Medical Spectrum
International Referral Center for Complex Disorders of the Brain, Spine, Head and Neck — and Beyond
The International Neuroscience Institute (INI) Hannover is an internationally recognized center dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of complex disorders affecting the brain, spine, peripheral nervous system, head and neck, and related organ systems. Built around the principle of integrative medicine, INI brings together neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, neuro-oncology, neurorehabilitation, otolaryngology (ENT), hearing restoration and rehabilitation, internal medicine, orthopedics, and additional specialties within one coordinated clinical environment. Advanced diagnostics, microsurgery, endovascular therapies, neurotechnology, hearing restoration, functional neurosurgery, and rehabilitation are seamlessly connected to provide individualized care pathways — from diagnosis to recovery, all under one roof. Patients benefit from interdisciplinary expertise spanning highly specialized diagnostics, surgical and minimally invasive therapies, restorative medicine, and long-term rehabilitation, ensuring continuity of care throughout the entire patient journey.
Centers of Excellence
Brain and Skull Base Tumors & Neuro-Oncology
Including: ● Gliomas, including glioblastomas ● Meningiomas ● Brain metastases ● Pituitary tumors and craniopharyngiomas ● Vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) and other cranial nerve schwannomas ● Chordomas and chondrosarcomas ● Tumors of the petrous bone and lateral skull base ● Jugular foramen tumors, including paragangliomas ● Tumors of the anterior skull base and paranasal sinuses with intracranial extension ● Tumors of the orbit and orbital apex ● Tumors of the brainstem, cerebellum and ventricles ● Pineal region tumors ● Tumors of the craniocervical junction ● Parapharyngeal tumors and tumors of the deep neck spaces ● Carotid space tumors, including carotid body paragangliomas ● Vagal and other cervical nerve sheath tumors ● CNS lymphomas and rare neuro-oncological tumors
Neurovascular Disorders
Including: ● Cerebral aneurysms ● Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) ● Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) ● Cavernous malformations ● Moyamoya disease and syndrome ● Carotid and intracranial stenosis ● Ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA) ● Intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage ● Spinal vascular malformations ● Complex cerebrovascular disorders
Peripheral Nerve & Facial Nerve Surgery
Including: ● Peripheral nerve tumors including schwannomas, neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors ● Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries ● Brachial plexus injuries ● Peripheral nerve reconstruction and nerve transfer procedures ● Entrapment neuropathies and compression syndromes ● Complex peripheral nerve disorders ● Functional reconstruction after nerve injury ● Facial nerve reconstruction, reanimation and secondary reconstruction ● Facial nerve tumors
Spine and Spinal Disorders
Including: ● Cervical, thoracic and lumbar degenerative spine disorders ● Disc herniations ● Spinal canal stenosis ● Spinal instability and spondylolisthesis ● Adult and pediatric spinal deformities including scoliosis and kyphosis ● Osteoporotic and traumatic spinal fractures ● Spinal tumors including meningiomas, schwannomas, ependymomas, cavernomas and metastases ● Intramedullary and extramedullary spinal lesions ● Spinal infections and inflammatory disorders ● Minimally invasive and reconstructive spinal surgery
Functional Neurosurgery & Neuromodulation
Including: ● Trigeminal neuralgia ● Hemifacial spasm ● Glossopharyngeal neuralgia ● Movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and tremor ● Chronic pain syndromes ● Deep brain stimulation (DBS) ● Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) ● Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) ● Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) ● Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) ● Emerging neuromodulation technologies
Epilepsy Surgery
Including: ● Lesionectomy for structural epilepsies ● Surgery for post-traumatic epilepsy ● Surgery for post-stroke epilepsy ● Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery ● Temporal lobe epilepsy surgery ● Extratemporal epilepsy surgery ● Tumor-associated epilepsy surgery ● Cortical dysplasia surgery ● Invasive and non-invasive presurgical evaluation ● Stereo-EEG (SEEG) ● Functional cortical mapping ● Neuromodulation for drug-resistant epilepsy
