Neurosurgery

Conditions

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the out of scope section.

Paediatric services

Referrals for children and young people should follow the Children’s Health Queensland referral guidelines.

If any of the following are present or suspected arrange immediate transfer to the emergency department.

• Collapse/altered level of consciousness/new neurological deficit
• Suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage or other intracranial haemorrhage
• Headache with Red flags:
  • sudden onset/thunderclap headache
  • severe headache with signs of systemic illness (fever, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness)
  • first severe headache age over 50 years
  • severe headache associated with recent head trauma
• Symptomatic benign or malignant space-occupying lesion
• Suspected or proven blocked or infected VP shunt
• Acute hydrocephalus
• Head injuries/trauma including extensive scalp laceration or suspected traumatic brain injury
• Spinal trauma or spinal pain with severe or progressive deficit e.g. cauda equina syndrome
• Trigeminal neuralgia – severe uncontrollable pain

Out of scope services

Not all services are funded in the Queensland public health system. The following are not routinely provided in a public Neurosurgery service.

• Chronic neck and back pain with degenerative changes on imaging and no neurological abnormality on examination.

Chronic pain is defined as any pain lasting more than 6 months. Back and neck chronic pain – degenerative changes nil acute neurology.

• Non-specific headache without red flags or requiring surgical intervention

Specialists list

Clinic details

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Level 7, Ned Hanlon Building