Neurosurgery is a branch of medicine that uses surgical methods to treat and prevent peripheral and central nervous system diseases. A neurosurgeon qualifies the patient for the procedure and carries out his treatment both in the pre-operative, operative and postoperative periods.
When to seek help from a neurosurgeon?
Nervous system disorders can present with many disturbing symptoms, most often treated by neurologists, orthopedists or physical therapists in the first place. Sometimes the treatment does not have any positive effect despite the administration, which often results in referral of the patient to the neurosurgeon. Usually these are problems with pain in the spine, head and limbs that do not resolve despite the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
A disturbing symptom should be numbness, paresis, neuralgia, dizziness, and a feeling of balance. During the visit, the neurosurgeon will first collect a detailed interview from the patient and thus determine the cause of the problems that arise. Undoubtedly, it will consider hitherto unused treatment methods. He will send the patient for additional tests if necessary. If diagnosed, appropriate treatment will be given as needed.
Neurosurgical therapy may involve the use of a minimally invasive procedure, such as a puncture. Sometimes an endoscopic procedure is used that leaves only a small scar on the skin. Operations are performed on the spine, brain or peripheral nerves depending on the severity of the dysfunction. In more severe cases of illness, more complex treatment is required using highly specialized techniques such as implantation of an analgesic stimulator or endovascular procedures. Neurosurgical therapy may involve the use of a minimally invasive procedure, such as a puncture. Sometimes an endoscopic procedure is used that leaves only a small scar on the skin.
Operations are performed on the spine, brain or peripheral nerves depending on the severity of the dysfunction. In more severe cases of illness, more complex treatment is required using highly specialized techniques such as implantation of an analgesic stimulator or endovascular procedures. Neurosurgical therapy may involve the use of a minimally invasive procedure, such as a puncture. Sometimes an endoscopic procedure is used that leaves only a small scar on the skin. Operations are performed on the spine, brain or peripheral nerves depending on the severity of the dysfunction. More severe cases of disease require more sophisticated treatment using highly specialized techniques such as the implantation of an analgesic stimulator or endovascular procedures.
The neurosurgeon also deals with neurological injuries caused by accidents. These include craniocerebral injuries, damage to the peripheral nerves, intracranial hemorrhage, and fractures in the skull bones. A specialist in this field also deals with the treatment and diagnosis of brain tumors, spinal and spinal cord tumors, hydrocephalus and discopathy.
What is a neurosurgical diagnosis? If neurological diseases are suspected, diagnosis focuses primarily on neurological examinations. The presence of meningeal symptoms such as neck stiffness, photophobia, pain in the eyes, and some other specific symptoms may indicate meningitis or encephalitis. During the visit, the neurologist checks for the presence of various reflexes as well as muscle tone and strength.
To be sure of the diagnosis, the patient usually needs to take pictures using one of the imaging techniques. This could be an MRI or CT scan. Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive method of obtaining a high frequency image of the inside of the body. Resonance uses the properties of water molecules in the body, not X-rays.
Computed tomography is a diagnostic method in which it is possible to obtain cross sections - tomographic images of the object under study. Depending on the image projections used, it is possible to obtain 2D or 3D sections. Thanks to the methods used, it is possible for the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and recommend treatment methods. In most cases, neurosurgery will immediately remove the cause of the discomfort.
In more serious diseases, when it is impossible to completely restore the health of the patient, treatments that increase the quality of life are performed.
