While a neurosurgeon’s primary responsibility entails performing surgery to resolve issues regarding the nervous system, the role also requires assessing and diagnosing patients.
Honoring Our Neurosurgeons
The brain is one of the body’s biggest organs. It weighs three pounds, has 100 billion cells and is responsible for almost all human behavior.
And while the brain is only part of what neurosurgeons engage and work with (they also work with the spine), dealing with this most notoriously complex organ of the body is the first association that comes to mind.
Every year, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) observes Neurosurgery Awareness during the month of August. In the past, Neurosurgery Awareness Month has focused on causes and prevention of traumatic brain injury (TBI), back pain, injury prevention and other neurological safety topics.
A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves. Neurosurgeons provide non-operative and surgical treatment, depending on the nature of the injury or illness, to patients of all ages.
While a neurosurgeon’s primary responsibility entails performing surgery to resolve issues regarding the nervous system, the role also requires assessing and diagnosing patients. This is complicated by the fact that many of them are admitted to a hospital with unpredictable emergency situations, which means a neurosurgeon has no opportunity for any pre-scheduling or preparation.
While elective surgery for various conditions is an aspect of the profession, unexpected emergency surgery (say for an aneurysm) is also part of the job. And in addition to the daily tasks, these unscheduled emergencies compromise a substantial portion of neurosurgery.
Today, neurosurgery represents one of the most successful and prestigious specialties. It continues to lead the way in research, education and advances in surgical technologies, which serve all areas of medicine.