Neurosurgeon- a specialist doctor whose main duties include the qualified diagnosis and treatment of patients with pathology of the brain, spinal cord, as well as peripheral nerves requiring surgical intervention.

What does a neurosurgeon treat?

First of all, we will designate what diseases the neurosurgeon treats. This:

- congenital disorders of the normal development of the brain and skull bones;

- diseases of the spinal cord and brain in both children and adults;

- diseases of the spine associated with neurological syndromes of irritation and loss of individual functions (in particular, herniated discs);

- violations of the normal development of the vessels of the brain and spinal cord (aneurysms, malformations, cavernomas);

— violations cerebral circulation that are subject to surgical treatment (ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes);

- oncological diseases (tumors) of the spinal cord and brain, as well as peripheral nerves;

- peripheral and central pain syndrome;

- traumatic brain injury;

— consequences and complications of craniocerebral and vertebral-spinal injuries;

- epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome and other "functional" pathology of the brain.

When should you see a neurosurgeon?

Consider the symptoms of some diseases, if suspected, a neurosurgeon is needed:

1. An intervertebral hernia in different departments can manifest itself with various symptoms, namely:

- with a hernia in the cervical region, numbness of the fingers, pain in the arm (shoulder), vibrations blood pressure, dizziness (all these symptoms can be combined with each other);

- with hernias in the lumbar region, numbness of the toes may appear, constant pain in the lumbar region, isolated pain in the lower leg or feet, as well as pain in the leg, which often radiate along the back side and less often along the front and side of the thigh to the foot, weakness of the muscles of the foot;

- with hernias in the thoracic region, there may be constant pain in the area chest in people who work in a forced position, and pain can occur against the background of scoliosis.

2. Traumatic brain injury: loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tinnitus, difficulty in perceiving information, impaired coordination, headaches and other symptoms. It is worth noting that in the presence of such signs, an urgent consultation of a neurosurgeon or neurologist is indicated.

3. Functional pathology of the brain can be manifested by various tics, hyperkinesis, persistent pain syndromes or epileptic seizures

4. Diseases and disorders of the nervous system and activity of the brain (spinal) cord, the symptoms of which can be studied in the specialized sections of our website.

Read more about the activities of a neurosurgeon in our other publications.

Neurosurgery is a whole science from the section of medicine. She studies the peripheral and central nervous system. In addition to studying, neurosurgery is also a practical science. Neurosurgeons treat diseases related to the nervous system of the body. In this article, we will take a closer look at what neurosurgeons treat and when they should be called upon.

Neurosurgery

The nervous system is a broad concept. Let's take a closer look at the definition. Basically, this science considers diseases of the nervous system when surgical intervention is required. Neurosurgery is also divided into several areas: neurooncology, vascular neurosurgery, neurotraumatology, pediatric neurosurgery.

Competence of a neurosurgeon

What do neurosurgeons treat? The competence of a doctor working in neurosurgery includes injuries and temporary diseases of the nervous system. He can prescribe tests, conduct examinations, diagnose a disease or injury. A neurosurgeon also practices surgery directly.

Which organs should be dealt with?

Very often people do not know who to turn to with problems of certain organs and with unclear pain that needs to be identified. Not always a neurosurgeon is treated with a corresponding problem. In the field of practice of this doctor are certain parts of the body: the brain, skull, nerves - that is, everything that concerns the nervous system. But it is necessary to separate the neurosurgeon from the neurologist. So read on.

What do neurosurgeons and neurologists treat?

Not everyone knows when to turn to a neurologist and when to a neurosurgeon. Therefore, let's look at what these doctors do and what their specialization is.

A neurologist, or in other words a neuropathologist, uses less drastic methods in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system. Basically it is the treatment of pathologies associated with nervous system, medications or the appointment of various procedures.

A neurosurgeon deals with more serious conditions that require surgery. Most often, diseases are associated with the work of the brain. Diseases of the nervous system are divided into three categories:

1. Associated with damage to neurons in the brain tissue.
2. Diseases in which the vessels of the brain are modified.
3. Diseases associated with lesions of the meninges.

Here are some diseases that a neurosurgeon treats. All of them are serious, so the neurosurgeon has a great responsibility. More on this below.

Diseases associated with neurosurgery

What does a neurosurgeon treat? Neurosurgery deals with many serious illnesses human nervous system. A specialist of this profile has the right to diagnose the disease, prescribe its treatment in the form of a surgical intervention. His field of activity includes dangerous pathologies that should be diagnosed immediately if there are certain concerns. These include abnormalities in the structure of the brain. Often they take place from birth.

