwestern memorial Hospital, Chicago, USA
Schulthess Klink, Zurich, Switzerland
Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK.
Walton Center for Neurosurgery and Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK - Specialist Registrar in Neurosurgery (Training number: NWN/031/505/F) (2003 – 2008)
Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, Hope Hospital, Manchester, UK
Lancashire Teaching Hospital, NHS Trust, Preston, UK
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, UK - Clinical Research Fellow in Neurosurgery (2002 – 2003)
Lancashire Teaching Hospital, NHS Trust, Preston, UK - Clinical Fellow in Spinal Cord Injuries (2002)
North of England Spinal Injuries Centre, James Cook University, Middlesbrough, UK - Senior House Officer – Neurosurgery (2000-2002)
Walton Center for Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK & Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK - Senior House Officer – General Surgery Rotation (1997-2000)
Withybush General Hospital, Wales, UK - Senior House Officer – General Surgery (1997)
Government General Hospital, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India - Internship (1995 – 1996)
Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, India
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery – Techniques, Evidence, and Controversies
Publisher: AO Spine, AO Education Stettbachstrasse, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland.
Chapter:4.2.2 Posterior approaches: Microsurgical disc surgery
Author: G Balamurali, S Rajasekaran, Rishi Kanna, Ahoy Shetty - The SPINE – Textbook of Spine Surgery
Publisher: Japee Brothers
Chapter: 18: Cervical radiculopathy evaluation and non surgical treatment.
Authors: G Balamurali, S Rajasekeran
Chapter 24: Congenital abnormalities of the Spinal cord
Authors: G Balamurali, S Rajasekeran - Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery textbook – Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery of India textbook
Publisher: Japee Brothers
Chapter 9: Tubular Retractors in Cervical Spine
Authors: G Balamurali, T Ganesh Keshav
Chapter 41: Tubular Retractors in Thoracic and Lumbar Spine
Authors: G Balamurali, Vignesh Pushparaj - Progress in Spinal Surgery
Publisher: Jay Dee Services Inc
Chapter:10, Page 89-99 DREZ operation for Brachial Plexus Neuropathic Pain
Author: G Balamurali - Progress in Clinical Neurosciences,
Publisher: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Limited
Chapter:22, Session 6, Page 243-251 DREZ Operation for Neuropathic pain
Author: G Balamurali - Course Manual, Spine Boot Camp, Academy for Clinical and Surgical Excellence – Author
- Link Magazine: “The magazine for people with hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida” Issue 209, Summer 2004. Balamurali G. Page 23. – NPH research Hope.
- Link Magazine: “The magazine for people with hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida” Issue 215, Winter 2006. Balamurali G. Page 20-21 – NPH research Hope.
- Languages : English , Hindi
- Gender : Male