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As a result of 21st century technology, neurosurgery can be performed more quickly and less invasively than ever — with greater safety, less trauma and shorter recovery times.

Southcoast Hospitals has made a huge investment in computer image-guidance systems, operating facilities and neurosurgical specialists to make state-of-the-art brain and spine surgery available close to home.

The four neurosurgeons who currently practice at Southcoast — Alvin Marcovici, MD, Aubrey Okpaku, MD, Matthew Philips, MD, and Leslie Stern, MD, — together perform some 700 surgical procedures each year, making Southcoast a major provider of neurosurgery.

Questions & Answers

Many people in the South Coast aren't aware of the level of neurosurgery available here.

Dr. Philips: Southcoast is committed to the best technology and the best surgeons. We have the newest microscopes and the latest computer-guided neurosurgery instruments at St. Luke's Hospital. All the neurosurgeons have trained at top academic medical centers and we maintain the same level of practice and technology that you'd find in these teaching hospitals.

People don't realize that we've actually been doing delicate brain surgery here in New Bedford and Fall River for decades. Now we offer patients more advanced and powerful technology that is the standard of neurosurgery. Our intra-operative monitoring system gives us precision within a few millimeters, vital in surgery on the delicate tissues and nerve pathways of the brain and spine.

Dr. Marcovici: It all starts with diagnostics. I look at myself as the "conductor" of my patients' care. I need to determine what course of treatment will give them the best result. Sometimes it's surgery, but treatment might include physical therapy, medication or injections — maybe all of these. Best of all, everything can be coordinated close to home.

Dr. Philips: Yes, because the brain and spine are closely inter-related. Our goal as neurosurgeons is to preserve the brain/spinal cord/nerve function, whether the root of the problem is in the brain or the spine. We encounter more patients needing spine surgery than brain surgery.

Dr. Stern: Some of the greatest advances in neurosurgery have been made in spinal surgery. Degenerative spine disease is very common in our region and demand for spinal surgery has been growing rapidly over the past several decades.

Dr. Marcovici: My spine fellowship training has allowed me to bring new procedures to repair spinal deformities like scoliosis — a type of neurosurgery not available in this community before. We can rebuild large sections of the spine. We now can fix each segment of the spine with individual cages, plates and screws rather than fuse a long section with one device. Ten years ago, people were sometimes left with an imbalance that could result in more pain and disability.

Dr. Philips: I wanted to practice in a place that had some meaning for me. This is my hometown — and I'm able to provide top-of-the-line neurosurgery in a community I love. At Southcoast my patients are never just "another neuro case."

Dr. Marcovici: It's all about taking care of patients here — that's the kind of medicine I really love.

An important advantage to our surgical patients is the follow-up care I can offer. Brain and spine patients need frequent follow-up and they can get it all — therapy, diagnostics, everything — right here.

Dr. Philips: We offer the full scope of brain tumor surgery. Our computer-guided system gives us a precise three-dimensional view of the brain. We see these images in real time — while we are operating. We also provide highly complex intra-operative monitoring with an electronic link to neurologists during surgery. Our close relationships with other specialists allow us to really coordinate our patients' care.

Minimally invasive microsurgery, particularly for herniated discs, using microscopes, lasers and x-rays is very exciting. The incision is only about an inch, resulting in quicker and less painful recovery. Spinal fusions can also be done using a similar technique.

Dr. Stern: Many patients are benefiting from laser technology in disc and other spine surgery. The laser is quite effective and precise when you are performing disc surgery through very small incisions. Minimally invasive surgery is more and more available — and although it doesn't benefit all patients, we've had some great successes.