Mr James Walkden

About

Mr James Walkden is a leading consultant neurosurgeon based in Aberdeen who specialises in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) back surgery, posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery and CSF disorders, alongside spinal neurosurgery, lumbar microdiscectomy and minimally-invasive spinal surgery (MISS). He privately practises at the Albyn Hospital and his NHS base is NHS Grampian where he is clinical lead for neuro-oncology. 

Mr Walkden is qualified with various awards, which include a BMedSci from the University of St Andrews and an MBBS from the University of Manchester, while he has a European Association of Neurological Surgery (FEBNS) fellowship and a fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons, too. He went on to specialist training in the north west of England, at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, obtaining a CCT in neurosurgery in 2014.

Mr Walkden, who went on to complete a further fellowship in neuro-oncology surgery at the Walton Centre in Liverpool before starting his consultant posts in Aberdeen, regularly performs a wide range of neuro-oncology surgeries. These include awake craniotomy and utilising neurophysiology monitoring to preserve motor function. 

Furthermore, Mr Walkden also performs various degenerative spinal procedures including MISS, utilising interbody cages to restore spinal alignment. He also manages many CSF disorders including hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension, while he is a member of the CSF Leak Association medical advisory board.

Alongside Mr Walkden’s impressive career achievements, he is well respected as a trainer and teacher. He provides regular training to medical students and neurosurgery trainees via outpatient clinics, observed surgeries and lectures. He is also an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons FRCS(SN), contributes regularly to consultant level exam courses and is also a regent at Aberdeen University medical school where he supports students with mentoring. 

Mr Walkden’s research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals while he is a member of the British Society of Neurosurgeons, British Association of Spinal Surgeons and the European Association of Neurosurgeons. In addition, he has membership with the British Neuro-oncology Society, the European Association of Neuro-oncology and the CSF Leak Association, as well as the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.             

Education

• Committee member, CSF Lead Association medical advisory committee