Freiburg University Hospital, Freiburg – Germany
About Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen
Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University Medical Center Freiburg with over 25 years of clinical experience in deep brain stimulation (DBS), stereotactic neurosurgery, imaging-assisted neurosurgery with DTI tractography, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HiFU) lesioning, epilepsy surgery, and functional neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders. He is recognised internationally as a pioneer of the superolateral medial forebrain bundle (slMFB) DBS target for treatment-resistant depression and OCD.
- Human Medicine (MD equivalent) from RWTH Aachen University, Germany (1992–1998); Medical practice license from Germany (1998); Fellowship in Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery at the Surgical Center for Movement Disorders, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- 25+ years of clinical experience; Full Professor (W3) of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University Medical Center Freiburg since 2013.
- Formerly Professor (W2) of Stereotaxy and MR-based operative techniques at University of Bonn (2008–2012); Head of Functional Neurosurgery at University Hospital Aachen (2005–2008).
- Authored 277+ peer-reviewed publications on deep brain stimulation, stereotactic neurosurgery, and functional neurosurgery; co-developed the slMFB DBS target for treatment-resistant depression.
- Best Oral Presentation Award — World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) Tokyo 2013; ESSFN Best Oral Presentation 2012; Kurt Decker Prize of the German Society for Neuroradiology (2001); Wilhelm Tönnis Scholarship from the DGNC (2008).
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- Human Medicine (MD equivalent graduation) — Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, 1992–1998
- Medical Practice License — Germany, 1998
Fellowships & Special Training
- Fellowship in Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery — Surgical Center for Movement Disorders, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Internship — Neurosurgical Clinic, University Hospital Aachen (1999, under Prof. Dr. J.M. Gilsbach)
- Internship — Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Aachen (2000, under Prof. Dr. R. Rossaint)
Certifications & Accreditations
- German Medical Licence (Approbation)
- Full Member — German Society for Neurosurgery (DGNC)
- Member — European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS)
- Member — The Movement Disorders Society
- Member — German Society for Computer and Robot-Assisted Surgery (CURAC)
- Member — European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN)
- Member — World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN)
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Parkinson's Disease
- Essential Tremor
- Dystonia (including Cervical Dystonia)
- Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Pharmacoresistant Focal Epilepsy
- Movement Disorders
- Intracerebral Haemorrhage (for stereotactic drainage)
- Brain Tumours requiring Stereotactic Biopsy
- Refractory Epilepsy requiring Anterior Thalamic Nucleus DBS
Sub-specialties
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Pioneer of the superolateral medial forebrain bundle (slMFB) DBS target for treatment-resistant depression and OCD — a trusted Neurosurgeon specialist in Freiburg, Germany for international patients seeking the best Neurosurgeon doctor in Europe.
- Imaging-Assisted Stereotactic Surgery: DWI / DTI tractography-guided DBS targeting of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT) for tremor.
- Functional Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders: Extension of DBS into the realm of psychiatry — major depression and OCD.
- High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HiFU): Incisionless lesioning therapy for tremor.
- Focal Cortex Stimulation (FCS): EASEE system for pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's Disease — STN, GPi targeting
- DBS for Essential Tremor and Dystonia (Vim / GPi)
- slMFB DBS for Treatment-Resistant Depression and OCD
- Anterior Thalamic Nucleus DBS for Refractory Epilepsy
- DTI Tractography-Guided DBS (DRT targeting for tremor)
- HiFU Lesioning for Tremor
- Stereotactic Biopsy
- Focal Cortex Stimulation (FCS) using the EASEE System
- Augmented Reality-Guided Drainage of Intracerebral Haemorrhage
- Micro-ECoG / DBS Electrode Neural Recording and Stimulation (research)
List of Disease and Treatment for which Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen can be consulted
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- University Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Freiburg, Germany — Head of Department and Full Professor (W3) of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (2013 – Present)
- Center for Deep Brain Stimulation, University Medical Center Freiburg — Director (Present)
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation (NeuroModulBasics), Medical Faculty of Freiburg University — Department Head (Present)
Past Affiliations
- University of Bonn, Department of Neurosurgery, Germany — Professor (W2) of Stereotaxy and MR-based Operative Techniques (2008 – 2012)
- University Hospital Aachen, Department of Neurosurgery, Germany — Head, Division for Functional Neurosurgery (2005 – 2008)
- University Hospital Aachen, Department of Neurosurgery — Assistant Physician (2000 – 2005)
- Surgical Center for Movement Disorders, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada — Fellowship in Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery (Past)
Academic & Research Roles
- Full Professor (W3), Medical Faculty of Freiburg University
- Head, Laboratory of Stereotaxy and Interventional Neurosciences, University Medical Center Freiburg
- Principal Investigator — DISTINCT trial (DTI tractography-assisted DBS for Essential Tremor)
- Scientific Advisor — CereGate (Hamburg) and Cortec (Freiburg)
- Collaborator — Boston Scientific (USA), Medtronic (USA), BrainLab (Munich)
Key Achievements
- 25+ years of neurosurgical practice
- 277+ peer-reviewed publications on DBS, stereotactic neurosurgery and functional neurosurgery
- Co-developer of the slMFB DBS target for treatment-resistant depression and OCD
- Head of one of Europe's leading Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery departments
- Leadership of international multicenter DBS registries for dystonia
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- Best Oral Presentation — World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) 16th Quadrennial Meeting, Tokyo, Japan, 2013 — "Long-term effects of deep brain stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (slMFB DBS) for treatment-resistant depression"
- Best Oral Presentation — 20th bi-annual meeting of the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN), Lisbon, Portugal, 2012
- Wilhelm Tönnis Foundation Scholarship — German Society for Neurosurgery (DGNC), €10,000, 2008
- Kurt Decker Prize — German Society for Neuroradiology, 2001 (with Timo Krings, Hubertus Axer et al.)
