Neurosurgery or neurological surgery is a medical discipline and a surgical
specialty, providing operative and non-operative management of the central,
peripheral, and autonomic nervous system disorders. This branch of medicine
primarily treats the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve disorders,
including their supportive structures and vascular supply.
The
scope of neurosurgery is vast. It involves critical care, prevention,
diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation. This is a complicated
medical specialization for the treatments of cranial disorders (aneurysms,
arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, brain hemorrhages and head trauma);
spinal disorders (herniated discs in neck, herniated discs in lower back,
spinal instability, spinal stenosis and spinal tumors) and peripheral nerve
disorders (carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve compression).
Although
neurosurgery is a surgical specialty, non-surgical or minimally invasive
treatments are also provided. By using less invasive surgical equipments,
neurological disorders are treated and cured with less pain.
Neurosurgeons are medical doctors who have specialization in neurosurgery. In
the United States, to practice as a neurosurgeon, one has to complete 4 years
of college (pre-medical training), 4 years of medical school, 1 year of
general surgery and 5-7 years of neurosurgical residency. After the completion
of residency, some neurosurgeons choose for subspecialty fellowship programs
in the areas of cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, epilepsy, functional
and stereotactic neurosurgery, neurosurgery trauma, spine surgery, and
pediatric neurosurgery. During their residency program, they are required to
train in all aspects of neurosurgery and modern techniques used in
neurosurgical operations.
Neurosurgery is a
highly demanding and well paid surgical specialty. The surgeons who specialize
in neurological surgery have to work amid a wide variety of clinical
challenges and surgical options. This is a suitable profession for those with
high analytical skills and strong interest in the study of the human nervous
system.
