🧠 Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is a specialized branch of surgery focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and cerebrovascular system.
🔍 What Does Neurosurgery Cover?
Neurosurgeons handle a wide range of conditions such as:
- Brain tumors and cancers
- Spinal disorders (herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spinal cord injuries)
- Traumatic brain and spinal injuries
- Vascular disorders (aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations)
- Hydrocephalus (excess cerebrospinal fluid)
- Movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease – deep brain stimulation)
- Congenital anomalies (e.g., spina bifida)
- Infections affecting the nervous system
- Peripheral nerve problems (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome)
🛠️ Common Neurosurgical Procedures
- Craniotomy: Opening the skull to remove tumors, relieve pressure, or treat bleeding
- Spinal fusion: Stabilizing the spine with hardware
- Laminectomy: Removing part of the vertebra to relieve nerve pressure
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt: Treating hydrocephalus by draining fluid
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS): Implanting electrodes to manage movement disorders
- Microvascular decompression: Relieving nerve compression causing pain (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia)
⚠️ When is Neurosurgery Needed?
- Persistent or worsening neurological symptoms
- Evidence of mass effect or structural abnormalities on imaging
- Severe trauma with neurological compromise
- Failure of conservative management in spinal or nerve conditions
- Life-threatening conditions like brain hemorrhage or tumors
🧪 Diagnosis and Preoperative Evaluation
- MRI, CT scans, and angiography to visualize nervous system structures
- Neurological examination
- Electrophysiological studies (EMG, nerve conduction studies)
- Consultation with multidisciplinary teams
🩺 Risks and Recovery
Neurosurgery is complex and may carry risks such as infection, bleeding, neurological deficits, or anesthesia complications. Recovery varies based on the procedure but often involves:
- Hospital stay and monitoring
- Rehabilitation (physical, occupational, speech therapy)
- Follow-up imaging and assessments