Currıculum Vıtae
Who is Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil?
Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil is a Professor of Neurosurgery with nationally and internationally recognized work; particularly in the fields of hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus (Adams–Hakim syndrome), pediatric neurosurgery, empty sella, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, scoliosis, spinal disorders, and spinal surgery. He is widely known for his academic productivity, the surgical techniques he has developed, citations in international textbooks, and extensive clinical experience.
Early Life and the Foundations of Academic Discipline
Born in 1960 in Çankaya, Ankara, Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil spent his childhood between Ankara, İstanbul, and Maşukiye. Gaining admission to Atatürk Anatolian High School as the top-ranked student and subsequently to the Ankara Science High School laid the groundwork for the discipline, analytical thinking, and scientific productivity that would define his later career.
Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine and Academic Beginnings
Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil was admitted to Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine with the sixth-highest national ranking in Türkiye. Even during his period as a general practitioner, he attracted attention at national congresses through presentations on rare clinical cases. This phase marked the beginning of his commitment to academic medicine, case-based reasoning, and scientific inquiry.
Neurosurgery and Pediatric Specialization
During his neurosurgical residency training, he focused particularly on:
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Hydrocephalus
- Congenital brain and spinal anomalies
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks
- Neurotrauma
He developed surgical approaches and techniques that were described in the medical literature for the first time.
Scientific Output and International Contributions
- All of his scientific studies were conducted domestically, with publications authored exclusively by local researchers.
- His short thesis on stem cells continues to maintain its originality in the literature.
- At the age of only 33, he was included in Marquis Who’s Who in the World.
- Surgical instruments developed by him and bearing his name have received international patents and are used in university clinics abroad.
- First-in-the-world surgical procedures
(DOI: 10.4103/0974-8237.176625 and DOI: 10.4103/jcvjs.JCVJS_94_17) - Novel indices and technical approaches for hydrocephalus and shunt surgery
(DOI: 10.3171/jns.1991.75.1.0152) - Editorial board membership and peer-review activity in internationally indexed journals
- Bayındır Hospital Medical Incentive Award (1998)
Academic Impact
- Total scientific publications: 209
- Articles indexed in SCI/SCI-E journals: 83
- His work has been cited in 45 international textbooks
- Total citations:
Google Scholar: 1,497
Scopus: 591
Web of Science: 526
- H-index: 20 (twice the internationally accepted academic threshold)
- i10-index: 38
Clinical Leadership and Role as a Mentor
- Worked in various state and military hospitals across Anatolia, including Tunceli (1984–86), Mardin (1991–94), İzmit (1994), Mevki Military Hospital (1992–93), and Traffic Hospital (1994–98).
- The youngest neurosurgeon in Türkiye to attain the title of Associate Professor.
- Achieved dual specialization by completing a PhD in neuroanatomy in addition to neurosurgery.
- Founded neurosurgery departments at three universities:
Fatih University (1999–2001)
Kırıkkale University (2001–06)
Yüksek İhtisas University (2016–23)
- Several of the residents he trained are now faculty members at various universities.
- Served as a member of the Executive Board of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society (TND) (2006-08).
- Served as Clinical Director at Bayındır Hospital, one of Ankara’s leading private healthcare institutions, for five years (2006–10).
Medical Conditions of Interest
Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of:
- Hydrocephalus (including normal pressure hydrocephalus)
- CSF leaks (CSF rhinorrhea, spinal CSF leaks)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Increased intracranial pressure and empty sella
- Congenital brain and spinal anomalies, scoliosis
- Spine and spinal cord surgery
- Craniovertebral junction pathologies
- Sacroiliac joint insufficiency
- Minimally invasive surgical techniques
Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer
After retiring at the age of 56, Prof. Dr. Semih Keskil established a consultancy company together with his wife, Özlem. Through this platform, he professionally shares more than 30 years of experience in:
- Neurosurgical case analysis
- Surgical strategy planning
- Research planning
- International academic consultancy
- Training in academic writing, hypothesis development, and clinical research design
In his own words, his last and greatest aspiration is to one day be known simply as “the father of Alara Naz Keskil.”