Also, these are diseases associated with the spine - for example, with the spinal column. Problems that should be addressed to a neurosurgeon also include diseases resulting from certain injuries - a fracture of the skull, a fracture of the spine, intracranial injuries. The competence of the specialist also includes diseases of the spinal cord. A neurosurgeon also deals with other pathologies. Known, for example, Meniere's syndrome - a disease of the inner ear. It is the neurosurgeon who deals with the treatment of this disease.

with malignant and benign tumors that relate to the nervous system, neurosurgery also fights.

What symptoms to treat?

Many people simply do not know where to turn with certain symptoms. Therefore, they often just go to a therapist, but this way you can lose time that is precious to your health. Other patients do not always know who to turn to: a neurologist or a neurosurgeon. For example, if a child has a problem. You should know that there is not only an adult neurosurgeon.

What heals pediatrician, specialist in neurosurgery? Since there are many congenital diseases that should be dealt with from birth, there is a doctor who specializes in these "childhood" diseases.

The main problem, which is which doctor to consult, is the deception of symptoms. For example, the source of pain or the very essence of pain is not always clear. The first reason that may refer you to a doctor is a constant headache. Nervous system problems can also cause frequent fainting, tics, and even stress.

A neurosurgeon can also be consulted for other ailments related to the nervous system. These are noticeable memory loss, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness. Pay attention to pressure as well. If it jumps or just often is low or high, then you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist. Pressure can be accompanied by a migraine and all this together can drive a person to vomiting. In this case, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Now it is clear what a neurosurgeon treats in adults and children.

Diagnostics

When you are about to go to a neurosurgeon, there are a few things you need to be aware of. First, you cannot immediately demand treatment. To do this, you need to pass the diagnosis. Then the doctor will identify possible problems and designate a further course of treatment.

We figured out what the neurosurgeon treats, what symptoms to contact him with.

Diagnosis always begins with a survey in which the doctor asks questions about your symptoms and your lifestyle. If an injury is suspected, the neurosurgeon will ask you about sports or if you have had any recent injuries.

Next, he will examine the medical record and conduct an initial examination. After that, he has the right to prescribe a further examination, which should reveal the disease. He can recommend hardware checks. This can be MRI, tomography, lumbar puncture, EMG, echoencephalography and other hardware examination methods. Also, the doctor can give you a referral for tests - general analysis blood and urine, blood coagulation test. It could be others biochemical analyzes depending on suspicion.

Conclusion

Neurosurgery is a special science. She is engaged in cardinal treatment, that is, it involves surgical intervention. You will most likely be referred to a neurosurgeon by a neurologist or internist for advice on nervous system disorders. Never delay going to the doctor. This can lead to negative consequences. What neurosurgeons treat is described in detail in this article.

Neurosurgeon - what does he treat? Consultation and operations

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Who is a neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeon is a doctor who specializes in surgical treatment of diseases of the nervous system. In other words, this is a surgeon who has specialized in neurology. Becoming a neurosurgeon requires a long learning curve. So, after graduating from a medical university, a future neurosurgeon must complete an internship in surgery. An internship is a postgraduate education in medicine. In European countries, it is called residency. The duration of this stage is different countries different and can reach up to 6 - 7 years. It should be noted that studying to become a neurosurgeon will take longer than in other professions. Further, after completing the internship in surgery, further specialization in neurology is to be carried out.
Thus, from a general surgeon, the doctor specializes exclusively in the treatment ( surgical) pathologies of the nervous system.

What does a neurosurgeon treat?

Neurosurgery is a branch of medicine located on the border of two sciences - neurology and surgery. She studies diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as their consequences. The object of study of a neurosurgeon is a rather specific nervous tissue. As a result, research methods and intervention techniques ( that is, operations) have a number of features.

The main manifestations of tumors of the nervous system are:

• short-term loss of consciousness;
• convulsions and non-convulsive equivalents;
• dysfunction of the cranial nerves;
• sensitivity disorders;
• endocrine disorders ( depending on localization).

The gold standard for diagnosing tumors of the nervous system is magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) . This method allows you to specify the location and size of the tumor. The main method of treatment is surgery, that is, neurosurgical removal of the tumor. Next, depending on the malignancy, radiation therapy follows. Removal of the tumor should be maximal. If it is impossible to completely remove the tumor due to future complications, then a partial removal is performed. After removal ( partial or complete) pieces of the tumor must be examined for morphological structure.

