Dr Diwakar Shankar

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Dr Diwakar Shankar – Neurosurgeon & Brain and Spine Surgeon in Lucknow

Dr Diwakar Shankar is a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Apollo Hospitals Lucknow with more than 10 years of clinical experience in neurosurgical care. He has specialized expertise in spine surgery, minimally invasive neurosurgery, and endovascular neurosurgical procedures.

His academic journey includes MBBS from Motilal Nehru Medical College, MS General Surgery from King George’s Medical University (KGMU), M.Ch. Neurosurgery from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, and DrNB Neurosurgery. He further pursued advanced fellowships in Spine Neurosurgery and Endoscopic Spine Surgery, including international training at AIN Hospital, South Korea.

During his neurosurgical training and fellowship years, he assisted in over 1,000 neurosurgical procedures and independently performed more than 300 surgeries across a broad spectrum of cranial, spinal, neuro-oncological, and cerebrovascular disorders. His areas of expertise include craniovertebral junction surgeries, minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, neuro-oncological microsurgery, skull base tumors, pediatric spinal dysraphism, image-guided neurosurgery, DSA, and endovascular interventions.

He has a strong passion for academic neurosurgery and research, with more than 20 scientific publications, including multiple articles in reputed PubMed-indexed international journals. He also serves as a reviewer for leading journals including BMJ Case Reports, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology India, PLOS One, and the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.

Beyond surgery and research, he believes in combining innovation, education, and digital health awareness through my social media channel #drbrainandbeyond, to improve neurological care accessibility and patient outcomes. He is actively engaged in public education initiatives focused on brain health, spine care, preventive neurology, and evidence-based medical awareness.

Professional memberships include:

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)

• North American Spine Society (NASS)

• Neurological Society of India (NSI)

• Neurological Surgeons’ Society of India (NSSI)

• Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI)

• Skull Base Surgery Society of India (SBSSI)

Areas of Interest:

Spine Surgery | Endovascular Neurosurgery | Neuro-oncology | Skull Base Surgery | Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery | Cerebrovascular Surgery | Academic Research | Digital Health Education

He has previously worked at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow and KGMU, Lucknow.

Clinical Role at Apollo Hospitals

At Apollo Hospitals Lucknow, Dr Diwakar Shankar provides specialised neurosurgical evaluation and treatment for conditions involving the brain, spine, spinal cord, skull base and craniovertebral junction.

His clinical focus includes:

• Brain tumour surgery
• Neuro-oncological microsurgery
• Skull-base and pituitary tumour surgery
• Minimally invasive spine surgery
• Cervical and craniovertebral junction surgery
• Neurotrauma
• Image-guided neuro-oncology
• Endovascular neurosurgical procedures
• Paediatric spinal dysraphism
• Complex brain and spine disorders

Apollo's Neurosciences centre provides multidisciplinary neurological and neurosurgical care, including brain surgery, spine surgery, skull-base surgery, neurotrauma surgery and minimally invasive spine procedures.

Practice Location

Dr Diwakar Shankar practices at Apollo Hospitals Lucknow, located in LDA Colony, Sector B, Bargawan, on Kanpur–Lucknow Road.

This location provides access to Apollo's Neurosciences services for patients from Lucknow as well as surrounding areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Apollo Hospitals Lucknow
LDA Colony, Sector B, Bargawan
Kanpur–Lucknow Road
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Neurosurgery Expertise & Specialisations

Brain Tumour Surgery

Dr Diwakar Shankar has a clinical interest in neuro-oncological microsurgery and brain tumour surgery. Surgical planning for brain tumours involves assessment of tumour location, size, relationship with critical brain structures and the patient's neurological symptoms.

Treatment may include microsurgical tumour resection when surgery is appropriate, followed by further neurological, oncology or rehabilitation care according to the diagnosis.

Neuro-Oncological Microsurgery

Neuro-oncological microsurgery focuses on the surgical management of tumours involving the brain and related structures.

Dr Shankar's stated special interests include neuro-oncological microsurgery and image-guided neuro-oncology, supporting a structured approach to tumour localisation and surgical planning.

Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery

Pituitary tumours can require specialised surgical assessment because of their location near important neurological and visual structures.

Dr Shankar has a specific clinical interest in endoscopic pituitary and lateral skull-base tumours, making this an important part of his neurosurgical expertise.

Lateral Skull-Base Surgery

The skull base contains important nerves, blood vessels and structures connecting the brain with the head and neck.

Dr Shankar's interest in endoscopic lateral skull-base tumour surgery covers selected lesions in this anatomically complex region.

Craniovertebral Junction Surgery

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is the transition between the skull and upper cervical spine.

Dr Shankar has a specific interest in CVJ surgery, including surgical management of selected disorders affecting this region.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses smaller surgical approaches for selected spinal conditions.

Dr Shankar's fellowship training in spine surgery and clinical interest in minimally invasive spine surgery support his practice in the surgical management of appropriate spinal disorders.

Image-Guided Neuro-Oncology

Image-guided techniques can assist neurosurgical planning by helping surgeons understand the location of a tumour or lesion in relation to important anatomical structures.

