Neurosurgeon

A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist associated with neurosurgery, a field of surgery that deals with the treatment of pathologies and diseases of the human nervous system through surgery.

The term comes from ancient Greek and is translated as: “neuron” – nerve, “cheir” – hand, “ergon” – “to perform some action”.

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Who is a neurosurgeon?

The question "Who is a neurosurgeon?" can be answered briefly: this is a surgical specialist who performs diagnostics and surgical treatment of various diseases of the central nervous system. Such ailments include complications resulting from traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, congenital defects, encephalopathy, neuro-oncology, etc. Neurosurgeons see patients in neurosurgical departments of large clinics and specialized centers - both public and private.

The duties of a neurosurgeon include consulting and quality examination of patients; qualified performance of surgical operations, as well as prescribing optimal therapeutic treatment for patients in the pre- and postoperative period. The professional qualities of a neurosurgeon are competence, responsibility and deep knowledge of human physiology and anatomy, including the features of the structure and functioning of various organs of the central nervous system.

A true specialist in neurosurgery must be able to accurately diagnose various pathologies, taking into account patient complaints, disease symptoms, and the results of tests and analyses (puncture analyses, myelography, tomography, etc.). Neurosurgeons perform complex surgical operations that require deep knowledge in the field of surgery and sanitary and hygienic standards.

When should you see a neurosurgeon?

A neurosurgeon deals with diseases of the human nervous system that require surgical intervention to achieve the main goal - successful treatment. Often, patients seek medical attention when the disease is pronounced and in an advanced form. In such cases, treatment is much more difficult, and sometimes impossible, if it concerns malignant brain tumors. That is why it is so important to identify the disease at an early stage to avoid serious problems and all sorts of complications.

When should you consult a neurosurgeon? First of all, when observing symptoms that signal the development of a disease. In particular, a neurosurgeon consultation is necessary in cases where:

• a person has symptoms of intervertebral hernia:
• numbness of the fingers or pain in the hand, combined with fluctuations in blood pressure and attacks of dizziness (with hernias in the cervical spine);
• numbness of the toes, pain in the lumbar region that is constant, as well as pain in the leg, localized in the feet or shins, less often in the thigh (with a hernia in the lumbar region);
• constant pain in the sternum area, most often in people working in forced positions (with a hernia in the thoracic region);
• the patient has a traumatic brain injury, the symptoms of which are: nausea, severe headache, attacks of loss of consciousness, dizziness and tinnitus, difficulty in perceiving information, as well as impaired coordination of movements and other signs. In such cases, the person needs urgent hospitalization in the hospital department of neurosurgery or neurology;
• the person has congenital pathologies in the development of the skull or brain, as well as the functioning of the nervous system;
• there are various kinds of symptoms associated with disorders of the central nervous system, most often occurring suddenly, in the form of paroxysmal manifestations (loss of consciousness, severe headaches of a constant nature, speech disorders, coordination, etc.).

Often, a consultation with a neurosurgeon is prescribed by other medical specialists in order to identify and determine the severity of a craniocerebral injury, tumors of the nervous system, prescribe rational treatment for congenital malformations of the central nervous system, as well as to diagnose other diseases associated with disorders of the brain. Urgent intervention by a neurosurgeon is necessary in cases where the patient has stab, cut, gunshot, chopped and other wounds with damage to the structures of the nervous system.

What tests should you take when visiting a neurosurgeon?

When receiving a patient, a neurosurgeon first conducts a survey to determine the degree of development of a particular disease. After listening carefully to the patient's complaints, the doctor conducts a general examination, which includes checking the range of motion in muscles and joints, skin sensitivity, normal and pathological reflexes, and oculomotor reactions. So-called "coordination tests" are also performed (for example, the patient must touch the tip of the nose with his finger with his eyes closed).

What tests should be taken when visiting a neurosurgeon? Most often, the patient is prescribed blood and urine tests (general and biochemical types of research, including determination of urea, total protein, sodium, chlorides, bilirubin, potassium, AST and ALT, etc.). In the preoperative period, the patient also needs to take a blood test to determine its group and a coagulogram (the state of the blood coagulation system). In addition, the neurosurgeon may require the patient's test results for blood clotting time, prothrombin index, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time (PT) and (PT)+, fibrinogen.

Having carefully studied the test results, the neurosurgeon will be able to objectively assess the patient's condition, accurately diagnose the disease and its severity, and also think over the most rational treatment plan or set a date for the upcoming surgery.

What diagnostic methods does a neurosurgeon use?

The neurosurgeon prescribes a whole range of laboratory tests, analyses and medical examinations for the patient, which are necessary for an accurate diagnosis of a disease of the nervous system and the prescription of effective treatment.

