Asst. Prof. MD. Tuncay Kaner Reviews

A 24-year-old professional e-sports gamer presented with debilitating focal hand dystonia that threatened his career. Dr. Kaner diagnosed a rare task-specific movement disorder exacerbated by microvascular compression. He performed a highly targeted microvascular decompression of the ulnar nerve at the Guyon's canal, combined with intraoperative neuromonitoring tailored to gaming movements. The patient returned to competitive play within 8 weeks, with Dr. Kaner collaborating with a neurologist on a preventive ergonomic protocol.

A 78-year-old retired museum curator from a modest background presented with progressive visual hallucinations. Initially treated for psychiatric conditions, Dr. Kaner identified Charles Bonnet syndrome secondary to occipital lobe epilepsy from an old, calcified meningioma. He performed awake craniotomy with visual cortex mapping, allowing the patient to describe her hallucinations during resection. Postoperatively, her 'visions of ornate frames' ceased completely, and she donated her detailed drawings of the hallucinations to a neurology research department.

A 42-year-old single mother and taxi driver sustained a complex brachial plexus injury after a collision. With limited insurance, she faced permanent arm paralysis. Dr. Kaner organized a pro-bono multidisciplinary team, performing nerve transfers from functioning muscles to reanimate her hand. He secured vocational rehabilitation funding, and she regained sufficient function to operate adaptive vehicle controls within 9 months, returning to modified work.

A 17-year-old nationally ranked ballet dancer developed sudden-onset cervical myelopathy. MRI revealed a congenital spinal arteriovenous malformation that had ruptured during a performance. Dr. Kaner performed emergency embolization followed by staged resection, preserving critical proprioceptive pathways. He worked with a specialized physiotherapist on a ballet-specific rehabilitation program. The dancer returned to the stage in 14 months, albeit in modified roles.

A 55-year-old deep-sea fisherman presented with recurrent episodes of transient global amnesia at sea. Extensive workup revealed intermittent temporal lobe compression from a fak meningioma that shifted with intracranial pressure changes. Dr. Kaner performed a keyhole supracerebellar infratentorial approach, avoiding damage to memory circuits. The patient returned to fishing within 3 months with a modified dive protocol and has remained symptom-free for 2 years.

A 31-year-old software engineer developed crippling occipital neuralgia following a minor bicycle accident. Multiple treatments failed. Dr. Kaner identified compression at the C2 dorsal root ganglion by an anomalous vertebral artery loop. He performed a novel decompression with nerve wrapping using a collagen matrix. The engineer developed an app to track his recovery data, which Dr. Kaner incorporated into a research study on neuropathic pain patterns.

A 68-year-old retired calligraphy master presented with progressive micrographia and hand tremor, misdiagnosed as Parkinson's. Dr. Kaner discovered a rostral midbrain cavernoma causing rubral tremor. He performed a stereotactic laser ablation with real-time tremor monitoring, preserving adjacent red nucleus functions. The patient regained his precise brushwork ability and donated a 'before-and-after' calligraphy piece to the hospital's art therapy program.

A 9-year-old child from a refugee family presented with new-onset seizures and right hemiparesis. Imaging revealed a massive intraventricular neurocysticercosis cyst causing obstructive hydrocephalus. Dr. Kaner performed endoscopic removal through a miniature port, avoiding a shunt. He coordinated with infectious disease specialists for antiparasitic treatment and social services for family support. The child returned to school seizure-free within 6 weeks.

A 47-year-old professional perfume 'nose' (nez) developed anosmia and personality changes. A frontal skull base olfactory groove meningioma was found. Dr. Kaner performed an endoscopic endonasal approach, meticulously preserving the olfactory filaments. Postoperatively, the patient temporarily lost her sense of smell but gradually recovered through olfactory training designed with a sensory specialist. She returned to work creating fragrances within 8 months.

A 60-year-old retired ship captain with polycythemia vera developed progressive spinal cord compression from extramedullary hematopoiesis. Rather than standard decompression, Dr. Kaner collaborated with hematologists to optimize medical management first, then performed a limited laminectomy with intraoperative ultrasound to monitor cord perfusion. The captain regained ambulation and now volunteers teaching navigation to medical students using spinal cord tract analogies.

A 33-year-old professional rock climber sustained a complex sacral plexus injury after a 10-meter fall. He had foot drop and sexual dysfunction. Dr. Kaner performed nerve grafting using the sural nerve, with intraoperative stimulation to identify functional fascicles. He designed a vertical rehabilitation program with a climbing physiotherapist. The climber returned to elite climbing within 18 months, developing adaptive techniques for his residual deficits.

A 71-year-old retired clockmaker presented with trigeminal neuralgia resistant to medications. Imaging showed neurovascular compression from a persistent trigeminal artery variant. Dr. Kaner performed a percutaneous balloon compression via a novel transcoronoid approach he developed, providing immediate relief. The patient gifted Dr. Kaner a custom neurological-themed clock that tracks surgical milestones.

A 26-year-old pregnant woman (28 weeks) presented with sudden-onset intracranial hypertension from a venous sinus thrombosis. Balancing fetal safety with maternal risk, Dr. Kaner performed emergency venous sinus stenting under minimal fluoroscopy, coordinating with obstetricians for fetal monitoring. Both mother and baby recovered well, with delivery at 37 weeks. Dr. Kaner published the multidisciplinary protocol.

A 52-year-old professional cellist developed a disabling essential tremor in her bowing arm. Deep brain stimulation was contraindicated due to a cardiac device. Dr. Kaner performed MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy with real-time acoustic feedback from her cello playing in the OR. She returned to performing within 3 months, participating in a study on the effects of ultrasound on musical tremor patterns.