Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment, including non-surgical therapies, of conditions and diseases affecting all components of the central and peripheral nervous system such as the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This branch offers a wide range of services in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders. Neurosurgeons apply their expertise to improve patients' quality of life and to preserve or restore neurological functions. Specialized teams work within the neurosurgery department.

Scope of Neurosurgery

• Brain Surgery: Diagnosis and surgical treatment of brain and nerve diseases affecting brain tissue such as brain tumors, brain hemorrhages, aneurysms, vascular malformations, head traumas, and hydrocephalus.
• Spine Surgery: Surgical treatment of conditions affecting the spine and spinal cord such as spinal fractures, spine and spinal cord tumors, lumbar disc herniation, cervical disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, and scoliosis.
• Peripheral Nerve Surgery: Surgical treatment of diseases affecting peripheral nerves such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve compressions, nerve injuries, and nerve tumors.
• Functional Neurosurgery: Surgical treatment of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and some movement disorders, including deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures.
• Pediatric Neurosurgery: Surgical treatment of congenital or acquired brain and spinal cord diseases in children.

Brain surgery is a significant subfield of neurosurgery, dealing with the surgical treatment of various brain and nerve diseases affecting brain tissue. Brain surgeons use their expertise in this area to preserve or improve patients’ neurological functions.

Main Applications of Brain Surgery

• Brain Tumor Surgeries: Surgical removal of benign or malignant brain and spinal cord tumors developing within the brain.
• Brain Hemorrhage Surgeries: Surgical evacuation of bleeding within or around brain tissue, or repair of the bleeding vessel.
• Aneurysm Surgeries: Surgical clipping or repair of weakened, balloon-like spots (aneurysms) in brain vessels caused by cerebrovascular diseases.
• Vascular Malformation Surgeries: Surgical removal or repair of abnormal tangles of vessels (vascular malformations) in the brain.
• Head Trauma Surgeries: Surgical treatment of brain injuries resulting from head trauma.
• Hydrocephalus Surgeries: Surgical procedures to drain excess fluid accumulation (hydrocephalus) in the brain.

Brain surgery deals with the treatment of various brain and nerve diseases that affect brain tissue and blood flow to the brain.

• Main Conditions Addressed by Brain Surgery
• Brain Tumors: Abnormal cell growths developing within the brain.
• Brain Hemorrhages: Bleeding occurring within or around brain tissue.
• Aneurysms: Balloon-like weak spots forming in brain vessels due to cerebrovascular diseases.
• Vascular Malformations: Abnormal tangles of blood vessels in the brain.
• Head Traumas: Brain injuries caused by external impacts.
• Hydrocephalus: Excess fluid accumulation in the brain.
• Brain Infections: Infections affecting brain tissue.
• Conditions Blocking Blood Flow to the Brain: Narrowing or blockage of brain vessels due to cerebrovascular diseases.

Brain surgery deals with the treatment of various brain and nerve diseases that affect brain tissue and blood flow to the brain.

Main Conditions Addressed by Brain Surgery

• Brain Tumors: Abnormal cell growths developing within the brain.
• Brain Hemorrhages: Bleeding occurring within or around brain tissue.
• Aneurysms: Balloon-like weak spots forming in brain vessels due to cerebrovascular diseases.
• Vascular Malformations: Abnormal tangles of blood vessels in the brain.
• Head Traumas: Brain injuries caused by external impacts.
• Hydrocephalus: Excess fluid accumulation in the brain.
• Brain Infections: Infections affecting brain tissue.
• Conditions Blocking Blood Flow to the Brain: Narrowing or blockage of brain vessels due to cerebrovascular diseases.

Various advanced treatment methods are used in the neurosurgery department to ensure accurate diagnosis and to create effective treatment plans for patients.

• Neuronavigation: A computer-assisted system that allows precise localization of targeted areas within the brain or spinal cord during surgery.
• Neuromonitoring: A technique that monitors nerve functions during surgery to help prevent nerve damage.
• Intraoperative Ultrasonography: A method used to visualize brain or spinal cord tissue during surgery.
• Endoscopy: A minimally invasive technique used to view and operate on certain areas inside the brain through small incisions.
• Gliolan Staining Technique: A method that helps distinguish brain tumor tissue from normal brain tissue during surgery.
• Awake Craniotomy: A brain surgery technique in which the patient remains awake to preserve essential brain functions such as speech or movement.
• Intraoperative CT (O-Arm): A high-resolution imaging system used during spine surgery to provide real-time anatomical details.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A technique that provides detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, and other nervous system structures.
• CT (Computed Tomography): A method that provides cross-sectional images of the brain and spine.
• Angiography: A technique used to visualize brain blood vessels, especially for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases.
• Electromyography (EMG): A test that evaluates nerve and muscle function.

Surgeries Performed in the Field of Neurosurgery Vary According to the Type and Location of the Disease

• Brain Tumor Surgeries: Removal of benign or malignant brain and spinal cord tumors.
• Brain Hemorrhage Surgeries: Draining hemorrhages inside or around the brain, or repairing the bleeding vessel.
• Aneurysm Surgeries: Clipping or repairing brain aneurysms resulting from cerebrovascular diseases.
• Vascular Malformation Surgeries: Removal or repair of vascular malformations in the brain or spinal cord.
• Head Trauma Surgeries: Surgical treatment of brain damage caused by head trauma.
• Spinal Surgeries: Surgical treatment of conditions such as herniated disc, cervical disc herniation, spinal fractures, spinal and spinal cord tumors, and spinal canal stenosis.
• Spinal Cord Tumor Surgeries: Removal of tumors developing within or around the spinal cord.
• Peripheral Nerve Surgeries: Surgical treatment of conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve entrapments, and nerve tumors.
• Epilepsy Surgery: Surgical treatment of epilepsy seizures that cannot be controlled with medication.
• Parkinson’s Disease Surgeries: When medication is insufficient, surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat movement disorders.
• Hydrocephalus Surgeries: Surgical procedures to drain excess fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus).

Neurology and neurosurgery are two different medical specialties that deal with diseases of the nervous system. While neurology generally treats nervous system diseases with medication, physical therapy, and other non-surgical treatment methods, neurosurgery addresses conditions requiring surgical intervention and offers solutions for vascular blockages, brain and spinal cord tumors, and other problems.

Brain and nerve surgery (neurosurgery) plays a vital role in protecting and improving the health of the nervous system. Physicians specialized in this field use various surgical and non-surgical treatment methods to improve patients’ quality of life and restore neurological functions. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are of great importance in the management of brain and nerve diseases.