What Is a Neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the brain and spinal cord.
They provide complete care – before, during, and after surgery. Neurosurgeons treat the entire range of conditions affecting the nervous system, including birth defects, head and spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, tumours, degenerative disorders, and other ailments of the brain and spine.
To become a neurosurgeon, a candidate must complete the following education and training:
- Earn a bachelor's degree (4 years).
- Attend medical school (4 years).
- Complete a residency in neurological surgery (7 years).
- Pass a written board certification exam.
In total, it takes approximately 15-16 years to become a board-certified neurosurgeon.
What does a neurosurgeon do?
Neurosurgeons are responsible for:
- Diagnosing and treating diseases of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
- Performing surgeries to remove tumours, repair injuries, and relieve pressure on the nervous system
- Managing pain and other symptoms associated with neurological disorders
- Providing rehabilitation and follow-up care for patients after surgery or other treatments
- Conducting research to develop new and improved treatments for neurological disorders
- Educating patients and their families about neurological disorders
Neurosurgeons typically work in hospitals and medical centres, but they may also work in private practice.
What conditions do neurosurgeons treat?
Neurosurgeons treat a wide variety of conditions, including:
- Brain tumours
- Spinal cord injuries
- Epilepsy
- Hydrocephalus
- Meniere's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Alzheimer's disease
- Stroke
What are the different types of neurosurgery?
There are many different types of neurosurgery, including:
- Brain tumour surgery: Neurosurgeons remove tumours from the brain and repair any damage caused by the tumour.
- Spinal cord surgery: Neurosurgeons repair injuries to the spinal cord and remove tumours and other lesions that compress the spinal cord.
- Epilepsy surgery: Neurosurgeons perform a variety of surgeries to treat epilepsy, such as resecting the portion of the brain that is causing the seizures or implanting a vagus nerve stimulator.
- Hydrocephalus surgery: Neurosurgeons create a shunt to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain and relieve the pressure on the brain.
- Meniere's disease surgery: Neurosurgeons perform a variety of surgeries to treat Meniere's disease, such as endolymphatic sac decompression or labyrinthectomy.
- Multiple sclerosis surgery: Neurosurgeons perform surgeries to relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as pain, muscle weakness, and vision problems.
- Parkinson's disease surgery: Neurosurgeons perform surgeries to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as deep brain stimulation or pallidotomy.
- Alzheimer's disease surgery: Neurosurgeons perform surgeries to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, such as removing amyloid plaques from the brain.
- Stroke surgery: Neurosurgeons perform surgeries to remove blood clots from the brain or repair damaged blood vessels after a stroke.
What are the risks of neurosurgery?
As with any surgery, there are risks associated with neurosurgery, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Swelling
- Nerve damage
- Stroke
- Death
How successful is neurosurgery?
The success of neurosurgery depends on the type of surgery and the patient's individual condition. Overall, neurosurgery is a very successful field of medicine, and many patients experience significant improvements in their symptoms after surgery.
How can I find a neurosurgeon?
If you are considering neurosurgery, you should talk to your doctor or health insurance provider to get a referral to a qualified neurosurgeon. You can also find neurosurgeons in your area by searching the American Association of Neurological Surgeons website.