ENT, Neurotology & Hearing Restoration
Including: ● Disorders of the ear, nose and throat ● Sinonasal and skull base disorders ● Head and neck tumors ● Salivary gland disorders ● Airway and swallowing disorders ● Allergology ● Rhinology ● Sleep Medicine ● Otology and neurotology ● Facial nerve disorders ● Hearing loss and auditory rehabilitation ● Cochlear implantation ● Interdisciplinary Hearing Restoration Program (ENT and Neurosurgery): ● Auditory brainstem implantation (ABI) ● Clinical studies: Auditory midbrain implantation (AMI) & Auditory nerve implantation (ANI)
Neurorehabilitation, Neurotechnology & Non-Invasive Neuromodulation
Including: ● Neurological rehabilitation following stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury ● Neurorehabilitation for movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases ● Physiotherapy and occupational therapy ● Robot-assisted motor rehabilitation ● Exoskeleton-assisted gait rehabilitation ● Rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injury and paralysis ● Cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive training ● Functional electrical stimulation (FES) ● Spasticity management and treatment ● Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) ● Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) ● Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) ● Non-invasive neuromodulation technologies ● Neurotechnology-assisted rehabilitation ● Personalized interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs
Integrated Clinical Specialties & Advanced Diagnostics
Advanced Neuroimaging
● 3-Tesla MRI ● High-Resolution CT ● Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) ● Vessel Wall Imaging ● Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) ● Functional MRI (fMRI) ● Brain Mapping ● Perfusion Imaging ● MR Spectroscopy
Neurophysiological Diagnostics & Monitoring
● EEG ● EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies ● Evoked Potentials (VEP, SEP, MEP, BAEP) ● Vestibular Diagnostics ● Sleep Diagnostics ● Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) ● Functional Mapping and Cortical Stimulation
Vascular & Ultrasound Diagnostics
● Neurovascular Ultrasound ● Carotid and Transcranial Doppler Studies ● Cardiac Ultrasound and Echocardiography ● Abdominal and Organ Ultrasound ● Doppler and Vascular Imaging ● Point-of-Care Ultrasound ● Preventive Vascular Screening
ENT, Hearing & Vestibular Diagnostics
● Audiometry ● Speech Audiometry ● Hearing Implant Evaluation ● Vestibular Diagnostics ● Balance Testing ● Endoscopic ENT Diagnostics ● Allergy Testing ● Sleep Medicine Diagnostics
Orthopedic Surgery & Joint Reconstruction
● Hip Arthroplasty ● Knee Arthroplasty ● Shoulder Arthroplasty ● Arthroscopic Surgery ● Sports Medicine ● Trauma Surgery ● Complex Fracture Reconstruction
Plastic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgery
● Hand Surgery ● Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction ● Secondary Functional Reconstruction and Tendon Transfer Surgery ● Facial Reanimation ● Soft Tissue Reconstruction ● Complex Wound Reconstruction
Internal Medicine & Preventive Health
● Cardiology ● Gastroenterology ● Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine ● Preventive Medicine ● Laboratory Medicine ● Executive Check-Up Programs ● Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Ophthalmology
● Comprehensive Eye Examinations ● Cataract Surgery ● Retinal Diagnostics ● Neuro-Ophthalmology ● Vision Screening and Prevention
Structured Interdisciplinary Model
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Complex cases are evaluated collaboratively by specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, ENT, and related disciplines. This integrated approach ensures individualized, evidence-based treatment strategies tailored to each patient’s condition.
Continuity of Care
From initial consultation through diagnosis, operative or conservative treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up, INI provides seamless continuity of care within one integrated institute.
Complementary Specialties & Integrated Expertise
Beyond its core neuroscientific disciplines, the INI integrates additional medical and surgical specialties into a unified interdisciplinary care model. These include general ENT and head and neck surgery, orthopedic and trauma surgery, plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, critical care medicine, and further highly specialized disciplines. This integrated clinical environment enables comprehensive interdisciplinary care for complex conditions requiring expertise beyond a single specialty.
