ABOUT
Dr Avinash Kolloori is a qualified neurosurgeon who practises at the Life Fourways Hospital in Johannesburg. For his personal and professional development, the doctor strives to keep abreast of neurosurgical developments. Minimally invasive techniques form the crux of the doctor's brain and spinal surgical procedures. The doctor is also the only neurosurgeon in South Africa who performs percutaneous plasma disc decompression (PPDD) to treat a herniated disc.
Dr Avinash Kolloori works alongside his team of specialists, Dr Atiya, Dr Mukaddam and Sharmla Isaac. With a particular interest and speciality in pain management, Dr Avinash Kolloori and his medical team focus on the management of degenerative spinal disorders and identify lifestyle-related stressors that contribute to spinal pain syndromes.
Services includes :
- Trauma surgery:
Head trauma results in impaired neurological function as a result of a blow to one’s head or whiplash. Impaired brain function can affect the patient’s memory, speech and vision. Dr Avinash Kolloori performs emergency surgical procedures to remove hematomas (build-up of blood clots in the brain) or excess cerebrospinal fluid that compresses the brain or contributes to high intracranial pressure. The neurosurgeon inserts an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor into the patient’s brain to continuously observe the pressure in one’s skull. Immediate emergency surgical procedures are not necessary as hematomas only increase in size hours after the head injury. Dr Avinash Kolloori performs emergency procedures to reduce pressure in the patient’s brain as a result of stroke or hematomas and to regulate oxygen and blood flow to the brain. - Cranial:
Most cranial conditions require complex cranial surgical procedures to restore neurological function. During an accident or fall, the patient's brain moves around its cranial vault, and as a result, nerve fibres bruise, bleed or rupture. Once the patient experiences a head injury, he or she shows signs of nausea, fatigue or lightheadedness. The brain is within the confines of the skull, and it's because of this rigid structure that the neurosurgeon has to access it through small burr holes. Dr Avinash Kolloori performs minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to treat colloid cysts, pituitary adenomas or craniopharyngiomas. In some instances, the neurosurgeon performs a craniotomy to resolve internal bleeding as a result of head trauma. Dr Avinash Kolloori also performs an emergency ventriculostomy to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) or blood from the ventricles of the brain. - Spinal:
Should conservative treatment for spinal conditions fail to work, Dr Avinash Kolloori performs spinal surgery to decompress the patient’s spinal cord or nerve roots as a result of spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. If a patient suffers from a spinal condition, he or she will experience persistent back, buttock and thigh pain. Patients may also experience a tingling or numb sensation. The neurosurgeon performs a wide range of spinal surgeries that include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), disc arthroplasty, corpectomy and lumbar microdiscectomy. Apart from the doctor's vast surgical knowledge and experience, he is the first neurosurgeon to offer percutaneous plasma disc compression (PPDD) that involves the removal of the herniated disc's nucleus through monitored ablation. - Caudal epidural adhesiolysis:
The doctor offers a minimally invasive spinal procedure called "caudal epidural adhesiolysis." This procedure resolves pain that runs from the patient's lower back down to his or her legs. Although epidural injections combat pain and inflammation, damage to the patient’s nerve root and persistent pain resurfaces until scar tissue is eliminated. Caudal epidural adhesiolysis divides and destroys scar tissue within the patient's spine and as a result, facilitates the absorption of pain medication. Through the use of a catheter, Dr Avinash Kolloori administers a steroid along with a combination of medications to facilitate pain management. The effects of this form of treatment last for up to twelve months. - Facet joint block or infiltrations:
Facet joint block injections or infiltration is a less invasive spinal treatment that resolves long-term pain as a result of spinal stenosis, muscle spasms or sciatica. The patient’s facet joints situated on either side of his or her vertebrae that stabilise the spine tend to get inflamed. The inflammation arises as a result of degenerative diseases that cause stiff, immobile and painful joints. Facet joint pain-blocking injections not only resolve inflammation and pain but also serve as a diagnostic tool to determine the cause of chronic neck or back pain. Dr Avinash Kolloori injects anaesthetic as well as anti-inflammatories that include cortisone or steroids into the patient’s facet joint to relieve pain. - Trigger point injections:
Trigger point injections are a form of treatment that resolves both local and regional pain as a result of irritable spots referred to as trigger points. When a patient's muscles fail to relax, muscle knots form; trigger points commonly occur in the muscles of the patient's pelvis, shoulders and neck. When trigger points arise, the patient experiences lower back, neck and myofascial pain. Tigger point injections treat tension as a result of hip, neck, shoulder and back pain or fibromyalgia. Dr Avinash Kolloori injects local anaesthetic as well as steroids or cortisone into the trigger point to eliminate discomfort. The corticosteroids remain in the patient’s tissue and the effects of it last for a month. - Ketamine infusions:
Ketamine infusion is an intravenous medical treatment that resolves pain as a result of fibromyalgia, spinal cord injuries and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Through a ketamine infusion, Dr Avinash Kolloori reduces the patient’s dependence on addictive opioids or morphine and improves his or her mobility and function. Low doses of ketamine manage pain effectively and reduce any physical discomfort. As low doses of ketamine are introduced in the patient's bloodstream, the brain’s pain receptors produce neurotransmitters that relieve persistent pain. Dr Avinash Kolloori administers a ketamine solution intravenously that travels directly into the patient’s bloodstream. A ketamine infusion generally takes thirty minutes and lasts for months. - Cryotherapy:
Cryotherapy is cold therapy that relieves chronic neck and back pain as a result of spinal conditions. Through the use of cryotherapy, Dr Avinash Kolloori directs cold to the affected nerve and effectively relieves pain. The doctor performs cryotherapy in his rooms, and usually, the patient returns home on the day of the treatment. In some cases, cryotherapy is used in conjunction with other pain management treatments to resolve discomfort over a few months. Typically, Dr Avinash Kolloori repeats this procedure to relieve pain effectively. As soon as the effects of cryotherapy wear off, the doctor repeats the process.
