Neurosurgery

A neurosurgeon is a specialist trained to diagnose and manage conditions affecting the nervous system. Neurosurgeons perform surgical procedures for brain and spine conditions and injuries. They also provide non-surgical treatments. Stroke, low back pain, epilepsy, pinched nerves, sciatica, and chronic pain are some of the painful medical conditions treated by neurosurgeons.

Conditions requiring neurosurgery

• Brain or spine injury
• Stroke
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebral aneurysm or  (AVM)
• Herniated disc
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Brain or spine infections such as abscesses or empyema.
• Adult-onset hydrocephalus
• Spina bifida
• Brain or spine tumors

Diagnostic tests and procedures

The following are the different diagnostic procedures that may be required to diagnose neurological conditions:

• Blood test
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, MRA, CTA
• Lumbar puncture
• External lumbar drainage

Types of neurosurgery procedures

1. Vascular neurosurgery: This involves the treatment of blood vessels in the brain and spine.
2. Neuro-oncology: This involves the management of brain and spinal cord tumors.
3. Skull base surgery: These surgeries focus on removing tumors at the skull's base. These are sometimes done endoscopically and are minimally invasive.
4. Spinal neurosurgery: The surgery is done to treat disoders or injuries to the spine.
5. Pediatric neurosurgery: These are neurological surgeries that involve the specialized input of a pediatric neurosurgeon.