ABOUT
Dr Paseka Seroto is a qualified neurosurgeon who treats cranial and spinal conditions from his practice in Pretoria. Dr Seroto attained his Medical Degree at Sefako Makgatho University and completed community service at Van Velden Hospital. He completed his Fellowship at the College of Neurosurgeons of South Africa and was awarded the Spine Fellowship at Tygerberg Hospital.
Services includes :
- Craniotomy
Craniotomy is the removal of a piece of skull to gain entry to the brain. The neurosurgeon uses specialised surgical tools to extract a portion of the skull, also known as the flap bone. A craniotomy is used to treat bleeding that happens on the brain's surface. It also resolves aneurysms, abscesses, hematomas, arteriovenous malformation and hydrocephalus. A craniotomy is also useful for biopsy and device implantation. Dr Seroto drills tiny holes into the skull and uses a craniotome to cut into the holes until a bone flap forms. He cuts into the membrane covering and resolves issues of the brain. - Craniectomy
A craniectomy is done to remove a piece of skull to relieve pressure in the brain. More specifically, a craniectomy is performed to stop bleeding and inflammation in the brain. A craniectomy lowers high intracranial pressure, reduces intracranial hypertension and stops heavy bleeding. If not treated early enough, excessive bleeding or pressure pushes against the brain stem. Pressure on the brain stem leads to brain damage. Dr Seroto drills tiny holes into the skull and cuts between the gaps. He lifts a piece of the skull, cuts into the membrane and treats the condition. - Cranioplasty
A cranioplasty is performed to fix a bone abnormality in the skull. A defect in the skull occurs due to trauma. The entire procedure requires a natural or synthetic titanium graft. A cranioplasty protects the brain from further damage, improves one's neurological function, restores the appearance of the skull and reduces headaches. The neurosurgeon makes an incision on the scalp but preserves the dura mater, the brain's protective covering. He cleans the borders of the bone to fit the graft in place. Plates and screws help secure the graft. After the neurosurgeon stops the bleeding, he unfolds the scalp in place. - External ventricular drain
An external ventricular drain (EVD) is a tube that helps drain cerebrospinal fluid to an external bag. An EVD relieves pressure in the brain as a result of a tumour, abscess, infection or too much CSF. How it works is a soft tube that connects to an external bag which hangs on a high pole. Dr Seroto creates a hole in the skull to pass the tube into the ventricle of the brain. The neurosurgeon checks to see that the pressure levels in the brain are stable and accurate. - Ventriculoperitoneal shunt
A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a device that lowers the pressure in the brain. A VP shunt is used to treat hydrocephalus which is the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the channels (ventricles) of the brain. CSF is an essential fluid that cushions the brain and safeguards it from injury or trauma. Too much of this fluid, however, can be detrimental to a person's health. A blockage or low absorption could be the cause of too much CSF in the brain. A VP shunt drains an excess of CSF from the brain. - Intracranial pressure monitor insertion
Intracranial pressure monitoring is for patients who have suffered severe head trauma. The intracranial pressure monitoring system provides regular readings of brain pressure and alerts the neurosurgeon to changes in the patient's pressure. The neurosurgeon drills a tiny hole in the skull and slides a catheter through the opening. He places a pressure probe into the brain. The intracranial pressure probe connects to a recorder that measures the pressure within the brain. - Endoscopic third ventriculostomy
An endoscopic third ventriculostomy is carried out to treat hydrocephalus. For this procedure, the neurosurgeon uses a lighted, bendable tube known as an endoscope to investigate the cause of hydrocephalus. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy is needed to diagnose the build-up of CSF in the ventricular system. The neurosurgeon makes a small cut in the scalp to gain entry to the skull. He drills a tiny hole in the skull and inserts an endoscope through the gap to diagnose the cause of excess cerebrospinal fluid. - Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery
Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is carried out to remove pituitary tumours. The pituitary gland forms part of the endocrine system and secretes essential hormones. Because of pituitary tumours, the endocrine glands secrete too much or too little of hormones. Symptoms of pituitary gland tumours include low libido, migraines, eyesight problems, erectile dysfunction and infrequent menstrual periods. The neurosurgeon makes an incision close to the upper lip and passes an endoscope through the nose, ear or throat which he eventually directs to the backend of the sphenoid sinus. He removes the pituitary tumour piece by piece. - Posterior fossa craniotomy/craniectomy
A posterior fossa craniotomy removes a tumour in the posterior fossa. When a tumour forms in the posterior fossa, it can create an obstruction and lead to the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid. When CSF accumulates, it can raise intracranial and spinal cord pressure. The neurosurgeon makes a tiny incision over the scalp to enter the skull. He passes miniaturised surgical tools through the opening to remove the tumour. - Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion treat back pain. The spinal discs enable swift movements, but when they sustain damage as a result of trauma, they cannot function properly. The neurosurgeon may have to remove the disc, remove bone spurs or treat a herniated disc. The neurosurgeon cuts into the front part of the neck to access the vertebrae. He removes bony growths or discs that cause pain. - Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion
An anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion removes slipped discs. This type of procedure is suitable for cervical spine degeneration. Bone spurs or slipped discs lead to spinal stenosis, which occurs when the spinal canal starts to narrow. Spinal stenosis causes pressure on the spinal nerves and cord. The neurosurgeon makes an incision in the front part of the neck and moves aside blood vessels to access the vertebrae. He extracts damaged discs as well as upper and lower discs. We refer to the procedure whereby adjacent discs are removed as decompression to relieve pressure. Dr Seroto replaces the affected vertebrae with graft and secures it in place with plates and screws. - Laminectomy
A laminectomy is the dissection of the lamina to decompress the spinal canal. The spinal canal begins to narrow as a result of tumours or a slipped disc. Spinal pressure mostly occurs when one has arthritis of the spine. Pain and numbness are typical symptoms of spinal stenosis. A laminectomy is ideal should one suffer from muscle weakness or incontinence. Also, if all conservative treatments have been exhausted, this is a suitable surgical treatment for you. The neurosurgeon removes the arch of the vertebra, bone spurs or a slipped disc to relieve pressure on the spinal canal. He may also perform fusion to stabilise the spine. - Laminotomy
A laminotomy involves the removal of ligaments and some of the lamina. When the neurosurgeon takes out a few of the lamina, he makes more room for the spinal cord and nerves. A laminotomy resolves neck and back pain. Back pain occurs due to degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, a slipped disc, spondylitis and arthritis. The neurosurgeon makes a cut over the lower back and extracts affected vertebrae. He also performs decompression to relieve spinal cord pressure. - Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion is a procedure that's performed to reinforce the spine. During spinal fusion, the neurosurgeon connects two vertebrae to stabilise the spine. He uses a bone graft to fill the space between the vertebrae. The graft originates from a bone bank or the pelvis. Spinal fusion mimics the rejuvenation process of fragmented bones. Screws and plates secure the vertebrae and allow it to fuse and heal as a single component. - Back pain intervention
Back pain is an issue for most people. This particular pain can cause one to miss work and warrants a visit to the doctor. Spinal tumours, osteoporosis, muscle tension, fractures and slipped discs are a few of the reasons for back pain. There are ways to resolve back pain without surgery. The neurosurgeon uses corticosteroid and Botox injections to reduce inflammation near the spinal nerve roots and relieve muscle spasm pain. If conservative treatments don't work, Dr Seroto performs a rhizotomy to deaden the nerves. - Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a surgery that's performed to enlarge an area in the spinal column to relieve pressure on the nerve roots. A foraminotomy is needed to treat spinal stenosis. As soon as the spinal canal begins to narrow, the spinal cord and its nerve roots become compressed. The neurosurgeon makes an incision near the spine or the affected vertebrae. He uses surgical instruments to expose the foramen and removes the blockage. He also takes out damaged discs or bone spurs. - Lumbar microdiscectomy
Lumbar microdiscectomy is a surgery that relieves nerve pressure and back pain. Lumbar microdiscectomy eliminates back pain as a result of sciatica. When the tissue becomes damaged or spreads to the spinal column, it hits against nerves and causes pain. The neurosurgeon performs this type of surgery at any point in the lower back. He slides a fluoroscope through the incision to find the injured vertebrae or disc. He removes damaged discs or cysts and performs spinal fusion. - Costotransversectomy
Costotransversectomy is a mixture of corpectomy, spinal fusion and other related procedures. Often this type of surgery is ideal for spinal tumour resection. People who suffer from severe back pain due to spinal nerve pressure are ideal candidates for Costotransversectomy. This surgery entails the removal of a piece of the rib as well as anterior spinal surgery. The neurosurgeon makes an incision along the spine. He removes a piece of the rib to reach the spinal cord and extracts abscesses or tumours to relieve pressure. - Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion stabilises the lower vertebrae. Surgery is performed on the back to extract the intervertebral disc and attach the vertebrae with a cage and screws. The neurosurgeon performs decompression to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve roots. A lumbar spinal fusion puts an end to symptoms of leg and lower back pain. This procedure is used to treat degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, tumours and spinal infections. - Spinal tumour resection
Spinal tumours grow near the spinal cord and column. These tumours may begin in the spine region or arise from secondary cancer. They are either benign or malignant. Spinal tumour resection is the removal of tumours in the spine as well as a piece of the spine. The neurosurgeon uses plates, screws, rods and cages to stabilise the remaining portion of the spine. Spinal tumour resection is necessary to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and reduce back pain.
