What Is Neurosurgery?

Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with injury to, or diseases of, the brain, spine or peripheral nerves.

Although a surgical subspecialty, neurological surgeons may provide either surgical or non-surgical care, depending on the nature of the injury or illness.

What Kinds of Illnesses do Neurological Surgeons Treat?

Neurosurgeons are more than just brain surgeons. These medical specialists are trained to help patients with head and spine trauma; cerebrovascular disorders, such as aneurysms of the brain; chronic low back pain; birth defects; brain and spinal tumors; and abnormalities of the peripheral (face, arms, legs, hands and feet) nerves.

Disorders of the brain, spine and nerves commonly treated by neurosurgeons include:

• Brain Tumors
• Brain Hemorrhage (Hematoma)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cervical Spine Disorders
• Head Injury
• Herniated Disk
• Hydrocephalus
• Intracranial Aneurysm
• umbar Spinal Disorders
• Meningomyelocele
• Spine Fractures (e.g. compression fractures)
• Spine & Spinal Cord Injury
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Spine & NerveTumors

How Are Neurosurgeons Trained?

After four years of medical school and a one year internship program, the doctor enters a neurosurgical residency program of five to seven years. While in the program, neurosurgical residents are trained in all aspects of neurosurgery, including cerebrovascular, pediatrics, spine, trauma and tumor. The resident program is long and difficult, due to the extreme complexity of the nervous system and the advanced techniques used in neurosurgical operations.

Following residency training and several years in practice, the neurological surgeon may take the American Board of Neurological Surgery examination -- a thorough assessment of the neurosurgeon's skill, judgement and depth of knowledge. The successful completion of this examination will result in board certification.

While the neurological surgeon has a comprehensive knowledge after medical school and residency training, there are continual changes in this specialty that require ongoing study throughout the neurological surgeon's professional career. Monthly scientific journals, annual meetings, specialized symposia and other educational opportunities help the neurosurgeon keep pace with rapid changes and developments in neurosurgery.

What is the Role of the Neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeons provide the operative and non-operative management (i.e.: prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care and rehabilitation) of neurological disorders. Because neurosurgeons have extensive training in the diagnosis of all neurological diseases, they are often called upon by emergency room doctors, neurologists, internists, family practitioners, and osteopaths for consultations.

What's New in Neurosurgery?

Neurosurgeons have been leaders in the incorporation of new technologies into the diagnosis, evaluation, and surgical and non-surgical treatment of patients. The initiation of the microscope into the operating room in the 1960’s has revolutionized how we manage many cranial and spinal problems. Although the advances in optics have continued to improve our ability to work on a smaller scale, the computer, or more specifically, the digital, revolution is evolving beyond our initial dreams. The myriad of innovations that are at our finger tips allow us to localize, and, in some situations, have three dimensional images guide our instruments to target areas in the brain and spine, during surgery. The " hard to reach areas" of the brain and spine are slowly disappearing. Surgery had previously required a large opening to approach nearly any tumor or disc. Today the exposures are constantly getting smaller, and outcomes are improving.

Today’s operating microscope is a complicated machine that automatically focuses and zooms on our target. The head of the microscope "floats" in a weightless manor at the touch of a button, allowing extremely precise redirection at any time. There are multiple observer heads for assistants and students. The machine has built in digital photography for still and video imaging. Its coaxial light source precludes the need for any other lighting. And all of the controls are within a few inches of the eyepieces.

Now, additional surgical & digital systems and optics can be joined to the microscope, expanding its usefulness even further. The surgical laser adapts to the computer system of the microscope providing a very precise delivery of the laser energy, with pin point optical control of the laser beam. Our Image Guided Stereotactic System joins to the microscope as well, turning it into a highly sophisticated operating instrument.

The operating room has therefore become an elaborate system of computers and optics that are intimately associated with the exact anatomy of the patient, the imaging studies, and the instrumentation used to perform surgery.

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What is Neurosurgery from Medline Plus