Brain Surgery Specialist

What is brain surgery?

Brain surgery is a procedure to correct structural issues within your brain. Today's brain surgeries are so advanced that they involve only minimal tissue disruption, resulting in the fastest possible recovery. 

When might I need brain surgery?

You may need brain surgery if an issue anywhere in your brain causes neurological symptoms or other problems. The most common reasons for brain surgery include:

• Brain aneurysm
• Infection (abscess)
• Brain cancer
• Blood clots
• Brain bleeding
• Blood vessel abnormalities
• Brain pressure following a stroke or traumatic brain injury
• Nerve damage
• Brain tumor
• Hydrocephalus - brain swelling
• Blood vessel abnormalities
• Dura mater (brain covering) damage
• Trigeminal neuralgia - sudden extreme face pain
• Skull fracture
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson's disease

These conditions alter your brain tissue, change the brain's blood supply, or change the cerebrospinal fluid in your brain. All of these changes require prompt attention to preserve your brain’s health and function. 

What does brain surgery involve?

Brain surgery is different for each condition. The Spine Solutions surgeons use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible for brain surgery. You'll typically have either local or general anesthesia for brain surgery. 

For some situations, you may need "awake" brain surgery, in which you receive sedatives and pain medications but remain awake for the procedure. Being awake allows you to respond to your surgeon when needed as they precisely treat epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or brain tumors. 

The location of your incisions depends upon the problem. Usually, your surgeon shaves a part of your scalp and creates an opening above the specific part of the brain needing attention. 

When possible, they use an endoscope — a lighted tube with a tiny camera — to view your brain from the inside. In addition, the surgeons may use advanced imaging, like CT guidance, for optimal placement.

During brain surgery, your surgeon can:

• Remove an aneurysm
• Remove unhealthy brain tissue
• Drain excess blood
• Drain infected fluid
• Loosen a trapped nerve
• Remove unhealthy blood vessels
• Remove a tumor
• Extract a tissue sample for diagnostic purposes

Following any necessary repairs, your surgeon typically (but not always) replaces the bone they removed and fixes it into place. 

Brain surgery can restore your brain function, prevent complications, and allow you to live a healthy and active life. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about the advanced surgical options available at Spine Solutions.