Pathology of the vessels of the brain and spinal cord
The main type of vascular pathology in neurosurgery are aneurysms. An aneurysm is a local protrusion of the vascular wall, often resembling a small sac. The most typical location of the aneurysm is the place where the internal carotid artery originates from the ophthalmic artery, as well as the area of ​​bifurcation ( bifurcation) middle cerebral artery. In one fifth of all cases, aneurysms are multiple. The average size of aneurysms varies within one centimeter. IN rare cases they reach 2 - 3 centimeters in diameter. Such aneurysms are called giant.

Main clinical manifestation An aneurysm is a spontaneous bleeding in the brain due to its rupture. Treatment is surgical and is reduced to direct intracranial ( intracerebral) intervention and "switching off" the aneurysm from the circulation. Recently, endovasal ( intravascular) method.

Inflammatory diseases of the brain
The main inflammatory diseases of the nervous system are meningitis and encephalitis. They are much less common than other pathologies of the nervous system ( such as aneurysms) require neurosurgical treatment. However, the danger lies in the complications that these diseases entail. Meningitis is the process of inflammation of the meninges. In this case, inflammation can be both bacterial and viral in nature. main manifestation inflammatory diseases brain is a syndrome of general intoxication and meningeal symptoms. The former include fever, lethargy, skin rashes, the latter include headache, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. Almost all meningitis ( with the exception of tuberculosis) develop rapidly. Complications are damage to the cranial nerves, loss of vision, epilepsy.

Congenital anomalies of the brain and spinal cord
Anomalies in the development of the brain and spinal cord can be extremely diverse. Very often they are incompatible with life, while others lead to severe disability. Only a few of the defects require neurosurgical treatment.

The main anomalies in the development of the brain and spinal cord are:

• Hydrocephalus- abnormal expansion of the ventricles of the brain, accompanied by the accumulation of fluid. Hydrocephalus can be open or closed, often due to stenosis of the cerebral aqueduct. Often this anomaly is combined with other malformations, for example, with spinal hernias.
• Congenital cysts are isolated clusters cerebrospinal fluid which are often asymptomatic. At the same time, they can cause compression of the brain, which, in turn, will manifest itself in various symptoms. In this case, surgical treatment is recommended.
• Dandy Walker Syndrome- this is a multiple anomaly, which is accompanied by underdevelopment of the cerebellar vermis ( structures responsible for tone and balance), expansion of the fourth ventricle and hydrocephalus. Neurosurgical treatment consists in extracting excess fluid.
• Arnold-Chiari anomaly represents the omission of the tonsils of the cerebellum, followed by compression of the medulla oblongata. The disease is manifested by headaches with localization in the occipital region, swallowing disorders, ataxia ( gait disorder). The treatment consists in decompressing the brain, which is achieved by opening it.

Pediatric neurosurgeon

A pediatric neurosurgeon also deals with the surgical treatment of pathologies of the nervous system, but already in people under 18 years of age. The specifics of pediatric neurosurgery are congenital anomalies and trauma during childbirth. In the diagnosis and treatment of childhood pathology of the nervous system, the same methods are used. However, as in all pediatric profiles, the difficulty lies in the diagnosis of the disease - after all, children, especially younger ones, do not know how to express their symptoms, show where they hurt, and so on.

The main diseases in pediatric neurosurgery are:

• anomalies in the development of the brain;
• tumors of the nervous system;
• nervous system infections.

Anomalies of brain development

One of the frequent anomalies in the development of the nervous system is hydrocephalus, or as it is popularly called dropsy of the brain. It can be both congenital and acquired. However, the first option is the most common. Causes of congenital dropsy are often infectious diseases mothers, such as syphilis or toxoplasmosis.

This anomaly is characterized by an increased content of cerebrospinal fluid ( cerebrospinal fluid) in the cranial cavity. There are many classifications of dropsy of the brain, but from a neurosurgical point of view, open and closed are distinguished. Open dropsy develops due to excess fluid production, while the circulation of the fluid itself is not disturbed. When closed ( or occlusal) dropsy fluid production is not changed, but its outflow is disturbed. This happens, as a rule, due to blockage of the outflow of fluid by a growing tumor or cyst.

