The history of neurosurgery in Nijmegen goes back to 1942. In that year the neurosurgeon Paul Hoeberechts (1911-1978) established his practice in the Canisius Hospital. He was succeeded by Alphons Walder in 1956. In the same year Walder also took a position in the staff of the neurology department of the newly developed University Hospital St. Radboud. In 1969 The Neurosurgical Center Nijmegen (NCN) was founded.
The Neurosurgical Center Nijmegen is a bilocation center located in the Canisius-Wilhelmina-Hospital (CWZ) and the University Medical Center St. Radboud (nowadays Radboudumc). In both locations the whole spectrum of neurosurgical diseases is treated, with the exception of pediatric neurosurgery, which is restricted to the UMC and spinal instrumentation, which is mainly performed in the CWZ. Furthermore, the NCN has a sub center in the Rijnstate-Hospital in Arnhem, where minor spinal and peripheral nerve surgery is conducted.
The NCN serves three functions: neurosurgical care, education and training and scientific research.
Neurosurgical basic and topreferential care is provided for a referential area of 1.7 million people. However, for neurosurgical trauma and pediatric neurosurgery a supraregional function exists.
The academic function of the NCN consists of an extensive resident training program, as well as contributions to the training of medical students, nurses and OR-nurses.
Several scientific programs on different topics are being pursued and lead to numerous publications and presentations both nationally and internationally.
Special fields of interest of the NCN:
- Minimally invasive neurosurgery and endoscopic neurosurgery
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Spinal Instrumentation and minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques
- Endoscopic pituitary surgery
- Skull base and cranial nerve surgery