Neurosurgery is a specialized field of medicine. What diseases does it treat and what therapies can it offer? Let's explore this in more depth.
In medicine, there are many fields that can be categorized into various specialties. Within surgery itself, many specialties are related to expertise in specific parts of the body.
Different types of surgical specialists
Here are some examples of surgical specialists who specialize in specific areas:
- Gastrointestinal surgery deals with the digestive system.
- Oncology surgery deals with tumors, particularly cancer, that require surgical treatment.
- Cardiovascular surgery deals with the organs of the chest cavity, including the heart and lungs.
- Vascular surgery deals with blood vessels but does not involve the brain.
- Colorectal surgery deals with the colon, rectum, and anus.
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery deals with the reconstruction of organs and tissues, both cosmetically and post-traumatically.
Of the various types of surgical specialists who have more competence in certain parts of the body, there are specialists who must take a general surgical specialist, but there are also those who directly take a specific surgical specialist, one of which is neurosurgery.
Neurosurgery Specialist
A neurosurgeon is a doctor whose role is to diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), as well as the peripheral nervous system.
Neurosurgeons can provide holistic therapy for the disease being treated, according to their expertise. If the neurosurgeon's assessment determines that surgery is not necessary, oral therapy and regular, periodic evaluations may be provided.
Neurosurgery subspecialty
Just as general surgeons have more specific subspecialties related to the body parts they treat, neurosurgeons also have various types of subspecialties. Some types of neurosurgery subspecialties that can be found are spinal surgery, vascular neurosurgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and so on. As a neurosurgeon, these competencies are generally fulfilled, but for difficult cases that require specialized and advanced treatment, it is usually possible to consult with a doctor who is already a subspecialist in that field.
Diseases treated
Neurosurgeons often treat cases involving the nervous system that require surgery. Here are some cases frequently treated by neurosurgeons:
- Brain and spinal tumors, benign and malignant tumors located in the central nervous system are usually treated by neurosurgeons.
- Brain aneurysm, a condition where there is a widening of the blood vessels which are prone to rupture.
- Arteriovenous malformations, Abnormally shaped blood vessels can increase the risk of bleeding.
- Brain and spinal cord injuries, Injuries due to trauma to the head and spine area can cause nerve damage.
- Herniated disc, This condition can cause pressure on nerves in the spinal area and is often called a pinched nerve.
- Hydrocephalus, There is a buildup of fluid in the brain which requires surgery such as installing a shunt to drain the fluid and reduce pressure in the head cavity.
- Hemorrhagic stroke, a condition where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, requires immediate treatment to prevent complications such as permanent paralysis and decreased consciousness.
There are many types of nervous system diseases that require neurosurgeons to treat. Each disease requires a different treatment. For tumors, a craniotomy is often performed, accompanied by tumor removal and sampling for further evaluation.
In cases that cause pressure on the spinal nerves, a laminectomy or discectomy can be performed to reduce pressure in that area.
For hydrocephalus cases that require removal of excess fluid from the brain, a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt can be performed, draining the fluid into the abdominal or peritoneal cavity. However, non-incisional procedures, such as the gamma knife, can also be performed. This method can be used for brain tumors or arteriovenous malformations. Neurosurgeons will consider various considerations before determining the most appropriate method to treat a patient's specific condition.
Written by Dr. Valda Garcia. Reviewed by Dr. Ernest Eugene
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