Clinical picture dropsy is quite specific and is characterized by a change in the shape and volume of the skull, as well as a variety of neurological symptoms. The consequence of prolonged hydrocephalus is thinning ( atrophy) nervous tissue.

Surgical treatment is advisable in early period when irreversible complications have not yet developed. Before the operation, it is necessary to clarify two points - whether dropsy progresses and its type. Most often, the operation is performed at the age of up to a year.

Types of operations for dropsy of the brain
The type of surgery depends on the type of dropsy. With the open type, operations are carried out aimed at the formation of new pathways for the outflow of fluid from the brain. This is achieved by introducing a special drainage ( tubes), one end of which is inserted into the cranial cavity, and the other into the abdominal or other cavity, where the outflow is expected. When dropsy is caused by overproduction of fluid, an operation is performed to remove part of the choroid plexus (which produce liquid) ventricles of the brain.

With closed dropsy, an operation is performed to remove the cause of the obstruction of the outflow. This may be the removal of a tumor, cyst, or abscess.

Tumors of the nervous system

Tumors of the nervous system can affect both the brain and spinal cord. In children, medulloblastomas and pinealomas are the most common. The first type is tumors that are localized for the most part in the cerebellum ( part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination), which often metastasize. Pinealoma is a tumor that develops from elements of the pineal gland.
Surgical intervention in the tumor process, if possible, should be radical. This means that the tumor should be completely resected whenever possible. If this is not possible, then a partial resection is performed. However, there are situations when the operation is completely impossible, then other methods of treatment are carried out - chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Contraindications to surgical treatment tumors are:

• Hard to reach place. As a rule, these are tumors localized in the brain stem.
• Malignant large tumors. In this case, the operation can lead to rapid metastasis of the tumor to other organs.
• Concomitant severe pathologies. For example, cardiovascular pathology, pulmonary insufficiency.

Nervous System Infections

Infections of the nervous system can also be both congenital and acquired. As a rule, the infection itself is not always treated surgically. The basis of her treatment is still antibiotic therapy. But complications after the infectious process, as a rule, require surgical intervention.

The most common complication is a brain abscess. An abscess is a limited accumulation of pus, usually with intracerebral localization. Also, an abscess can be of traumatic origin, that is, it can develop after injuries. Regardless of the origin, this disease is very dangerous and has a high mortality rate ( mortality). The main type of treatment is surgery, which consists in opening the abscess cavity and draining it ( pus extraction). The breakthrough of the abscess into the brain tissue ends in death.

Types of amnesia include:

• fixation amnesia- loss of ability to fix current events in memory;
• progressive amnesia- gradual loss of previously acquired knowledge ( information);
• retrograde amnesia- loss of events preceding the injury;
• pseudo-reminiscences- a phenomenon when the events of the distant past are transferred by the patient to the present.

Disorders of consciousness

Disorders of consciousness are also often encountered in the practice of a neurosurgeon. Conventionally, they are divided into two main syndromes - the syndrome of turned off and clouded consciousness. The first includes the states of coma and stupor ( numbness, stupor). The deepest shutdown of consciousness is a coma. During a coma, any activity of the body is turned off ( with the exception of cardiovascular and respiratory activity), the conditional and unconditioned reflexes. Sopor differs in that a person in this state still retains unconditioned reflexes ( pupillary and corneal). However, the person also does not respond to external stimuli.

With the phenomenon of clouded consciousness, psychiatrists most often meet. It includes hallucinatory-delusional and twilight syndrome, as well as a state of trance and automatism.

As a rule, disorders of consciousness are the result of trauma. The depth and duration of the disorder is directly proportional to the severity of the injury. But it can also be intoxication with various substances, infections.

The main causes of impaired consciousness include:

• brain injury;
• vascular insufficiency;
• epilepsy;
• encephalitis.

Sensitivity disorders

Sensitivity is the body's ability to perceive stimuli ( irritation) from external environment. Sensory disorders are most often encountered by neurologists and neurosurgeons.

Types of sensory disturbances include:

• anesthesia- complete loss of sensation;
• analgesia- loss of pain sensitivity;
• termanesthesia- loss of temperature sensitivity;
• dysesthesia- a perversion of sensitivity, for example, when heat is felt as pain;
• hyperalgesia- when a slight irritation is perceived as unbearable pain.

visual impairment

As a rule, vision disorders are within the competence of an ophthalmologist. However, neurosurgeons also encounter this problem quite often. In this case, we are talking about a sudden and rapidly growing loss of vision. This can be observed with injuries of the skull, especially with injuries of the anterior cranial fossa, as well as with circulatory disorders in areas of the visual cortex of the brain. In addition to reduced visual acuity, visual field defects may be observed.

