What is Neurosurgery?

Neurosurgery is surgery of the nervous system

. Whenever we speak of neurosurgery many people think of it as brain surgery. The reality is it is much more than that! The question is what is neurosurgery then? Who is a neurosurgeon? It is the medical speciality concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with injury to, or diseases/disorders of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column, and peripheral nerves within all parts of the body. Neurosurgeons are not just brain surgeons, they are medically trained neurosurgical specialists who can also help patients suffering from back and neck pain as well as a host of other illnesses ranging from trigeminal neuralgia to head injury and Parkinson’s disease.

What is neurosurgery? Is it only the surgery of the brain? Let us read further. The speciality of neurosurgical care includes both adult and paediatric patients. Dependent upon the nature of the injury or disease a neurological surgeon may provide surgical or non-surgical care. During this residency training, neurosurgeons are trained in all aspects of neurosurgery, including the cerebrovascular system, the spine and spinal cord, trauma, tumours, pain management and paediatric surgery. 

Neurosurgeons provide the operative and non-operative management that is prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care and rehabilitation of neurological disorders. It is because neurosurgeons have extensive training in the diagnosis of all neurological diseases, emergency room doctors, neurologists, internists, family practitioners, and osteopaths often call upon them for consultations.

Neurosurgeons are experts in the human nervous system; they also perform a wide variety of duties in addition to surgery. For instance, other health specialists such as emergency room doctors and neurologists often consult with neurosurgeons regarding their cases. Neurosurgeons also help evaluate and rehabilitate people with neurological conditions. 

There’s a myth that neurosurgeons spend all of their time in surgery. In reality, they have many other responsibilities. It can be hard to predict exactly what an appointment with a neurosurgeon will involve. 

As some of the most experienced and highly-trained specialists in medicine, neurosurgeons spend a great deal of time consulting with other doctors about various cases. They also have their roster of cases, each with unique challenges. Not all of these cases will need surgery, though many likely will. 

Neurosurgeons treat people with a range of neurological issues, such as lower back pain; peripheral nervous system disorders that are issues with nerves that carry messages to and from the brain; brain tumours and carpal tunnel syndrome. It is advised to visit a neurosurgeon even if there is a slight problem related to your brain and the nervous system. Sometimes when the cases are dealt with at the right time, lives are saved.