For most people, the word ‘neurosurgery’ is synonymous with ‘brain surgery.’ In reality, brain surgery is one part of neurosurgery. Neurosurgery is the surgical field that diagnoses and treats central nervous system conditions. Neurosurgeons receive extensive training in treating various neurological diseases. Some of these include degenerative spine disease, congenital defects, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, and spine or brain infections.
Advanced Pain Care is a premier pain management center providing Neurosurgery in Austin. The talented surgeons here perform the most advanced procedures with compassion and skill. Specializing in various neurosurgical techniques and treatments, they provide you full support from the beginning till the end so you recover at your best capacity.
1. Neurosurgery Goes Beyond Brain Surgery
Brain surgery is incorrectly thought of as being neurosurgery. The field of neurosurgery is enormous which goes beyond brain surgery. Neurosurgery involves treatment for conditions of the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous system.
Neurosurgeons operate on the nervous system. The nervous system comprises the brain and spreads to every part of the body. Neurosurgeons can often be seen treating the spine, herniated discs, neck, and back pain. They are also involved in the treatment of degenerative diseases, stroke, and chronic pain.
2. Not all Neurosurgical Treatments Are Invasive
The level of invasiveness of a neurosurgical treatment depends on the severity and complexity of the condition. Not all treatments are highly invasive. For example, endoscopic surgery is the least or minimally invasive of all treatments. A neurologist in Austin makes only a small incision without a scalpel or bone drills. It leads to quick healing with less pain than conventional forms of surgery.
But more complex cases need open surgery. Here, larger incisions are made to reach the deeper structures within the brain or spine. These surgeries are usually for tumor removal. Although open surgeries cause more postoperative pain, they can provide greater access for surgeons so they can fix the problem effectively.
3. Neurosurgeons Do Not Always Operate
Neurosurgeons are highly skilled at surgery. However, they do not always operate. Neurosurgeons have a deep understanding of treating nervous system diseases and conditions. So, they are also involved in assisting with diagnoses.
Neurosurgeons review the patient’s symptoms and medical history. They perform a neurological exam and diagnostic imaging. This helps them find out what’s going on and develop the ideal treatment option.
Many neurologists do not consider surgery to be the best first option. They much prefer non-invasive treatments that provide the needed relief.
4. There Are Three Major Divisions of Neurosurgery
General and specialized are the two main branches of neurosurgery. General neurosurgery treats conditions like neuro-trauma. But specialized neurosurgery is segmented into more complex branches. There are three major divisions in neurosurgery. These include:
- Vascular neurosurgery: It focuses on aneurysm treatment. A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulge in a weak blood vessel area in or around the brain. Procedures like CAE are essential elements of these kinds of neurosurgeries.
- Stereotactic neurosurgery: These stop the seizure from spreading. Epileptic foci, the part of the brain involved in conditions like epilepsy, is the central area of attention in stereotactic surgery.
- Oncological neurosurgery: It treats cancers of the central nervous system, pre-cancerous lesions, and tumors of the meninges. It also treats spinal cancers and gliomas, a kind of brain tumor.
5. Choosing the Right Neurosurgeon Is Vital for the Best Outcome
For a successful patient outcome, it is critical to choose the best neurosurgeon for your condition. Often, a lack of knowledge leads patients to get themselves treated by an orthopedic surgeon. This does not adequately treat the root cause of their illness. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues. They do not treat nerve damage. Neurosurgeons are the medical professionals who are involved in this. They treat more complex cases related to the brain and spinal cord. A neurosurgeon is an expert in almost everything related to the central nervous system. So, it is vital to do adequate research before reaching out to a neurosurgeon for your condition.
6. Neurosurgeons Use Cutting-edge Technology
Today, neurosurgeons figure at the top of the list of medical professionals working with advanced equipment and technology. Using tech-enabled equipment, they strive to provide the best possible care for every single patient. Some worth mentioning technologies they utilize include high-tech imaging systems, like CT scans and MRI. Other advanced imaging tools used by a neurosurgeon include magnetoencephalography (MEG), and electroencephalograms (EEG). It makes it possible for these medical professionals to obtain a precise view of the brain or spine. Thus, they are able to make accurate diagnoses, which in turn, leads to effective treatments.
7. Neurosurgery Is a Rapidly Evolving Field
In the field of neurosurgery, new treatments, and technologies are constantly emerging. Increasingly, these medical professionals are using systems like robotics, computer-aided navigation systems, and advanced imaging techniques. All this makes neurosurgery a safer process, and neurosurgeons are more confident in treating complex conditions.
At the same time, the advances are also helping patients. Minimally-invasive techniques reduce patient recovery times. It also significantly lowers the chances of developing complications resulting from open surgery. All this is tremendously increasing the importance of neurosurgery in modern medicine.
Presently, neurosurgeons are able to treat patients suffering from diverse conditions. These include:
- Congenital deformations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Brain and spinal cord tumors
- Central nervous system infections
- Degenerative conditions of the spine
- Movement disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
Every day, many individuals are saved from threatening conditions and achieving a better quality of life.
Summing up
Neurosurgery is undoubtedly a fascinating topic. The miraculous way neurosurgeons can save lives and enable patients to return to normalcy is amazing. At Advanced Pain Care, neurosurgeons serve patients in a comfortable and respectful healing environment. They use minimally invasive procedures with individualized care and attention. The aim is twofold; treating the patient’s condition and helping them to start living more comfortably. Advanced Pain Care is open in various locations in Texas. Visit the website to learn more about its neurosurgical procedures.