Other complaints in patients for consultations with a neurosurgeon are:

• hearing loss;
• violation of balance and coordination, as a result of which there is also a violation of the habitual gait;
• decreased muscle tone or, conversely, hypertonicity;
• swallowing disorders.

Research methods in neurosurgery

Neurosurgeons practice the same research methods as other physicians. The most common research methods include x-rays and computed tomography.

Research methods in neurosurgery include:

• radiography;
• CT scan;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• positron emission tomography.

Radiography
It is an old method of research, but has not lost its informative value even today. Most often we are talking about x-rays of the skull. In this case, the method allows you to explore the size, configuration and structure of the bones of the skull. The main purpose of this research method is to identify defects ( that appeared as a result of trauma), determination of their localization and size.

CT scan
It is a modern diagnostic method in neurosurgery. Tomography allows you to assess the condition of not only the bones of the skull, but the tissues and blood vessels of the brain. The method is especially informative for detecting the localization of strokes, assessing the size of the affected tissue, abscesses, and tumors. To obtain the most accurate picture, they resort to the use of contrast agents. Such a substance penetrates into the bloodstream, staining the vessels. The result is a clearer picture.

Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI)
MRI allows you to obtain three-dimensional images of the examined organs. The advantage of the method is that it allows you to identify not only structural, but also functional changes. Thus, this study is able to detect changes associated with the physiological activity of the brain.

Positron emission tomography
Is one of the most modern methods diagnostics. Its feature is that it is able to record brain activity. This is achieved by determining the metabolism of glucose in the nervous tissue.

Along with the above methods, ultrasound is also used ( ultrasound) And laboratory diagnostics. However, diagnostic operations are the most informative in neurosurgery. These are surgical interventions that are carried out in order to identify or clarify the cause of the disease.

The types of diagnostic operations include:

• lumbar ( dorsal) puncture;
• suboccipital puncture;
• ventricular puncture.

Lumbar puncture is the most common. It is done, as a rule, with the aim of extracting cerebrospinal fluid and its further research. It is prescribed for the diagnosis of meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral hemorrhage, as well as for the purpose of decompression ( cerebrospinal fluid is removed to reduce intracranial pressure). This diagnostic procedure consists in inserting a special needle into the epidural space ( cavity between periosteum and dura mater) at the level of 4 and 5 lumbar vertebrae. For its implementation, the patient is laid lying on his side, with legs bent and brought to the stomach.

Suboccipital puncture is a puncture of a large cisterna of the brain. The cisterna magna is an area in the skull bounded on one side by the occipital bone and on the other by the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. Often also called the cerebellar cistern. The puncture of this space in neurosurgery is also performed to analyze the cerebral fluid, as well as for myelography ( study of brain structures using a contrast medium).
In this case, the puncture needle is inserted into the distance between the second cervical vertebra and the occipital bone. For a clearer visualization, the patient is recommended to bend his head sharply while lying on his side.

Ventricular puncture is a puncture of the lateral ventricles of the brain. It is carried out for contrast ( staining) ventricles, further analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Operations in neurosurgery

The main field of activity of a neurosurgeon is neurosurgical operations. Depending on the purpose, they are divided into palliative and radical. Palliative surgical interventions are those that aim not to eliminate any pathology, but to alleviate the patient's condition. An example of such an operation is an operation to create new pathways for the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid. This may be necessary when the fluid is blocked by a tumor or cyst, which leads to its further accumulation in the brain. As cerebrospinal fluid accumulates, it begins to put pressure on adjacent structures of the brain, leading to compression of the nervous tissue. To prevent this, operations are performed to create new pathways for the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Radical operations in neurosurgery are operations to remove tumors,

This doctor is a specialist in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases associated with injuries of the nervous system.

What is the competence of a neurosurgeon?

This doctor is engaged in diagnosing those diseases that are associated with temporary disorders of the nervous system.

What diseases does a neurosurgeon deal with?

There are many diseases in the field of neurosurgeon's knowledge, among them there are the main ones, for example, a tumor of the skull, and this may be a tumor of its base, it is also a violation in the development of cerebral vessels and membranes, these are different, these are defects that are observed in the development of cerebral vessels . Also, a neurosurgeon deals with diseases of children, and of all age groups, and also works with diseases of the spinal cord and brain, tumors and anomalies.