Selected Publıcatıons
Hydrocephalus · Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus · CSF Dynamics
Keywords:
normal pressure hydrocephalus, ventricular catheter length, shunt surgery, CSF dynamics
- Index for Optimum Ventricular Catheter Length
Journal of Neurosurgery, 1991
→ The first defined index in the literature for catheter length in hydrocephalus surgery - Redundant Ventriculomegaly Associated with Brain Abscess
Neurocirugia, 2002 - Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Overshadowed by Traumatic and Degenerative Spinal Diseases
Turkish Journal of Neurosurgery, 2022
→ A new assessment proposal for clinical scenarios in which NPH diagnosis may be missed
CSF Leak · Skull Base · Sella Turcica
Keywords:
CSF leak, empty sella, skull base surgery
- Sella Turcica Fractures in a Trauma Series and Their Clinical Significance
Surgical Neurology, 1995 - Tracing the Dural Tail with Image-Guided Surgery
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, 2006 - Common Surgical Pitfalls in the Skull
Surgical Neurology, 2003
Head Trauma · Pediatric Neurosurgery · Intracranial Hemorrhage
Keywords:
head trauma, extradural hematoma, pediatric neurosurgery
- Observation of 95 Patients with Extradural Hematoma
Surgical Neurology, 1988 - Assessment of Mortality Among Mild Head Injury in the Pediatric Age Group
Child’s Nervous System, 1995 - Moderate Head Injuries in Children — “Talk and Deteriorate” Cases
Acta Neurochirurgica, 1995 - Clinical Significance of Acute Traumatic Pneumocephalus
Neurosurgical Review, 1998
Cerebrovascular Disease · Vasospasm · Endothelial Function
Keywords:
cerebral vasospasm, endothelin, iloprost
- Alteration of Endothelin-1 Vasospasm by Iloprost
NeuroReport, 1994 - Immediate Ultrastructural Effects of Endothelin-1 on the Basilar Artery
Acta Neurochirurgica, 1995 - Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation After Aneurysm Clip Application
Acta Neurochirurgica, 1997 - Vasospasm Immunology — Interleukin-1 Levels
Clinical Neurology & Neurosurgery, 1997
Spine Surgery · Lumbar Disc Herniation · Cervical Disc Herniation · Spinal Cord Compression
Keywords:
lumbar disc herniation, cervical disc, spinal cord compression
- Imaging Problems in Adolescent Lumbar Disc Herniation
Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie, 2002 - Spontaneous Resolution of Protruded Lumbar Discs
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, 2004 - Spontaneous Regression of Cervical Disc Herniation
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, 2006 - MR Spectroscopy of Cervical Spinal Cord Compression
Rivista di Neuroradiologia, 2006
Craniovertebral Junction · Atlas Fractures
Keywords:
atlas fracture, craniovertebral junction surgery
- Unilateral Lag-Screw Technique for an Isolated Anterior 1/4 Atlas Fracture
Journal of Craniovertebral Junction & Spine, 2016 - Transoral Screw and Wire Fixation for Unstable Anterior 1/2 Atlas Fracture
Journal of Craniovertebral Junction & Spine, 2017
Surgical Techniques · Patented Devices · Innovation
Keywords:
neurosurgical instruments, surgical innovation
- Flow-Regulated Suction Tube — Patented Invention
Neurosurgery, 1992 - Non-Slipping Scissors with Micro-Serrated Blades
Child’s Nervous System, 1995 - A New Coated Bipolar Coagulator
Acta Neurochirurgica, 1998 - Percussion Chisel — Technical Note
Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, 2003
Endocrine · Pituitary · Rare Cases
Keywords:
pituitary adenoma, endocrinology neurosurgery
- Double Pituitary Adenomas — A Case Report and Review of the Literature
British Journal of …, 2022 - Effects of Trauma on Pituitary Hormonal Response
Neuropeptides, 2002
Chronic Low Back Pain · Psychometric Assessment
Keywords:
chronic low back pain, SCL-90-R
- Correlation of Anxiety, Depression, and Somatization with Chronic Low Back Pain
Turkish Neurosurgery, 2018
Geriatric Spine · Sarcopenia · A New Perspective
Keywords:
sarcopenia, spine surgery, geriatrics
- Beyond the Bone: Rethinking Spine Surgery Through the Lens of Sarcopenia
Turkish Journal of Geriatrics, 2025