neurosurgery

What is neurosurgery?

neurosurgery is a medical specialty that allows the treatment of diseases that can alter the function of the: 1) central nervous system (eg, brain, pituitary gland and spinal cord), 2) peripheral nervous system (eg, cranial nerves, nerve roots, and peripheral nerves), 3) the autonomic nervous system, and 4) structures which protect these systems (eg skull, meninges, and spine) and 5) their blood supply (eg intracranial and other extracranial and spinal circulatory systems).

neurosurgery is a major surgical discipline; it requires knowledge in neurology, intensive care, traumatology, and radiology. A significant number of users undergoing neurosurgery are treated conservatively (without surgery).

Neuroradiology (imaging of the nervous system) may develop in recent years and change the way decisions are made in neurosurgery. neurosurgery is highly dependent on imaging, and advice to the neurosurgeon should be described in the interpretation of various imaging studies, including radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.

What is a neurosurgeon?

A neurosurgeon is a physician who specializes in neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons are not just brain surgeons; they also treat patients suffering from back and neck pain and a multitude of other illnesses ranging from trigeminal neuralgia to head injury.

What is the role of the neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeons provide surgical and non-surgical management (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation) of disorders affecting the nervous system. Because neurosurgeons have extensive training in all neurological disease neurologists, internists, general practitioners, and orthopedic surgeons often call upon them for consultations. Neurosurgeons diagnose, assess, and perform surgery to treat disorders of the nervous system. They operate on the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system, which can involve any body area. Neurosurgeons may treat patients of all ages, from premature babies to older adults.

What are the main types of conditions that neurosurgeons treat?

• tumors of the brain, spine, and skull

• trauma to the head and spinal cord

• degenerative spinal conditions of the spine

• vascular disease as brain aneurysms, vascular malformations, and strokes

• epilepsy, movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease

• infections

• certain psychiatric disorders

• congenital conditions such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus

What are the main subtypes of neurosurgery?

• pediatric neurosurgery – includes facial anomalies, congenital spine defects, and tumors

• neuro-oncology – the management of brain and spinal tumors

• functional neurosurgery – the treatment of a range of conditions like epilepsy, movement disorders and cerebral palsy

• neurovascular surgery – including complex aneurysms and abnormal or narrowed blood vessels

• traumatology – to treat a head injury

• skull-base surgery – diseases of the skull-base and skull-base tumors

• spinal surgery – often for elderly patients