What organs does a neurosurgeon deal with?

In the field of treatment of this doctor are such vital organs as nerves, brain and skull.

When should you contact a neurosurgeon?

It is recommended to contact a neurosurgeon when symptoms of a hernia are found, and in various areas, for example,. In this case, such options are considered as a combination of a headache with frequent dizziness, also with numbness of the fingers and toes, and with pain in the joints, shoulders, and sudden changes in pressure.

As for the lumbar region, there may be pain in the leg, which most often passes along the surfaces of the thigh and foot, as well as pain in the foot, and this may also be characterized by pain in the lumbar region.

Thoracic region - here such a case as a combination of chest pain with scoliosis, as well as chest pain when performing certain work, for example, in surgeons and welders, can be considered.

When and what tests should be done?

When contacting a neurosurgeon, it is necessary to do a number of tests - a general blood and urine test, as well as conduct a partial thromboplastin time and take up the blood clotting time. You also need to conduct fibrinogen and prothrombin time, prothrombin index and normalized ratio, which is international.

What are the main types of diagnostics usually performed by a neurosurgeon?

As a rule, a neurosurgeon is engaged in conducting a variety of diagnostics, for example, this is lumbar puncture, which is needed in order to determine the intraperineal pressure, and also this puncture is a place for the introduction of substances in order to conduct a number of tests and studies.

Also, before you start training, you need to stretch the muscles, and after a heavy load, you should always take a break. Must be used in exercise equipment that is specific to your sport. For example, if you are going to run, then you will need to purchase good expensive running shoes that will make you feel great while doing the exercises. If you choose uncomfortable shoes, then it is she who can turn into the cause of discomfort in the near future.

It should be remembered that in no case should you force your own body, and if the exercise does not bring any pleasure, then there is a reason to follow the technique. with which you are doing it. If the foot is not positioned correctly, this can lead to negative consequences, but if the distance between the legs is not respected, then the effect will be exactly the same - the opposite of a positive one. In this case, physical activity will only worsen the condition. Therefore, one should not try to jump above oneself, since this approach also threatens with serious consequences. If you suddenly feel pain, it is recommended to just take a break, and then start the exercise again and again. During exercise, it is very important to be able to rest and relax in time, this can bring guaranteed result in a quick time, as well as prevent from the occurrence of injuries.

It is easy to understand what a neurosurgeon treats - this is a narrow specialist who deals with the correction of defects in the nervous system. His difference from a neuropathologist lies in the fact that he treats diseases with the help of surgical intervention. Patients are sent to a neurosurgeon when there is no way to get rid of diseases with the help of conservative treatment.

What is neurosurgery?

Neurosurgery is a relatively young branch of medicine dealing with surgical treatment diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Although the first mention of brain surgery refers to the Inca civilization, the real science of neurosurgery took shape at the end of the 19th century. Thanks to modern achievements in scientific and technological progress, neurosurgeons are able to successfully deal with such diseases of the brain and spine, which until recently led to death.

Sections of neurosurgery

To understand what a neurosurgeon treats, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the sections of this science:

1. Neurooncology. He is engaged in the treatment of neoplasms located in the brain and spine, with the help of surgical operations.
2. Neurotraumatology. It treats the consequences of the spine, which had an impact on the functioning of the nervous system.
3. Vascular neurosurgery. He specializes in the treatment of vessels associated with the central and peripheral nervous system.
4. Spinal neurosurgery. Includes work with diseases associated with the functioning of the spinal cord.
5. Functional neurosurgery. It is aimed at improving the functioning of the nervous system, getting rid of problems that interfere with its full functioning.
6. Psychosurgery. It treats some mental illnesses caused by an imbalance in the functioning of the nervous system.
7. Pediatric neurosurgery. The branch of medicine that deals with the surgical treatment of the nervous system of patients under 18 years of age.

Who is a neurosurgeon and what does he do?

Now almost all people know who a neurosurgeon is. This is a doctor who works with the control system of our body - the brain and spinal cord. The structure of the nervous system is very complex, so any mistake by a doctor can lead to irreparable consequences and death of the patient. Neurosurgeons study at universities for at least 8 years, after which they need a long practice. This profession requires great knowledge, attentiveness, practical skills, balance, endurance and patience.

What does a neurosurgeon do?

