Methods and Publications
Prof. Dr. Akif Albayrak is an orthopaedic and spine surgeon in Istanbul. He treats scoliosis, kyphosis and severe spinal deformities in children and adults, and sees patients at Central Hospital Ataşehir and Central Hospital Etiler.
Surgical methods I perform
- Early-onset scoliosis (under age 10): growth-friendly surgery — growing rods, the Shilla technique and magnetically controlled growing rods.
- Congenital scoliosis and kyphosis: corrective surgery for congenital vertebral anomalies.
- Severe and rigid deformities: usually curves over 90° that do not correct on bending X-rays. Spinal osteotomies are used: vertebral column resection (VCR), pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and Chevron (Ponte-type) osteotomy.
- 3D planning: for severe deformities, preoperative planning on 3D spine models produced from CT scans.
- Adolescent idiopathic and adult scoliosis: posterior instrumentation and fusion.
- Scheuermann's kyphosis: posterior-only correction with pedicle screws.
Non-surgical procedures
- Lumbar facet joint block and radiofrequency ablation for low back pain
- Piriformis injection for piriformis syndrome
Method I do not perform
I do not perform vertebral body tethering (VBT). Patients who may be candidates for this method are referred to appropriate centres.
Training and experience
- 2005: Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine
- 2010: Board certification in orthopaedics and traumatology, Baltalimanı Bone Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul
- 2011: 3-month clinical fellowship with Prof. Dr. Azmi Hamzaoğlu, Istanbul Spine Center
- 2014: Spine Competence Certificate, Turkish Spine Society
- 2016: Associate Professor
- 2016–2017: 3-month observership with Prof. Dr. Frank Schwab, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York (Turkish Spine Society grant)
- 2016–2020: Faculty member, University of Health Sciences, Baltalimanı Hospital
- Since June 2024: Central Hospital Ataşehir and Central Hospital Etiler
- 2025: Professor
Memberships: Turkish Spine Society, TOTBİD, TOTDER, AO Spine
Selected publications
- Analysis of complications following posterior vertebral column resection for the treatment of severe angular kyphosis greater than 100° (2017)
- Posterior-only approach with pedicle screws for the correction of Scheuermann's kyphosis (2017)
- The results of closing wedge osteotomy with posterior instrumented fusion for the surgical treatment of congenital kyphosis (2013)
- Sacral agenesis: evaluation of accompanying pathologies in 38 cases, with analysis of long-term outcomes (2016)
- Vitamin-D measurement in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (2017)
- A retrospective study of congenital cardiac abnormality associated with scoliosis (2016)
All publications: Google Scholar profile
International patients
For patients who speak English, Russian or Arabic, the hospital provides an interpreter and airport transfer (at extra cost). X-rays and MRI scans can be sent in advance for a preliminary review.
This page is for information only. Treatment decisions are made by the physician after examination and tests.
