Neurosurgery is a medical industry dedicated to the treatment and diagnosis of diseases of the spinal cord and brain, spinal column and peripheral nerves. A neurosurgeon is a specialist whose field of activity includes the identification and treatment of disorders of the nervous system. What are neurosurgeons treating? You will learn a more detailed answer to this question from this article.
What diseases does the neurosurgeon treat?
The working areas of the neurosurgeon include the skull, brain and spinal cord, as well as the spinal column. Therefore, it is obvious that various pathologies affecting the nervous system of patients are being treated by neurosurgeons.
The tasks of a neurosurgeon include the surgical treatment of the following pathologies:
- benign and malignant neoplasms in the region of the skull, including at its base (hemangioblastomas, astrocytomas, pituitary adenomas, abscesses, neuromas, etc.);
- all types of brain and skull injuries;
- congenital or acquired developmental disorders of the brain and skull;
- spinal injuries, for example, fractures;
- circulatory disorders of the brain;
- peripheral nerve diseases (traumatic injuries, etc.).
Where are neurosurgeons taught?
In order to become a neurosurgeon, you need to graduate from a medical university with a degree in General Medicine. However, after receiving a diploma, the doctor does not yet become a neurosurgeon: additional training, that is, an internship, is required. Only after passing all the necessary exams does the specialist qualify.
It is quite difficult to study in an internship, because a neurosurgeon that treats various diseases of the nervous system must be well versed in many areas of modern medicine, fluent in English, have clinical thinking and have a “firm hand”, because the patient’s life depends on any careless movement. The neurosurgeon that treats the patient must be fully confident in his actions.
Neurosurgeon personality requirements
Do not think that anyone who has graduated from a medical university can engage in neurosurgery. In this profession, such personal qualities as self-confidence, accuracy, psychological stability are extremely important.
Neurosurgical operations are considered one of the most difficult: the surgical field is often small, many operations are performed under a microscope. In addition, the specialist must understand not only the anatomy of the nervous system, but also the equipment with which most of these operations are performed today. After all, a neurosurgeon is a doctor who treats patients using special equipment, which is not easy to work with.
When is a neurosurgeon required?
The main symptoms that indicate that there is a need to make an appointment with a neurosurgeon include:
- Numbness of the fingers, pain in the hand, dizziness, and sudden unreasonable drops in blood pressure.
- Nausea, tinnitus, headaches, and difficulties with the perception of new information that arose after a head injury.
- Frequent headaches, the cause of which cannot be determined.
- Violations of the sensitivity and movements of the limbs.
- Pathology of the brain or spine detected during MRI.
Knowing that neurosurgeons are treating, you can consult a doctor on time and avoid the development of a pathological process.
What types of diagnostic procedures does a neurosurgeon conduct?
We told you that neurosurgeons are treating. However, the tasks of this specialist include not only therapy, but also the identification of pathological processes. So, a neurosurgeon can carry out the following diagnostic measures:
- lumbar puncture (to determine intracranial pressure);
- computed tomography (in order to detect tumors, brain displacements, hydrocephalus, etc.);
- magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to get images of nerve structures with a very high resolution. Thanks to MRI, it is possible to see the slightest pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord;
- echoencephalography, that is, the display of ultrasonic waves that are reflected from the study area. EEG is prescribed for the detection of hematomas and hemorrhages, as well as hydrocephalus. It can be carried out directly at the patient’s bed, therefore this procedure is quite in demand in neurosurgical practice;
- positron emission tomography to detect neoplasms, as well as the diagnosis of epilepsy and strokes;
- angiography, which allows to study pathological processes affecting the vessels of the brain.
Imagining that a neurosurgeon treats adults and children, it is easy to understand - this profession requires considerable knowledge, the highest qualifications and, of course, the desire to help people. By the way, if there is no last factor, then it is better to refuse to work as a doctor.