Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is the practice of medicine which deals with diseases of the nervous system, including the spine and spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves. The surgical treatment of these diseases requires the skill and expertise of a surgeon who is specially trained - hence the term neurosurgeon. A neurosurgeon is not just a "brain surgeon", but treats patients with many different illnesses. We perform brain tumor surgery and lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine surgery among many other surgical procedures. The majority of the patients treated by neurosurgeons include those with: back or leg pain; neck or arm pain; strokes; tumors of the brain, spine or spinal cord; trauma to the brain, spine or spinal cord; abnormalities of blood vessels within the brain, spine or spinal cord; and abnormalities of nerves throughout the body. Although neurosurgery is by nature a surgical field, many patients with neurological illnesses which do not require surgery often seek the opinion of a neurosurgeon to discuss non-surgical or minimally invasive treatments for their problems. Some of these minimally invasive and non-surgical treatments include: endoscopic spine and brain surgery, computer assisted stereotactic surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery (i.e., using radiation therapy to treat lesions of the nervous system), and interventional radiology (i.e., treating lesions in the blood vessels of the nervous system). We tailor our recommendations to the patients condition, life-style, preference and other medical issues. The patient is encouraged to ask questions

In order to treat complex neurological illnesses, neurosurgeons often work in conjunction with other medical specialists.

These include neurologists, neuroradiologists, electrophysiologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, radiation oncologists, rehabilitation physicians, and orthopedic surgeons. This "team approach" assures the delivery of "state-of-the-art" care, while allowing the neurosurgeon to focus on the neurological problem and to therefore determine the best treatment options for each patient.

Procedures

We have provided a partial list of the procedures we perform at Washington Brain & Spine Institute. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list. Please refer to this as a guide. There are links to further information on a few procedures. These links will provide further information. If you need further assistance, please contact us or make an appointment!