- Scholarship — German National Academic Foundation, Bonn, 1993
Professional Memberships
- German Society for Neurosurgery (DGNC) — Full Member
- European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS)
- The Movement Disorders Society
- German Society for Computer and Robot-Assisted Surgery (CURAC)
- European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN)
- World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN)
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- Coenen VA, Döbrössy MD, Teo SJ, Wessolleck J, Sajonz BEA, Reinacher PC, et al. Diverging prefrontal cortex fiber connection routes to the subthalamic nucleus and the mesencephalic ventral tegmentum investigated with long range (normative) and short range (ex-vivo high resolution) 7T DTI. Brain Structure and Function. 2022;227(1):23–47.
- Sajonz BEA, Amtage F, Reinacher PC, Jenkner C, Piroth T, Kätzler J, Urbach H, Coenen VA. Deep Brain Stimulation for Tremor Tractographic Versus Traditional (DISTINCT): Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. JMIR Research Protocols. 2016;5(4):e244.
- Coenen VA, Krauss JK. The Freiburg school of functional stereotactic neurosurgery: history and legacy of functional stereotactic neurosurgery in Germany. Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A. 2025.
- Coenen VA, Zielinski JM, Sajonz BEA, Reinacher PC. Joint Anatomical, Histological, and Imaging Investigation of the Midbrain Target Region for Superolateral Medial Forebrain Bundle Deep Brain Stimulation. 2024.
- Additional 273+ peer-reviewed publications on DBS, stereotactic neurosurgery, and functional neurosurgery.
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- Extending applications of Deep Brain Stimulation into psychiatry (depression, OCD)
- Imaging-assisted DBS using DTI tractography
- Animal model approaches for understanding DBS mechanisms
- Role of the reward system in neuropsychiatric disorders
- HiFU lesioning for tremor
- Focal cortex stimulation for pharmacoresistant epilepsy
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (EUR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery Consultation (Department Head) | €250 – €500 | $270 – $540 |
| Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Implantation | €55,000 – €90,000 | $59,000 – $97,000 |
| slMFB DBS for Treatment-Resistant Depression | €65,000 – €1,00,000 | $70,000 – $1,08,000 |
| HiFU Lesioning for Tremor | €30,000 – €50,000 | $32,000 – $54,000 |
| Stereotactic Biopsy | €8,000 – €15,000 | $8,600 – $16,000 |
| Focal Cortex Stimulation (EASEE System) | €40,000 – €70,000 | $43,000 – $75,000 |
*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen use in Neurosurgeon treatment?
Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen uses cutting-edge neurosurgical platforms including DTI tractography-guided DBS systems, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HiFU) lesioning equipment, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, stereotactic navigation, focal cortex stimulation with the EASEE system, and augmented reality-guided neurosurgical systems. Virtual second opinions are available to international patients through Cancer Rounds.
2. What conditions does Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen specialize in treating?
Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen specialises in Neurosurgeon care, treating Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy, and movement disorders with stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a pioneering DBS and stereotactic neurosurgery specialist in Freiburg, Germany for international patients seeking the best Neurosurgeon doctor in Europe.
3. How do I book an appointment with Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen?
Appointments with Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination in Germany.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.
6. Does Prof. Dr. Volker Arnd Coenen offer second opinions for Neurosurgeon cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for patients who wish to review their diagnosis or treatment plan with an expert Neurosurgeon specialist in Freiburg, Germany.
Freiburg University Hospital, Freiburg - Germany
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