As the brain and spine are two of the body’s most crucial organs, disorders affecting them necessitate treatment and intervention by specialists with the requisite training and skills.
Most people think that a neurosurgeon performs surgery on the nerve system and an orthopedic surgeon performs operations on the bones and joints. If you got a brain problem, you should visit a neurosurgeon, and if you have a knee problem, you should see an orthopedic surgeon. But, say you have an issue with your spine, which involves both your nervous system and your bones, who should you see?
- A Neurosurgeon for Brain and Spine Treatment
A neurosurgeon is a physician who diagnoses and treats neurological system diseases, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
- Neurosurgeons are experts in the brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and spine and the diseases and disorders that might impact them.
- Neurosurgeons diagnose and treat problems with the structures that support your nervous systems, such as your skull, vertebrae of the spine, disks in the spine, blood vessels, protective membranes, and soft tissues are the many examples.
- During neurosurgery residency, a neurosurgeon is trained for both brain and spine surgeries. 60-70 percent of them are only spine treatments. On the other hand, an orthopedic surgeon specializes in conducting joint procedures on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, foot, and spine. Most neurosurgery residents will likely have more spine surgeries throughout their residency than orthopedic residents/fellows combined.
- Neurosurgeons have the training to operate on the nervous system. They have a thorough training and understanding of nerve compressions, disc herniations, spondylolisthesis, and tumors.
- Minimally invasive treatments for removing brain tumors that do not involve opening the skull and can be performed through the nose are becoming common.
- A neurosurgeon is proficient in a variety of surgical and procedural techniques, including:
- Minimally Intrusive Surgery
- Surgery using endoscopes.
- Microsurgery.
- Radiosurgery.
- Endovascular surgery or surgery that focuses on the arteries
- Interventional procedures for chronic pain.
The nervous system is one of the most intricate and delicate parts of the body. Neurosurgeons undergo the necessary training to operate on the nervous system.
- Conditions Treated By Neurosurgeons
These are some of the most common diseases that a neurosurgeon treats at a brain and spine hospital :
- Tumors of the brain.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or a condition that affects the hands and wrists.
- A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.
- Back or neck pain that persists.
- Chiari malformations and arachnoid cysts are examples of congenital brain diseases.
- Spina bifida and tethered spinal cord, congenital spinal column conditions.
- Essential tremor
- Herniated Disks
- Hydrocephalus.
- Intracranial aneurysms are an aneurysm that occurs inside the skull.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Parkinson’s disease
- Nerves that have been pinched.
- Sciatica.
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
- Bone spurs in the spine (osteophytes).
- Scoliosis (spinal stenosis).
- Fractures of the spine.
- Tumors of the spine.
- Scoliosis and spondylolisthesis are examples of spinal abnormalities.
- Injuries to the head, brain, neck, or spine.
With the progress in medicine in surgical techniques, many diseases affecting the brain are being treated with more positive results than before. Treatment can now cure brain tumors because of advancements in brain surgery. Brain surgery can also treat aneurysms, epilepsy, and fluid buildup in the brain, skull fractures, nerve damage, blood clots, and abscesses.
There are several advances in brain and spine surgery that Neurosurgeons at brain and spine hospitals implement for their patients:
- Minimally invasive treatments for removing brain tumors that do not involve opening the skull and can be performed through the nose are becoming more common.
- Patients with meningiomas or pituitary tumors previously had to undergo a traditional craniectomy followed by radiation, resulting in severe side effects like hair loss, skin changes, and tissue damage. With stereotactic radiosurgery, surgeons now can provide more targeted radiation aimed solely at the tumor. It significantly reduces other damaging side effects.
- There are various options for delicate surgeries, such as monitoring and post-operative care for brain diseases and disorders.
- Predictive technology helps to detect early symptoms of neuro illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease to prevent or lessen their effects.
- Furthermore, advanced anesthetic facilities, sophisticated equipment, and high-quality intensive care units have all helped improve the outcomes of neurosurgery procedures.
This way, a neurosurgeon at brain and spine hospitals specializes in and evaluates, diagnoses, and treats diseases that affect your body’s neurological system. It includes your brain, spinal cord, spinal column, and nerves that branch out from your spinal cord.
These are some of the most common brain and spine surgeries:
- Thrombectomy and cerebral aneurysm repair
- Biopsy
- Craniotomy
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- Minimally Invasive Neuroendoscopy
- Open surgery.
Before recommending surgery, brain and spine hospitals usually explore non-operative treatment options, such as medicines, steroid injections, and physical therapy. For instance, if you are having chronic back pain, your neurosurgeon may first suggest anti-inflammatory medications or physical therapy. Surgery is recommended by the neurosurgeon after a complete diagnosis that involves a physical examination and a complete evaluation of the necessary test results.
