Neurologia clínica unidad

Specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of neurological diseases and disorders. The Clinical Neurology Unit is led by Dr. Oriol Franch, a renowned specialist in clinical neurology and an expert in second opinions, who coordinates various specialists to offer comprehensive and high-quality medical care, enabling rapid diagnosis and effective treatment. His team has extensive experience in the study of difficult-to-diagnose cases, recognized nationally and internationally.

Diseases and neurological disorders treated

Among the most common neurological diseases and disorders treated by the Clinical Neurology Unit are:

• Headaches: Includes headaches and migraines, characterized by recurrent and pulsating pain in the head.
• Back, neck, and limb pain: Includes various conditions causing pain in the spine, neck, or limbs, such as herniated discs or sciatica.
• Movement disorders: Includes conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and tremors, which affect the control of voluntary movements.
• Dizziness and balance disorders: Includes vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and other disorders affecting balance and the perception of movement.
• Loss of consciousness: Refers to episodes in which the person experiences a temporary loss of consciousness, such as syncope or absence seizures.
• Sleep disorders: Includes conditions such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm disorders, which affect sleep quality and patterns.
• Peripheral neuropathies: Disorders affecting the peripheral nerves, causing weakness, numbness, and pain in the limbs.
• Head and spinal cord trauma: Includes injuries to the head or spine caused by accidents or falls, which can lead to neurological damage.
• Speech and language disorders: Includes conditions such as dysarthria and aphasia, which affect the production and comprehension of language.
• Cognitive disorders: Refers to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, which cause a decline in cognitive functions.
• Behavioral disorders: Includes conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which affect behavior and social interaction.

Second opinions

Our medical team has over 35 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of various neurological pathologies. If you need a second opinion or would like us to review your case, simply contact us and we will guide you on how to proceed. This service is also available for patients who are unable to travel to our center due to distance, personal preference, or particular medical situations. We will be able to evaluate your case and offer a diagnosis and treatment remotely.

unidad de memoria

The Memory Unit specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of various cognitive disorders. These disorders include memory loss, language impairment, reasoning problems, decreased attention, and alterations in behavior and conduct.

The unit is composed of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including neurologists, neuropsychologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers.

The most common diseases that may cause these types of disorders are:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Vascular dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Primary progressive aphasia
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's disease
• Chronic hydrocephalus in adults
• Cerebral amyloid angiopathy

We have the most advanced diagnostic techniques, including:

• 3-Tesla brain MRI
• Positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG)
• Dopamine transporter SPECT (DaTSCAN)
• Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET-amyloid)
• Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (tau protein and beta-amyloid peptide)

The study is carried out in a coordinated and efficient manner to achieve a definitive diagnosis, ensuring the trust of the patient and their family members at all times.

The goal is to achieve an early diagnosis that allows for the decision of the most appropriate treatment plan for each case.

We provide proper counseling to ensure all aspects related to the disease are understood, including prognosis and planning to effectively address the disease's progression.

In our unit, we also conduct clinical trials that offer the possibility of using new medications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as contributing to the understanding of their effectiveness and tolerance.

Epilepsia

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by the presence of recurrent seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, leading to various symptoms that can range from involuntary movements to loss of consciousness.

The Epilepsy Unit, led by Dr. Antonio Gil-Nagel, is one of the leading specialized centers and a reference point in the treatment of epilepsy in both children and adults. It stands out for its leadership in the development and application of innovative treatments for all types of epilepsy. Our Epilepsy Unit actively participates in research projects focused on the diagnosis and treatment of refractory epilepsy, which does not adequately respond to conventional treatments. We specialize in difficult cases and pharmacoresistant epilepsy, such as:

Our research activities have led to the development of new drugs and improvements in surgical approaches. This research is carried out in collaboration with other national and international centers, allowing us to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements and apply them to our patients.

We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of various movement disorders, such as:

• Parkinson's Disease
• Parkinsonism
• Tremor (essential tremor)
• Dystonia
• Chorea (Huntington's Disease)
• Tics (Tourette Syndrome)
• Myoclonus
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Ataxia

We have advanced diagnostic technology, including high-definition magnetic resonance imaging, neurophysiological studies, and genetic analysis.

Once the diagnosis is made, we plan a personalized treatment that may include medications, botulinum toxin injections guided by electromyography or ultrasound, advanced therapies with continuous infusion pumps, as well as the possibility of participating in clinical trials with investigational drugs. Additionally, we offer functional neurosurgery options when necessary.

Our goal is to provide our patients with a comprehensive and specialized approach to improve their quality of life and manage the symptoms associated with these movement disorders.

