What is Neurosurgery?
Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A neurological surgeon may provide either surgical or non-surgical care, depending upon the nature of the injury or illness.
Injuries to the head, spinal cord or nerves require neurosurgical treatment. Neurosurgeons also care for patients with tumors of the brain or spinal cord. Common problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome are treated as well.
Perhaps the most common condition that neurosurgeons treat is pain in the neck or lower back as a result of a ruptured disk. Some of these symptoms may be treated non-surgically through medication or therapy. Osteoporotic fractures of the spine are also treated with new procedures.