Neurological Surgery involves the diagnosis, treatment and care of diseases, abnormalities and injuries of the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, in addition to the skull, vertebral bodies and discs. It encompasses all ages, from newborn to senior citizen. It is a highly specialized field of medicine that utilizes state of the art diagnostic procedures with medical and surgical care.
Some of the more common problems treated include:
- cervical, thoracic and lumbar disc disease
- spinal stenosis
- peripheral nerve entrapment
Some of the special tests utilized in diagnosis include:
- computerized tomography (CT) scans
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- electrodiagnostic studies (EMG) and nerve condition velocities (NCV)
After detailed evaluation of a patient's history, physical exam and review of diagnostic studies, a treatment plan is formulated that offers the best medical or surgical care to meet the needs of the individual patient.
Most patients are referred to a neurosurgeon by another physician who has conducted an initial evaluation of the neurological problem.
Entrapment of nerves, specifically the ulnar nerve at the elbow (funny bone nerve) and the median nerve at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), can cause significant disabling symptoms. An extremely simple procedure to "release" the nerve can allow rapid and complete functional recovery.
Many people suffer from neck or arm pain and back or leg pain. Modern neurosurgical techniques allow detailed evaluation to determine the cause and surgical procedures to treat these problems. This includes the specialty training and use of microscopic surgery, and, if needed, state of the art fusion procedures.