Neurosurgery is what?

Neurosurgery is a highly specialized branch of surgery that studies and deals with operational treatment of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. In a broader sense, these terms refer to diseases of the brain and spinal cord, as well as traumatic nerve lesions. In addition, the consultation of a neurosurgeon will be needed in case of vascular pathologies of the central nervous system and hydrocephalus, which is most often found in children.

The appearance and gradual development of neurosurgery

Neurosurgery was isolated as a separate direction from neurology in the 20s of the 20th century, which was dictated by the complexity of the treatment of polytrauma and the conduct of wars. During its inception, science engaged in a fairly limited range of diseases, in addition, the diagnosis and methods of surgical treatment were very modest. However, at the end of the last century there was a sharp breakthrough in the development of the industry, which was due to the widespread use of microscopic optics and contrasting minimally invasive survey methods. At present, neurosurgery is a specialty that has good prospects and is constantly developing.

Nervous System and Neurosurgery Needs

The nervous system is a large number of conductors and analysis centers that work as a unit. Therefore, in order to correctly restore their integrity, accurate and low-traumatic comparison is necessary, which is possible only with the use of microscopy. Contrast study allows you to clearly visualize the structural and functional changes in the vascular wall of the brain and spinal cord, which is not available for conventional X-ray and ultrasound. It is these new studies that allow a specialist to identify and correctly treat aneurysms, thromboses and congenital malformations of the brain in time.

Diseases of Neurosurgery

The doctor gives a referral to a consultation with a neurosurgeon if there is a suspicion of good or malignant tumor neoplasms in the central nervous system. Benign tumors include meningiomas, dermoid, hemangioblastomas, colloid cysts, astrocytomas, neurinomas. Malignant tumor formations are represented by various forms of astrocyte and glioblastoma. In the case of purulent processes, and in particular brain abscesses and purulent meningitis, the neurosurgeon also needs help. Especially widely in the XXI century, neurosurgery of the brain became more widespread, and more its division - neurovascular surgery, which treats aneurysms and hemorrhages, constrictions and pathological dilations of blood vessels, thromboses and arteriovenous malformations.

Enough often in the department of neurosurgery patients with discogenic radiculitis, compression and stenosis of the spinal cord, spinal cord hernias arrive. With a rupture or even bruising of the nerve fiber, you also need to visit a neurosurgeon. Injuries to the head and spine are part of the polytrauma, so with such injuries, in addition to a traumatologist, a specialist in the field Neurosurgery. A relatively new division, which is engaged in neurosurgery of the brain, is functional and stereotaxic surgery. It effectively treats epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, tremor, chronic pain syndrome and neuralgia of the fifth and ninth pairs of cranial nerves.

Congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord are also treated by a neurosurgeon, however a child profile. This includes hydrocephalus, the surgical treatment of which is carried out in children almost more often than all other pathologies of the central nervous system.

When should I contact a neurosurgeon?

We give an indicative symptomatology, which will allow the patient to understand whether there is a need to visit a specialist. Neurosurgery of the spine often has Dealing with spinal hernias, which, depending on location and size, have different symptoms. Thus, in particular, in the hernia of the cervical region, numbness of the fingers, pain in the shoulder, dizziness, frequent changes in blood pressure are noted. With the localization of hernial protrusion in the thoracic region, the patient generally notes a permanent pain syndrome in the sternum and symptoms of intercostal neuralgia. If you have a hernia of the lumbar region, it is often noted numbness of the toes, aching pain in the lower legs, difficulty in walking and bending the trunk. Craniocerebral trauma has a relatively stable symptomatology and is more often manifested by loss of consciousness, nausea, headache, the appearance of discoordination of movements and noise in the ears. Neurosurgery of the brain is more likely to encounter this pathology. Traumatic injuries of the extremities in the violation of nerve function are mainly manifested in the form of numbness or discoloration of the skin of the segment, which is innervated by this conduit. Tumor pathologies usually can have a variety of symptoms, so here an important place is occupied by CT and MRI.

Neurosurgery. Operations

Surgical interventions in this area of surgery can be divided into radical and palliative. The term "radical" means that with their help you can completely cure the patient. This, in particular, concerns most traumatic injuries, spinal Hernia and some vascular pathologies. Palliative interventions are aimed at reducing symptoms, but do not eliminate the underlying problem. Such operations include interventions for malignant tumors and certain variants of hydrocephalus.

Neurosurgery is, like cardiac surgery, a high-precision industry that uses modern technology and the latest methods of examination. This need for accuracy is due to the complexity of the structure and the powerful blood supply to the central parts of the nervous system. Therefore, the neurosurgeon must perform high-precision manipulations to prevent possible complications and their consequences.

Training of a specialist in neurosurgery

After completing six years of study at a medical university, a student who has expressed a desire to become a neurosurgeon must undergo an internship that lasts 2-3 years, or residency (in Western Europe and America) for 6 years. This duration of training is due to the complexity of both the discipline itself and the complex methods of treating diseases of the brain and spinal cord. During the specialization, the physician must master the methods of correct diagnosis and be able to determine the tactics of treatment, in which neurosurgery is particularly needed. Doctors should also have excellent practical skills. This is achieved through the personal conduct of operations in the learning process.

Neurosurgery in our country

The rapid development of medicine, especially microscopic optics, facilitated the discovery of neurosurgical units not only abroad, but also in our country. In large cities, there are a number of neurosurgical clinics that are adapted to provide highly specialized assistance to various patient groups. In modern neurosurgical institutions, an effective treatment of epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal nerves is performed using stereotaxis. In addition, some reconstructive interventions after traumas and tumors are being actively studied, neurosurgery of the spine has significantly developed.

Neurosurgeon's advice

Here are some valuable tips that neurosurgery provides. These are recommendations that may be needed for both a healthy person and a neurosurgical department patient. In particular:

• Always observe the safety rules and use personal protective equipment for various games or mass events. A motorcycle driver must always ride in a helmet to prevent severe brain injuries.
• Training athlete must pass through a previously scheduled program and take into account the characteristics of his body. Load on separate muscle groups should be intense, but not allow the state of "overtraining" or significant exhaustion.
• A healthy sleep should be an average of 8 hours.
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation after trauma or removal of the hernia is most dependent on the patient, namely, on compliance with the doctor's recommendations. Regular but regular exercise of exercise therapy and physical therapy sessions gives the best results.