Dr Shankar has a stated interest in image-guided neuro-oncology.

DSA & Endovascular Neurosurgery

Dr Shankar's listed special interests include DSA and endovascular neurosurgery, involving specialised imaging and catheter-based techniques for selected disorders of the cerebral blood vessels.

Neurotrauma Surgery

Neurotrauma involves injuries affecting the brain, skull, spinal cord or related structures.

Neurosurgical evaluation may be required for selected traumatic brain and spinal injuries, particularly where there is bleeding, pressure on neurological structures or structural injury.

Paediatric Spinal Dysraphism

Dr Shankar also has a clinical interest in paediatric spinal dysraphism, a group of congenital conditions involving abnormal development of the spinal cord and surrounding structures.

Conditions Managed

Depending on clinical assessment and imaging, Dr Diwakar Shankar's neurosurgical practice includes evaluation and surgical management of conditions involving:

Brain

• Brain tumours
• Selected skull-base tumours
• Pituitary tumours
• Neuro-oncological conditions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Conditions requiring brain surgery

Spine

• Cervical spine disorders
• Spinal tumours
• Spinal cord compression
• Selected degenerative spine conditions
• Complex spinal disorders
• Spinal trauma

Craniovertebral Junction

• CVJ disorders
• Structural abnormalities affecting the skull–upper cervical spine junction

Paediatric Neurosurgery

• Selected spinal dysraphism conditions

Key Neurosurgical Procedures

Depending on diagnosis and clinical indication, neurosurgical procedures associated with Dr Shankar's areas of expertise include:

• Brain tumour resection
• Neuro-oncological microsurgery
• Endoscopic pituitary surgery
• Lateral skull-base tumour surgery
• Craniovertebral junction surgery
• Minimally invasive spine surgery
• Spinal decompression procedures
• Spinal stabilisation procedures
• Neurotrauma surgery
• Image-guided neurosurgery
• DSA and selected endovascular neurosurgical procedures

Apollo's Neurosciences department also lists craniotomy, spinal fusion, endoscopic brain surgery, Deep Brain Stimulation and ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures among its neurosurgical services. These are department-level services and should be considered separately from Dr Shankar's individually listed areas of special interest.

Disease-Specific Neurosurgical Expertise

Brain Tumours

Brain tumour surgery requires detailed imaging and assessment of tumour location, neurological function and relationship to critical structures. Dr Shankar's neuro-oncology interests include microsurgical and image-guided approaches.

Pituitary Tumours

Pituitary tumours may affect vision, hormone production or surrounding structures. Selected patients may be considered for endoscopic surgical treatment.

Skull-Base Tumours

Skull-base surgery requires specialised planning because of the proximity of major nerves, vessels and the brain. Dr Shankar has a stated interest in endoscopic lateral skull-base tumour surgery.

Cervical Spine Disorders

Cervical spine disorders can cause neck pain, arm pain, numbness, weakness or spinal cord compression. Surgical treatment is considered when clinically indicated.

Craniovertebral Junction Disorders

Disorders around the junction between the skull and upper cervical spine can affect the brainstem, spinal cord and surrounding neural structures. Dr Shankar has a specific interest in CVJ surgery.

Spinal Tumours

Spinal tumours may involve the vertebrae, spinal cord, nerve roots or surrounding tissues. Surgical management depends on tumour location, type, neurological involvement and overall patient condition.

Neurotrauma

Traumatic injuries involving the brain and spine can require urgent neurological and neurosurgical assessment. Treatment depends on the severity and type of injury.

Surgical & Treatment Approach

Dr Shankar's approach to neurosurgical care centres on:

Clinical assessment → Neurological examination → Appropriate imaging → Diagnosis → Surgical planning → Procedure when indicated → Post-operative monitoring → Follow-up

For complex brain and spine conditions, treatment decisions depend on the patient's symptoms, neurological findings, imaging, diagnosis and overall health.

Where appropriate, minimally invasive and image-guided approaches may be considered as part of surgical planning.

Education & Formal Training

Dr Diwakar Shankar's formal medical qualifications include:

1. MBBS- Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj

2. MS- King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow

3. M.Ch. Neurosurgery – Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

4. Diplomate of National Board (DrNB Neurosurgery), New Delhi

5. Fellowship in Spine Neurosurgery – Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Patient-Centred Neurosurgical Care

Neurosurgical conditions can affect movement, sensation, cognition, speech, balance and everyday activities.

Dr Shankar's approach focuses on explaining the diagnosis and treatment options clearly, understanding the patient's symptoms and clinical priorities, and developing a treatment plan appropriate to the individual condition.

For complex cases, treatment may involve collaboration across neurosurgery, neurology, neurocritical care, radiology, anaesthesia, oncology and rehabilitation.

International Patients & Medical Care

Apollo Hospitals Lucknow provides specialised Neurosciences services for patients travelling from different parts of India and internationally.

Patients seeking neurosurgical consultation can undergo clinical assessment, review of available medical records and imaging, diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning based on their condition.

International patients may coordinate their consultation and treatment journey through Apollo's international patient services.