For a complete understanding of what a neurosurgeon treats, you can refer to the following list:

• congenital anomalies of the brain and spine;
• dysfunction of the spine, which leads to the occurrence of neurological syndromes;
• consequences of injuries affecting the work of the nervous system (hemorrhages, hematomas, and spine);
• disorders of the blood vessels associated with the activity of the brain and spine;
• inflammatory diseases of the brain;
• violations of the functionality of the spinal column - this is what a neurosurgeon-vertebrologist does;
• violations of the blood supply to the brain, hemorrhage;
• various tumors.

What operations does a neurosurgeon perform?

Operations in neurosurgery are associated with intervention in the brain or spinal cord. Neurosurgeons use the following types of surgical operations:

• neurorhaphy - microsurgical intervention to restore the functionality of intertwined nerve fibers;
• stereotoxic radiosurgery - used to treat hard-to-reach tumors by exposure to gamma rays;
• - penetration into the brain by cutting the bones of the skull;
• reconstruction of the skull - performed a few months after the trepanation of the skull in order to cover the site of the removed bone with a metal plate;
• shunting - connection of the vessels of the brain with the help of a shunt with the body cavity; often used for hydrocephalus in children;
• removal of the hemisphere - excision of the affected hemisphere of the brain;
• treatment intervertebral hernia by removal and plastics;
• osteosynthesis - restoration of damaged vertebrae using metal structures.

When to contact a neurosurgeon?

A referral to a neurosurgeon is often given by a neuropathologist after examining the patient, studying the diagnosis and a comprehensive examination. A consultation with a neurosurgeon may be required in the following cases:

• frequent headaches of unknown origin;
• tumors of the brain and spine;
• head and spine injuries;
• intervertebral hernia;
• nausea and vomiting with undiagnosed causes;
• epileptic seizures;
• strokes;
• constant insomnia or weakness and drowsiness;
• numbness of the limbs and convulsions;
• loss of speech, impaired cognitive processes;
• gait disturbance;
• visual disturbances.

Neurosurgeon appointment

An appointment with a neurosurgeon can be a link in the chain of diagnosing a disease or the final result. If a neuropathologist, after examining the patient and using hardware diagnostics, discovers problems that need to be clarified by a neurosurgeon, he issues a referral to this doctor. You should go to the doctor's appointment with an extract from a neurologist, with the results of all examinations on film and with conclusions. The result of a consultation with a neurosurgeon will be either a referral to another doctor, or registration with this doctor and treatment under his supervision.

How is an appointment with a neurosurgeon?

Consultation of a neurosurgeon takes place in a certain sequence:

• familiarization with the patient's complaints;
• study of anamnesis;
• study of extracts and conclusions of other doctors, available diagnostic results;
• examination of the patient with the use of a neurological hammer, checking reflexes;
• examination for the presence or absence of symptoms of inflammation of the spinal structures;
• examination of the patient in the Romberg position;
• straight line test.

After a standard consultation procedure, the doctor makes or confirms a preliminary diagnosis. To clarify it, he can resort to other types of examination and prescribe additional hardware diagnostics. If the doctor is convinced that the disease does not belong to his area, he issues his opinion to the patient and redirects him to another doctor.

What does a neurosurgeon check?

To verify the presence or absence of a pathology of the nervous system, the neurosurgeon prescribes the following examinations:

• routine blood and urine tests;
• MRI or CT of the required areas;
• spinal puncture;
• Ultrasound of the vessels of the brain - this examination must be prescribed by a vascular neurosurgeon;
• angiography - checking blood vessels with a contrast agent;
• myelography - examination of the spinal cord and spine using a spinal puncture through which a contrast agent is injected;
• encephalography - the study of brain impulses.

In case of problems with the nervous system and spine, the outcome of treatment depends on the correct behavior at the first signs of the disease and in case of injury.

1. Do not ignore frequent and severe headaches, they can be caused by serious pathologies of the nervous system.
2. For severe dizziness, lie on your side and close your eyes.
3. Repeated vomiting, not associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, needs to be diagnosed by specialists.
4. It is impossible to set intervertebral hernias, you can achieve even more infringement.
5. During massage, sharp turns of the neck and body should be avoided.
6. In case of a neck or back injury, fix the position of the person and call a doctor.
7. You can not jump into reservoirs in which the bottom is unknown.
8. With frequent pressure surges and dizziness, a consultation with a neuropathologist and a neurosurgeon is necessary.