What is neurosurgery?
Most people think of neurosurgeons as brain surgeons. However, neurosurgeons are medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders of the entire nervous system – brain, spinal cord, skull and the spine (bony vertebral column. Of course, they operate on the brain, but they actually spend nearly 70 percent of their time helping patients with spine and peripheral nerve problems, providing surgical and nonsurgical care.
Neurosurgery is the surgical treatment of the nervous system and its coverings. That is, neurosurgeons operate on the brain, spinal cord, the skull and scalp, and the spine (bony vertebral column). This specialty includes many different types of disorders, including epilepsy, tumors, vascular disorders (disorders of blood vessels) and spine tumors, among many others. What is the difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon ? A neurologist and a neurosurgeon are similar to a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon; the neurosurgeon employs surgical means to treat neurological disorders, while the neurologist identifies neurological disorders through diagnostic testing and uses medical (pharmacologic) means to treat them. What is epilepsy ? Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving recurrent seizures or temporary alteration in one or more brain functions. As an example approximately 2.3 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation of America. An adult with
