Neurosurgical Neurosurgical Research Research

FoundationFoundationEstablished 1963 Established 1963

Neurosurgical Neurosurgical Research Research

FoundationFoundationEstablished 1963 Established 1963

The Foundation The Foundation supports research into the supports research into the cause, prevention & treatmentcause, prevention & treatment of diseases and injuries of the of diseases and injuries of the

brain, spine and nerves.brain, spine and nerves.

The Foundation The Foundation supports research into the supports research into the cause, prevention & treatmentcause, prevention & treatment of diseases and injuries of the of diseases and injuries of the

brain, spine and nerves.brain, spine and nerves.

Without research, Without research, there can be there can be

no advances in prevention no advances in prevention or treatment. or treatment.

Without research, Without research, there can be there can be

no advances in prevention no advances in prevention or treatment. or treatment.

Areas of Research

• Brain Tumours in Adults and Children

• Head and Spinal Injury

• Aneurysms

• Brain Haemorrhage

• Stroke

• Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus

Brain TumoursBrain Tumours

Each year, about 400 brainEach year, about 400 brain tumours are diagnosed intumours are diagnosed in

Australia.Australia. The causes are largely unknownThe causes are largely unknown.

Christopher was found to have a rare, Christopher was found to have a rare, deeply placed benign brain tumour, ofdeeply placed benign brain tumour, of a a

type found mainly in young children.type found mainly in young children.

It was successfully removed It was successfully removed and he is considered “cured”.and he is considered “cured”.

Out of the 400 patients Out of the 400 patients 25 will be children under 15 years.25 will be children under 15 years.

Brain tumours are the second most common Brain tumours are the second most common cancer in children after Leukaemia.cancer in children after Leukaemia.

Missy, aged six, was found to have a Missy, aged six, was found to have a brain tumour.brain tumour.

Though benign, it was life threatening, and was Though benign, it was life threatening, and was removed urgently.removed urgently.

When Missy was eight, a second brain When Missy was eight, a second brain tumour was diagnosed. This was thought tumour was diagnosed. This was thought

to be a re-growth of the first tumour.to be a re-growth of the first tumour.Complete removal was achieved.Complete removal was achieved.

Ryan was found to have clival chordoma, a rare Ryan was found to have clival chordoma, a rare tumour growing at the base of his brain.tumour growing at the base of his brain.Urgent operation was required, however Urgent operation was required, however

complete removal was impossiblecomplete removal was impossible.

The bulk of the tumour was removed in a The bulk of the tumour was removed in a 16-hour operation. Ryan had to go to Boston, 16-hour operation. Ryan had to go to Boston,

USA, for proton beam treatment, USA, for proton beam treatment, which is not available in Australia.which is not available in Australia.

Anna diagnosed with Anna diagnosed with a brain tumoura brain tumour

a Grade II / III Astrocytomaa Grade II / III Astrocytoma

After radiotherapy and After radiotherapy and chemotherapy Anna was told that chemotherapy Anna was told that the tumour was stable which was the tumour was stable which was

the best she could ask forthe best she could ask for..

Anna’s tumour has shrunk.Anna’s tumour has shrunk. “Whilst not cured “Whilst not cured

I never give up hope, I never give up hope, be positive and just believe!”be positive and just believe!”

Head injuries are common in Head injuries are common in all ages in Australia, all ages in Australia,

particularly in young males.particularly in young males.More than 2000 people die More than 2000 people die each year from head injury.each year from head injury.

Head InjuryHead Injury

Jane suffered a severe head injury at the age of Jane suffered a severe head injury at the age of nine when she was hit by a car on her way nine when she was hit by a car on her way

home from school.home from school.

Jane was unconscious for many Jane was unconscious for many weeks and slowly recovered to weeks and slowly recovered to

resume her schooling.resume her schooling.

Jane’s courage and expert paediatric Jane’s courage and expert paediatric rehabilitation helped her to overcome severe rehabilitation helped her to overcome severe

incoordination.incoordination.

ResearchResearch

Every Medical Wonder is the Every Medical Wonder is the result of Medical Researchresult of Medical Research..

Neurosurgical advances in Neurosurgical advances in tequniques and knowledge tequniques and knowledge

are saving more lives.are saving more lives.

Neurosurgery saves lives Neurosurgery saves lives everyday,everyday,

Medical Research saves lives Medical Research saves lives of the future.of the future.

AneurysmsAneurysms

Blow-outs on brain arteries Blow-outs on brain arteries may burst, causing brain may burst, causing brain

haemorrhages in about 1 in haemorrhages in about 1 in 10,000 people. 10,000 people. Many are fatal.Many are fatal.

Tina had a ruptured aneurysm Tina had a ruptured aneurysm behind her left eye.behind her left eye.

Urgent neurosurgery saved her life.Urgent neurosurgery saved her life.

Tina is alive today only because of the Tina is alive today only because of the removal of the aneurysms. removal of the aneurysms.

