Neurosurgery - Department of Neurosurgery, Freiburg, Prof. Dr. med. Josef Zentner

About us

The Department of Neurosurgery consists of the Division of General Neurosurgery, the Division of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and the Division of Epileptology.
We treat patients with disorders concerning the brain, the spine, the spinal cord and the nervous system.
Additional clinical focus areas of the Department of Neurosurgery are:

• Skull base surgery
• Vascular neurosurgery
• Disorders of the pituitary gland
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Radiosurgery
• Movement disorders
• Stem cell therapy
• Disorders of the peripheral nerves
• Syringomyelia
• Neurofibromatosis
• Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

A hospital of maximum care, we offer a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, all according to the latest scientific findings and state-of-the-art technology, with all available surgical treatment methods in particular. In order to successfully reach our goal of comprehensive medical care, the patient is always at the center of our attention.
It is of the utmost importance to individualize treatment according to the patient’s needs and thus ensure a specific fostering of the healing process.
Since we are a part of the Neurocenter and due to short distances and an efficient cooperation with the neighboring departments of neuromedicine, we are able to provide comprehensive medical and nursing care. You, as the patient, benefit from this not only in outpatient care, but also during inpatient treatment and counseling.
We are characterized by the high quality of our services. However, this quality is not achieved easily. In order to meet the requirements of optimal patient care, cost effectiveness as well as future-oriented research and teaching, we practice intensive quality management.
With this, we can ensure further advancements in all of our fields of work in order to achieve the best possible care for patients and an excellent performance in research and teaching. Due to the multitude of the research projects we conduct and take part in, we can guarantee the best possible diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation for all our patients as only future-oriented research can create high standards in medicine that are long-lasting.

Diagnostic Services

General neurosurgery

• MRI- and CT-guided neuronavigation
• Ultrasound guided neuronavigation
• Functional imaging
• Intraoperative electrophysiologic neuromonitoring
• Ultrasound diagnostics
• 3D-imaging and image processing
• 3D-intraoperative spinal navigation with flat screen detector
• Fluorescent guided resection of tumors

Division of Stereotactic Neurosurgery

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Functional imaging
• 3D-imaging and image processing
• Positron emission tomography (PET)

Division of Epileptology

• Diagnostics and differential diagnostics of epilepsy
• Video EEG monitoring
• Structural and functional imaging
• Neuropsychology
• Wada test

Therapeutic Services

General neurosurgery

• Tumors of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
• Chemotherapy for brain tumors (first, second and third line, including individual therapies)
• Possibility of enrollment in different clinical studies
• Treatment of pediatric brain tumors in cooperation with the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University Medical Center Freiburg
• Spinal surgery, including minimally invasive methods
• Skull base surgery and endoscopy
• Surgery of the pituitary gland by use of endoscopic procedures
• Procedures on the cerebellopontine angle, including trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm
• Epilepsy surgery
• Disorders of the vessels of the brain and the spinal cord
• Hemangioblastoma / von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
• Pediatric neurosurgery, including malformations
• Peripheral nerve compression syndrome (carpal tunnel, ulnar nerve)
• Neurotraumatology

Division of Stereotactic Neurosurgery

• Deep brain stimulation for movement disorders and psychiatric disorders (Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremor, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, depression)
• Stimulation of the motor cortex for pain syndromes
• PET-guided, stereotactic serial biopsies of unclear cerebral lesions
• Stereotactic puncture of tumor cysts and implantation of Ommaya/Rickham reservoirs
• Interstitial radiosurgery by implantation of temporary iodine 125 seeds for low grade tumors and cerebral metastases
• LINAC radiosurgery for cerebral metastases, arteriovenous malformations, meningioma of the cerebellopontine angle, acoustic neurinoma
• Stem cell transplantation for neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s)

Division of Epileptology

• Drug treatment of epilepsy
• Surgical treatment of epilepsy
• Complex treatment of severe epilepsy
• Stimulation of the vagus nerve
• Deep brain stimulation for epilepsy
• Partaking in clinical studies
• Ketogenic diet

Special Offers / Arrangements / Rooms

On our regular ward, we offer single and double rooms with their own bathroom with shower and toilet, telephone, internet access and television. For all patients not confined to bed, a rich buffet is available for breakfast and dinner.
For family members, we offer overnight accommodation at the nearby guest house of the University Medical Center Freiburg and the Neurocenter.

Our service hours at +49 (0) 761 / 270 - 50010 / - 50020 are:
07:00 – 20:00 CET Mon – Fri as well as 10:00 – 20:00 CET Sat, Sun and on holidays