Halil Can

Prof. Halil Can is a Professor of Neurosurgery at İstinye University Liv Hospital Topkapı. He specializes in endoscopic and microsurgical spine surgery for complex fractures and tumors. Dr. Can is a researcher with 21 international peer-reviewed publications.

Spinal and Pain Management Expertise

Dr. Can uses minimally invasive techniques for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He performs endoscopic and microsurgical approaches to treat herniated discs and spinal stenosis. The specialist also treats scoliosis and degenerative spinal diseases.

For pain management, the doctor performs interventional procedures. These include intradiscal ozone therapy, laser nucleoplasty, and epiduroscopic interventions. He also performs functional neurosurgery, such as spinal cord stimulator implantation for chronic pain.

Brain and Neurovascular Surgery

The doctor performs endoscopic skull base and pituitary surgery through the nose. This technique allows for tumor removal without traditional large incisions. He also treats hydrocephalus using endoscopic third ventriculostomy — a procedure that creates an opening in the brain to drain excess fluid.

His neurovascular practice covers the treatment of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. Dr. Can helped treat a series of 81 posterior circulation aneurysms using flow-diversion methods. He also specializes in microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

Neuro-Oncology and Functional Surgery

Dr. Can treats brain and spinal cord tumors. This includes glial tumors, meningiomas, and metastatic lesions. He also performs specialized surgery for epilepsy and spasticity. Additionally, his practice extends to peripheral nerve surgery for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Research and Clinical Trials

The specialist has authored 21 papers in international journals like World Neurosurgery. He conducted Phase I stem cell trials for spinal cord injuries. These studies also investigated treatments for pediatric hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy — a condition where a baby's brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow. Dr. Can has researched anatomical working zones to improve surgical safety.

Education and Academic Background

• 2007 – Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine – Specialization in Neurosurgery
• 2020 – Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
• 2025 – Professor of Neurosurgery

Professional Clinical Interest Areas

Spine Procedures

• Endoscopic and microsurgical discectomy
• Minimally invasive fusion surgery
• Surgical treatment of radiculopathy
• Balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia

Neuro-Oncology

• Skull base and pontocerebellar angle tumors
• Intraventricular and pineal tumor removal
• Transnasal resection of pituitary tumors

Congenital and Trauma Care

• Craniosynostosis and Chiari malformation surgery
• Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement
• Management of head and spinal trauma