The Sleep Medicine Unit is dedicated to the study, research, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders that affect the quality and rest during the sleep period.

The most common sleep disorders include:

• Insomnia

Characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep, resulting in a feeling of inadequate rest and daytime sleepiness.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

Occurs when there is an obstruction in the airways during sleep, leading to interruptions in breathing and causing excessive daytime sleepiness.

• Restless Leg Syndrome

Characterized by the need to constantly move the legs, especially during rest or sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep.

• Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of involuntary sleep.

• Parasomnias

Disorders that occur during sleep and include abnormal behaviors such as sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares.

• Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Refers to disruptions in the natural sleep-wake cycle, which can result in difficulty falling asleep or staying awake at regular hours.

We have specialized professionals and the latest technologies for the diagnosis and monitoring of these sleep disorders, with the aim of providing the best care and improving the quality of life for our patients.

In our neuro-rehabilitation unit, we are dedicated to the recovery of the nervous system after injuries from various origins, such as vascular, traumatic, infectious, metabolic, and others. Our main goal is to minimize and compensate for functional alterations, always striving to achieve the highest level of autonomy for our patients.

We are a multidisciplinary team composed of highly qualified professionals, including neurologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and neuropsychologists. Each member of our team is specialized in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders, working together to offer personalized and high-quality treatment tailored to the specific needs of each patient.

Our care covers various modalities, whether for hospitalized patients, those attending on an outpatient basis, or those requiring care in the comfort of their own home. We are committed to providing the necessary support at every stage of their recovery process, backed by the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of our treatments. In our unit, you will not only find experts in neuro-rehabilitation but also a team dedicated to your overall well-being and the treatment of:

• Gait disorders.
• Balance disorders.
• Persistent/functional dizziness.
• Muscle weakness.
• Sensory alterations.
• Fall prevention.
• Headaches with associated neck pain.
• Pain.
• Post-surgical physical reconditioning.
• Functional movement disorders.
• Functional decline due to immobilization.
• Respiratory physiotherapy.
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
• Oro-pharyngeal dysphagia.
• Dysarthria.
• Dysphonia.
• Facial paralysis.
• Aphasia.
• Apraxia.
• Cognitive decline.
• Behavioral alterations.
• Psychotherapeutic support for families.
• Home adaptation.
• Orthopedic product evaluation.
• Activities of daily living training (use of hand and arm).
• Altered manual dexterity.

Unidad de Daño Cerebral Adquirido Ruber

The Acute Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Ruber International Hospital in Madrid is a multidisciplinary reference unit for patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) due to acute lesions.

The importance of immediate attention to acquired brain injury:

The first hours and days following a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or other acute lesions of the central nervous system are crucial. As is often stated in neurology, time is brain. To achieve the best possible prognosis, it is essential to urgently identify any complications that may arise. The most common complications are hemorrhage and brain edema, which can lead to brain compression, requiring specific medication and, at times, immediate surgical treatment. Seizures, which may be difficult to identify, need to be properly treated with the right medications. Metabolic disorders that often occur in these circumstances (e.g., hyponatremia, hyperglycemia) must be corrected. Musculoskeletal injuries that may initially go unnoticed and require early surgical intervention. And other complications that are not initially predictable and are only detected through thorough and ongoing patient monitoring.

The variety of problems that may arise requires continuous patient monitoring and immediate access to high-quality supplementary tests (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, brain monitoring using prolonged video-EEG, laboratory studies). Once the problem is identified, urgent care can improve the prognosis.

The Acute Acquired Brain Injury Unit (UDCA) at Ruber International Hospital involves all necessary specialties to treat patients in these circumstances:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Neuroradiology
• Interventional neuroradiology
• Neuro-rehabilitation
• Maxillofacial surgery
• ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat)
• Spine traumatology
• General traumatology
• Intensive care
• Internal medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Psychiatry

Patients begin an intensive, personalized neuro-rehabilitation program early, which continues for as long as they require hospitalization and is continued after discharge.

We offer:

• Ongoing neurological care
• Experienced intensive care unit
• Electroencephalographic monitoring
• High-definition neuroimaging
• Continuous availability of neurosurgical services

Services

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Neuroradiology
• Interventional neuroradiology
• Neuro-rehabilitation
• Maxillofacial surgery
• ENT
• Spine traumatology
• Intensive Care Unit
• Clinical psychology

The human and technological resources available make the Acute Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Ruber International Hospital in Madrid the best option for the care of patients with acute/subacute ABI.