Neurosurgery Specialist in Cologne: Prof. Dr Nakamura

Prof. Dr Makoto Nakamura is a specialist in neurosurgery and Chief Physician at the Neurosurgery Clinic of the Cologne City Clinics in Merheim. He is also the tenured professor for neurosurgery at the University of Witten/Herdecke. Prof. Nakamura has extensive clinical and scientific experience, particularly in the field of surgical treatment of intracranial meningiomas.

Using innovative techniques, Prof. Nakamura and his team operate on the sensitive structures of the brain and nerves as gently as possible. During surgery, microsurgical techniques as latest microscopes, fully endoscopic and endoscopically assisted techniques, computer-assisted neuronavigation, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring ensure highest possible safety levels.

Neurosurgery Clinic in Cologne with State-of-the-Art Equipment

The Cologne-Merheim Clinic is a full-service facility offering maximum care. At the Neurosurgery Clinic, around 3100 operations are performed each year by an interdisciplinary team headed by expert Prof. Dr Makoto Nakamura. The Neurosurgery Clinic has a total of 76 beds. After each surgery, patients are admitted to the OITS intensive care unit. This is one of the largest and most modern intensive care units in all of Germany, located directly opposite to the operating theatres. A seamless transition into neurological rehabilitation is also ensured by the neighbouring Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic.

Innovative technologies are able to ensure that sensitive structures in the brain and nerves are protected during surgery. State-of-the-art microscopes with the highest micro-assistive and fluorescence-based technology are used for this process. It is possible to visualise areas of the brain that are difficult to access using latest endoscopic methods. In addition, computer-assisted neuronavigation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring to track and record brain functions before and during surgery ensure the highest possible level of safety during complex interventions. This innovative technology is a significant advance in patient care. It increases safety during surgery and significantly improves the surgical results.

Specialist in Neurosurgery in Cologne

Prof. Nakamura has been Chief Physician of the Neurosurgery Clinic in Cologne-Merheim Hospital since 2016. During his studies, Prof. Nakamura completed periods abroad at Harvard, London and Oxford. Further clinical residencies led him to Tokyo, New York, and Zurich. In 2006, he became Senior Physician at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), and, from 2008, he was the Deputy Director and Head Senior Physician of the Neurosurgery Clinic. As Chief Physician of the Neurosurgery Clinic at Cologne-Merheim Hospital, he leads a competent, interdisciplinary team to diagnose and treat diseases, malformations, and injuries of the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, and peripheral nerves.

As the tenured professor of neurosurgery at the University of Witten/Herdecke (UW/H), Prof. Dr Makoto Nakamura researches the therapy of skull base tumours, especially skull base meningiomas. His goal is to improve medical care, since treating affected patients is still a major challenge. Prof. Nakamura's research focuses on molecular biological and genetic studies to understand tumour growth and to develop new treatment approaches, especially new drug therapies.

Prof. Nakamura is also working on improving surgical procedures in neurosurgery. Prof. Nakamura's primary goal is to optimise medical devices for minimally invasive brain surgeries. Of course, these procedures are not only used for tumours of the skull base or the brain. Vascular diseases and spinal diseases can also be treated more precisely by using minimally invasive techniques, thanks to navigated surgery.

Further information is available on the website of the Neurosurgery Clinic in Cologne-Merheim.