Ramsay Newsroom

Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital CEO, Oliver Steele, said the hospital had recently invested more than $1million in the latest-generation, specialised technology to enable a wider spectrum of brain surgery and minimallyinvasive spine surgery procedures.

“The two pieces of technology can now be used together for safer and more accurate procedures,” Mr Steele said.

The O-arm machine is used to take a scan of the patient during particular spine, cranial, orthopedic and, ear, nose and throat surgeries. This scan provides a ‘map’ of the patient’s anatomy which is then transferred to the StealthStation navigation system. The navigation system is then used as a guide for the surgeon by showing the location and direction of the instruments they are using on a 3D scan.

Dr Stephen Byrne, neurosurgeon at the Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, said the new equipment has allowed doctors to perform the region’s first craniotomy.

“In addition to that exciting milestone, we have also performed many brain tumour operations for primary and metastatic brain tumours, as well as pituitary tumours in conjunction with our ENT colleagues,” Dr Byrne said.

“We can also perform complex, minimally-invasive spine procedures for patients with severe degenerative spinal deformity, traumatic and neoplastic lesions,” he said.

“This surgery is now safer and can be done through much smaller incisions with a shorter recovery time.”

The combination of the O-arm and StealthStation S8 technology provides patients with better access to the latest services and treatments.

Previously, people requiring neuro-oncology procedures may have had to travel to Brisbane to access the latest technology and treatment.

“Brain tumour surgery is a stressful time for patients and their families and the community benefits by keeping families together on the Coast whilst recovering from surgery,” Dr Byrne said.