What do neurosurgeons specialize in?

Neurosurgeons specialize in the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and prevention of disorders or diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and parts of the skull.

These disorders or diseases can be traumatic, congenital (present from birth), or degenerative. Neurosurgeons are doctors who have completed medical school and then specialized in neurosurgery, which involves years of additional training and education in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of neurological conditions.

Some of the conditions that neurosurgeons treat include:

- Brain tumors: Neurosurgeons remove brain tumors and work to preserve neurological function.

- Head injuries: Neurosurgeons treat severe head injuries and brain bleeds, working to prevent further damage to the brain.

- Hydrocephalus: Neurosurgeons treat hydrocephalus, a condition where there is an excess of fluid in the brain, which can cause increased pressure and damage.

- Spinal cord injuries: Neurosurgeons treat spinal cord injuries and work to preserve neurological function.

- Neurological pain: Neurosurgeons can perform surgeries to relieve neurological pain caused by conditions like trigeminal neuralgia or spinal stenosis.

- Genetic neurological conditions: Neurosurgeons collaborate with geneticists to treat conditions such as spina bifida and Chiari malformation.

- Stroke: Neurosurgeons help manage the consequences of strokes, including complications such as hematomas and aneurysms.

- Parkinson's disease: Neurosurgeons perform procedures like deep brain stimulation to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

- Cerebral aneurysms: Neurosurgeons diagnose, monitor, and treat cerebral aneurysms to prevent the risk of rupture.

- Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs): Neurosurgeons treat AVMs, abnormal connections between arteries and veins in the brain, to prevent bleeding.

Neurosurgeons use advanced surgical techniques and imaging technology to diagnose and treat neurological conditions, working closely with other medical specialists to provide comprehensive care to their patients.