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Types of Brain and Spine specialists

Brain and spine specialists can be broadly categorized into two types depending on the nature of their specialization and the procedures they carry out. The types are given below:

• Neurologist
• Neurosurgeon

About Neurologist

A Neurologist is a doctor who helps in the diagnosis, treatment and management of the disorders of the nervous system, constituting the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A neurologist specializes in treating the disorders of the nervous system, such as epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, etc. A child neurologist, also called pediatric neurologist, is a doctor who treats children having problems with their nervous system. More details on pediatric neurologist can be found in the below section of this page.

Procedures Performed by Neurologists:

• Lumbar Puncture (also known as Spinal Tap)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Tensilon Test
• Electroencephalogram
• Auditory brainstem implant
• Awake brain surgery
• Botox injections
• Carotid angioplasty and stenting
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Concussion testing
• Deep brain stimulation
• Diaphragm pacing
• Functional electrical stimulation
• Locomotor training
• Pediatric cervical spine surgery
• Spinal fusion
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Who Is a Pediatric Neurologist?

Pediatric neurologist, also called a child neurologist, is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the diseases and disorders affecting the nervous system of a child.

Your pediatrician might ask you to take you baby or child for visiting a pediatric neurologist if he witnesses a risk or abnormality in the neurological condition of the child as observed through the below (but not limited to) signs:

• Seizures and epilepsy
• Muscle problems which may cause muscle weakness
• Headaches (including migraines and concussions)
• Behavioural disorders
• Developmental disorders
• Intellectual disability
• Congenital malformations
• Stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Genetic conditions
• Autoimmune problems
• Infections or inflammation
• Brain tumors

Procedures Performed by Pediatric Neurologists

Some of the common procedures performed by a pediatric neurologist are:

• Blood tests
• EEG (Electroencephalogram)
• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) /Electromyography test (EMG)
• Botox Injections for Spasticity
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

About Neurosurgeon

A neurosurgeon, also known as a brain surgeon, is a physician who specialises in the surgical treatment of the conditions or disorders that affect the nervous system. Some of the common treatments that are carried out by a neurosurgeon are for cerebral aneurysms, benign or cancerous brain and spinal tumors and injuries of brain or spinal cord. They also perform surgeries that involve patient rehabilitation after the treatment. A neurosurgeon works in coordination with other specialists and healthcare professionals as a part of a team. While neurosurgeons provides surgical as well as non operative treatment meant for patients of all ages, some of them are specialised specially for the surgical treatment of infants or children, and they are known as pediatric neurosurgeon. A detailed section will appear later on this page.

Procedures Performed by Neurosurgeons

• Acoustic neuroma surgery
• Aneurysm surgery
• Arteriovenous malformation surgery
• Auditory brainstem implant
• Awake brain surgery
• Brachial plexus surgery
• Brain aneurysm surgery
• Brain rehabilitation
• Brain stereotactic radiosurgery
• Brain tumor surgery
• Carotid angioplasty and stenting
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Chiari malformation surgery
• Computer-assisted brain surgery
• Deep brain stimulation
• Diaphragm pacing for spinal cord injury
• EC-IC Bypass (Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery)
• Endoscopic procedures
• Endovascular treatment
• Epilepsy surgery
• Fetal surgery
• Functional electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury
• Hemifacial spasm surgery
• Hyperhidrosis surgery
• Locomotor training for spinal cord injury
• Minimally invasive endovascular treatment
• Minimally invasive neurosurgery
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Neurogenic bladder and bowel management
• Pediatric brain tumor surgery
• Pediatric cervical spine surgery
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Peripheral nerve tumor surgery
• Pituitary tumor surgery
• Robotic surgery
• Seizure surgery
• Managing sexuality and fertility related issue arising spinal cord injury
• Spasticity management for spinal cord injury
• Spinal fusion
• Spine procedures
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Transcranial endoscopic procedures
• Transnasal endoscopic procedures
• Trigeminal neuralgia surgery
• Vertebroplasty
• Aneurysm Repair
• Carotid Artery Endarterectomy
• Craniotomy
• Disk Removal
• Endovascular Surgery
• Laminectomy
• Sympathectomy
• Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture)

Who Is a Pediatric Neurosurgeon?

A pediatric neurosurgeon is a doctor specialized in the medical and surgical treatment of the conditions and disorders related to the nervous system of children. Nervous system is comprised of two parts: central nervous system constituting brain and spinal cord and peripheral nervous system comprising of the nerves that branch out off the spinal cord. While a neurosurgeon is a specialized in treating the conditions of the nervous system requiring surgical treatment, a pediatric neurosurgeon is an expert, trained and experienced for the same specifically for pediatric patients i.e. children.

When should you consider visiting a Pediatric Neurosurgeon?

A pediatric neurosurgeon does the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions pertaining to children’s nervous system as well as head and spinal deformities including the following:

• Head deformities
• Spine deformities
• Problems and injuries of the brain, spine or nerves
• Gait abnormalities (spasticity)
• Birth injuries (weakness of arms and legs)
• Loss of grip in hands and feet

Procedures Performed by Pediatric Neurosurgeon

• Biopsy
• Stereotactical Biopsy
• Debulking
• Gross Total Resection (GTR)
• Endonasal Endoscopy
• Post-Surgery and Recovery
• Tumor Board
• Radiation
• Stereotactic Radiation (Radiosurgery)
• Proton Beam Therapy
• Chemotherapy