What diagnostic methods does a neurosurgeon use? We can note a whole range of methods aimed at examining the state of the central nervous system organs:

• The computed tomography (CT) method is aimed at diagnosing many types of brain damage: various tumors, atrophy of the cerebral cortex, hydrocephalus, and volumetric processes.
• Lumbar puncture (spinal canal puncture) is a method that allows determining intracranial pressure and the nature of the cerebrospinal fluid (structure, color, content of protein, sugar, leukocytes and erythrocytes, various bacteria).
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method used to obtain high-quality images of all nerve structures for the purpose of accurate diagnosis.
• Echoencephalography is a method used to determine the displacement of brain structures in hydrocephalus and hematomas.
• Electroencephalography – used to record the electrical activity of the brain to identify disturbances in brain function in encephalopathies, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.
• Duplex scanning is a method aimed at diagnosing vascular disorders.
• The positron emission tomography method is used in neurosurgery to obtain important information for the purpose of diagnosing damage in strokes, intracranial hematomas, brain tumors, and epilepsy.
• Cerebral angiography is an X-ray technique that uses contrast agents to produce precise images of the blood vessels in the brain.
• Myelography is a method of X-ray examination of the spinal cord using contrast agents. It helps diagnose disc herniations, the presence of a spinal canal tumor, etc.
• The electromyography (EMG) method is aimed at diagnosing lesions of the nervous and muscular systems.
• Ultrasound and Doppler scanning of blood vessels are used by neurosurgeons to diagnose stenosis, as well as dissection and blockage of arteries.

What does a neurosurgeon do?

A neurosurgeon is a physician whose specialization is the surgical treatment of various neurological diseases and pathologies of the human central nervous system.

What does a neurosurgeon do? First of all, he diagnoses and then surgically treats diseases related to the nervous system. He performs surgical operations on the spinal cord and brain, spine, and other organs related to pathological disorders in the nervous system. Neurosurgeons usually work in close cooperation with neurologists. In the postoperative period, the neurosurgeon's responsibilities include careful monitoring of the patient, taking effective rehabilitation measures, and, if necessary, prescribing additional examinations and therapeutic treatment.

The most common pathological conditions in the practice of neurosurgeons include such as craniocerebral and spinal injuries of various etiologies, concussion (as well as contusion, compression, damage, hernia) of the brain or spinal cord, cerebrovascular accidents, various vascular anomalies and oncological diseases of the nervous system, etc. Often, patients of a neurosurgeon are people with congenital problems, in particular, disorders in the development of the skull and brain.

What diseases does a neurosurgeon treat?

A neurosurgeon performs surgeries and prescribes treatment for patients with various disorders of the nervous system. A person's life depends on the quality of his work, especially when it comes to complex cases that require immediate surgical intervention.

What diseases does a neurosurgeon treat? The work of this specialist consists of diagnosing and prescribing the best treatment for various diseases of the nervous system, as well as organs such as the skull, spine, and brain (spinal, cerebral). Among the pathologies that this doctor deals with, it is worth noting congenital defects in the development of the skull and brain, diseases of the spinal cord and spinal column, craniocerebral injuries and trauma, oncological diseases of the nervous system, as well as pain syndromes associated with malfunctions of the central and peripheral types of the nervous system.

Neurosurgeons exclusively treat such injuries and diseases as intracranial hematomas and skull fractures, trigeminal neuralgia, acromegaly, subdural empyema, plexopathy, intracerebral hemorrhage, ocular melanomas, neurofibromatosis, and spinal cord compression. The list can be continued with such ailments as vestibular neuronitis, pituitary tumors, postural dizziness, Meniere's disease, malignant brain tumors, neuroblastomas, and retinoblastomas in adults and children. Among the most common diseases treated by a neurosurgeon are osteochondrosis of the spine, concussions, cerebrovascular accidents, vascular anomalies of the brain, intracranial hemorrhages, as well as spinal hematomas and ischemic strokes.

If symptoms are observed that directly or indirectly indicate a disorder of the central nervous system, a person should immediately contact a neurosurgeon. Such symptoms include, in particular, frequent dizziness and fainting, sudden attacks of convulsions and manifestations of hypertension, headaches, as well as numbness and pain in the limbs or sternum.

Advice from a neurosurgeon

A neurosurgeon is obliged not only to determine the disease, prescribe the necessary treatment and monitor the rehabilitation of patients in the postoperative period, but also to take measures aimed at preventing possible consequences after surgery. In particular, a neurosurgeon must advise patients on how to behave after surgery, what daily routine and lifestyle to choose, what medications to take, etc.

The advice of a neurosurgeon is advisory in nature and is aimed at preventing various injuries. For example, athletes and people leading an active lifestyle should take into account the following recommendations:

• Preparation for physical activity. First, you need to decide which muscle groups you plan to use during training. You should consult a doctor about the intensity and permissible duration of muscle activity.
• Stretching muscles before training. Before performing intensive exercises, it is recommended to "warm up" the joints and muscles. After a strong load, it is necessary to give the body a break.
• Use of sports equipment. In accordance with the chosen sport, it is necessary to use sports shoes and clothing to avoid serious injuries.
• Technique of performing exercises. Do not force your body. Incorrect position of the feet or sports position can lead to injury. It is best to seek advice from a trainer. It is not recommended to start physical exercise if the body has not recovered from an illness or injury.

The neurosurgeon recommends that athletes and physically active people rest and relax as needed, and exercise only after their health has returned to normal. Of course, the doctor's main advice is complete self-control of a person's lifestyle, aimed at eliminating the risks of receiving all kinds of injuries and developing diseases of the central nervous system. If you observe any symptoms related to disorders in the brain and pathologies of the nervous system, you must contact a neurosurgeon as soon as possible, because your life may depend on this factor!