Neurosurgeons are the experts who treat the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system. In some instances, neurosurgeons of New Jersey use minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat brain or spine cancer patients.
Neurosurgery is performed on the brain, spinal cord, or a part of the nervous system like the spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nerves found in feet and hands and the extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. Patients need a neurosurgery for
- Primary brain tumors
- Primary spinal tumors
Tumors adjacent to peripheral nerves.
Neurological problems caused by cancer or other treatments.
The neurosurgeon also treats neck and back pain, stroke epilepsy, pinched nerves, herniated disc chronic pain, and sciatica. Many neurosurgeons adopt a wide range of diagnostic tests like angiograms and ultras.
An MRI can help in the identification of the specific nature of conditions. Injuries and diseases. The test result helps him guide the best possible course of treatment.
Neurosurgeons may work with other doctors and health care-providing institutes, including oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, other medical oncologists, psychologist rehabilitation therapists, and many different disciplines.
Surgical techniques
In some instances, a neurosurgeon can use minimally invasive technology and 3-D techniques for diagnostic images of the brain or spine to maintain accuracy and safety.
In certain cases, Spinal tumors locate outside the sac (the dura) that holds spinal fluid and cord or intradural (inside the dura). The different forms of intradural tumors are
Extramedullary tumors occur inside the dura but do not affect the spinal cord.
Intramedullary tumors occur in the spinal cord.
A neurosurgeon creates small incisions and uses tubes in minimally invasive spinal surgery to remove the tumor with small injuries to muscle tissues. Minimally invasive spine surgery helps in reducing pain and speeds up the recovery process, supporting neurosurgeons to decompress spinal nerves and access hard-to-reach tumors around the spinal cord.
Different sophisticated tools improve precision and brain safety. A surgeon can remove the tumor without disturbing neurologic function. The surgical tools include
Intraoperative neuronavigation uses an advanced MRI system to investigate brain areas responsible for significant functions. The map helps to plan surgery and prevent damage to vital areas precisely.
Intraoperative electrophysiology (Brain mapping, motor mapping) is like brain GPS. Neurosurgeons place small electrodes on the brain’s out layer to stimulate the brain and surrounding areas around the tumor.
It helps to locate brain regions like areas responsible for avoiding damage to the brain areas responsible for movement or speech.
Speech and motor impacts
During spinal and brain surgeries, neurosurgeons use nerve motoring technology to ensure patients’ motor techniques and damage prevention of the brain areas performing motor functions. A neurosurgeon suggests awake craniotomy for the patient with lesions in brain areas controlling speech functions. They place patients on light sedation who meet the criteria and keep them waken up until the tumor is removed. Physical and speech therapists work with them to restore speech function. Once the surgeon completes tumor resections and the surgical team is confident about restoring function, they place the patient back under sedation for the remainder of the procedure.
Pain Management and Mobility
Neurologic spine and brain cancers, or neurological conditions caused by cancers, may create unique challenges, including communication and mobility difficulties. The healthcare team including neurosurgeon and pain management specialists offers various supportive care services to address the challenges throughout the procedure so that the patient can get treatment without complications.
Chemotherapy.
The care providers can provide chemotherapy locally during brain surgery. Chemotherapy is administered close to the tumor edges at the resection area. The technique helps in reducing typical chemotherapy-related side effects.
Radiation therapy
Healthcare providers use intraoperative radiation therapy to transmit radiation directly to the brain portion where the tumor is removed. It helps prevent damage to the surrounding structures like the scalp or the skin on the scalp. It allows higher radiation doses to be delivered along tumor edges while helping to prevent healthy brain areas.
The healthcare team uses Stereotactic radiation therapy to treat metastatic brain cancer, especially for tumors located in more than one area. It helps to reduce pain, discomfort, and recovery time associated with surgery.
Optune
Optune is a non-invasive treatment for patients with a glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer for whom treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy don’t work.
Optune is a battery-operated, portable medical device that creates an electric field around the tumor to disrupt cancer cell reproduction and growth. The oncologist suggests patients wear this device for 18 hours a day for four to five weeks. After battery charging, the patient can carry the device in a back or shoulder bag for a few hours to receive treatment without interrupting the daily routine.
Complete medical wellness offers complete neuro-spine treatment.
