Dr. Thomas E. Melin, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Neurosurgeon Dr. Thomas E. Melin, who serves patients in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Born and raised in Kentucky, Dr. Melin is a board-certified neurosurgeon with expertise in cranial and spinal tumors, intracranial vascular lesions, and all spinal disorders. 

He is currently serving patients at Port City Neurosurgery & Spine in Wilmington, North Carolina. “At Port City Neurosurgery & Spine, our philosophy is that the better informed you are as a patient, the more comfortable you feel – before, during, and after treatment. We offer each patient compassion and courtesy, providing guidance every step of the way. Once you are confident and comfortable, we will proceed with cutting-edge procedures that reduce pain and restore as much function as possible, returning you to a more fulfilling life.” as stated on the practice’s website. 

Professionally, Dr. Melin is also affiliated with New Hanover Regional Medical Center, a quality driven network of hospitals, outpatient centers, emergency services and physicians serving Wilmington and surrounding areas. 

A 1994 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, he went on to complete his residency in neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. Thereafter, he became board-certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). The primary mission of the ABNS is to encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards, and advance the science of neurological surgery, thereby serving the cause of public health.

In order to stay up to date in his field, the doctor remains a member of the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, and the North Carolina Medical Society.

Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. Neurosurgeons are doctors who diagnose and treat problems with the nervous system, often by performing surgery on the brain or spine. They treat strokes, tumors, certain types of birth defects, infections, and head or spinal cord injuries.

Recommended Articles

• What to Expect After a Laminectomy

  If you experience back pain that grows severe, your doctor may recommend surgery depending on the cause. Over the centuries, back pain has been constantly a growing condition. You may be facing a lumbar laminectomy at any time.During a LaminectomyLaminectomies are done under general anesthesia,...

• What is a Transient Ischemic Attack?

  Also considered as a mini stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) has symptoms similar to that of a stroke, but lasting only for a short period of time, without causing any permanent damage. TIA is often caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain by a blood clot. Once the blood flow is...

• What Is a Cervical Laminectomy?

  A cervical laminectomy is performed to relieve the compression of the spinal cord and nerves around your neck. This is achieved by making the spinal canal wider, creating more space for your nerves. A part of the protruding bone or the lamina is either removed or trimmed during this procedure. The...

• What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

  Spinal surgery usually requires that the surgeon makes a relatively huge incision on the patient’s back in order to have complete access to the spinal vertebrae. This is the usual procedure in dealing with defects of the spine, and it has been so because of the delicate nature of the...

• What Is Oromandibular Dystonia?

  Oromandibular DystoniaOromandibular dystonia is a type of focal dystonia. This condition is also called cranial dystonia, in which the face, jaw, or tongue forcefully contracts and becomes difficult to open and close the mouth. Thus, a person's speech and ability to chew are affected. Cranial...

• How to Prepare for a Laminectomy

  Laminectomy is a procedure where a surgeon removes a part or more parts of your vertebrae or any ligaments on your spinal cord that exert pressure on the nerves. Laminectomy is said to be the most common back surgery performed for disability and pain. The following are some expectations before,...