Aneurysms can happen at any time, Aneurysms can happen at any time, no one is exempt.no one is exempt.

Bethwyn has twice owed her life to neurosurgery. Bethwyn has twice owed her life to neurosurgery. In 1987, she recovered from one aneurysm and in In 1987, she recovered from one aneurysm and in

1994 from a double aneurysm.1994 from a double aneurysm.

Bethwyn believes she owes her life to the skill of Bethwyn believes she owes her life to the skill of her neurosurgeon and not least her faith in God.her neurosurgeon and not least her faith in God.

Di underwent life saving Di underwent life saving neurosurgery for a neurosurgery for a

ruptured blood vessel.ruptured blood vessel.

““If it wasn’t for neurosurgery, If it wasn’t for neurosurgery, I would not have my gift of I would not have my gift of life and my children would life and my children would

not have had theirs.”not have had theirs.”

Ongoing research is Ongoing research is essential to ensure recovery essential to ensure recovery

from brain haemorrhages from brain haemorrhages without death or loss of without death or loss of

quality of life.quality of life.

Subdural HaemorrhageSubdural Haemorrhage

Zia survived an acute subdural Zia survived an acute subdural haemorrhage when she was 28 haemorrhage when she was 28

weeks pregnant. weeks pregnant.

Neurosurgeons operated to remove Neurosurgeons operated to remove the blood clot and a caesarean the blood clot and a caesarean

section was done to save her baby.section was done to save her baby.

Zia leads a normal life, Dylan is a healthy Zia leads a normal life, Dylan is a healthy boy and Zia went onto have another child boy and Zia went onto have another child Taylah and she no longer takes anything Taylah and she no longer takes anything

for granted.for granted.

The NRF works to reduce the The NRF works to reduce the risks of death or disability risks of death or disability

from diseases and injuries of from diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord.the brain and spinal cord.

StrokeStroke

Currently only about 1 in 5 Currently only about 1 in 5 stroke victims survive.stroke victims survive.

Paul was at home with the family when suddenly Paul was at home with the family when suddenly he lost his coordination and collapsed.he lost his coordination and collapsed.

His wife suspected a stroke His wife suspected a stroke and an ambulance was called.and an ambulance was called.

Paul was fortunate, treatment began within Paul was fortunate, treatment began within 40mins of suffering the Stroke. 40mins of suffering the Stroke.

Paul had to undergo four surgical procedures on Paul had to undergo four surgical procedures on his brain to remove blood clots.his brain to remove blood clots.

““I am only alive today I am only alive today due to the skill of the due to the skill of the

neurosurgical procedures.”neurosurgical procedures.”

Until the 1960’s, babies born with Until the 1960’s, babies born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain) usually hydrocephalus (water on the brain) usually

died from a built-up of fluid within the brain.died from a built-up of fluid within the brain.

Spina Bifida & HydrocephalusSpina Bifida & Hydrocephalus

Born with hydrocephalus and paraplegia from Born with hydrocephalus and paraplegia from spina bifida, Sammy underwent a successful spina bifida, Sammy underwent a successful shunt operation to drain fluid from her head.shunt operation to drain fluid from her head.

She has been able to go to school.She has been able to go to school.

Sammy later developed weakness of her arms Sammy later developed weakness of her arms and her breathing, from another malformation.and her breathing, from another malformation.

Neurosurgery saved life her again.Neurosurgery saved life her again.

Sian & Bronwen, beautiful and talented A grade Sian & Bronwen, beautiful and talented A grade high school students and aspiring musicians, high school students and aspiring musicians,

both have spina bifida.both have spina bifida.

Sian can walk today – thanks to neurosurgery.Sian can walk today – thanks to neurosurgery.

Bronwen has hydrocephalus and Bronwen has hydrocephalus and also spinal cysts.also spinal cysts.

Bronwen is alive and active today – Bronwen is alive and active today – thanks to neurosurgery.thanks to neurosurgery.

Other Areas of Research

•Stroke•Epilepsy•Parkinson’s Disease•Alzheimer’s•Back Pain and Sciatica•Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Fortunately we are sharing some of the Fortunately we are sharing some of the happy stories and results of neurosurgery.happy stories and results of neurosurgery.

• However there are unfortunately many sad However there are unfortunately many sad stories without successful recoveries.stories without successful recoveries.

• We are striving every day to make a We are striving every day to make a difference and to create more happy stories.difference and to create more happy stories.

• With successful outcomes mean more With successful outcomes mean more lives saved.lives saved.

• Donations to the NRF are Donations to the NRF are directed to neurosurgical directed to neurosurgical research.research.

• Research is done in Australian Research is done in Australian Universities and teaching Universities and teaching hospitals.hospitals.

Neurosurgical Research Foundation

Your donations Your donations

help us to continue help us to continue

to support vital to support vital

life-saving research. life-saving research.

Your donations Your donations

help us to continue help us to continue

to support vital to support vital

life-saving research. life-saving research.