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Conditions Treated by Neurosurgeons

Spinal Stenosis

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which too much fluid builds up in the brain. The fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is a clear liquid that normally surrounds both the spinal cord and the brain.

Bell's Palsy
Bell's palsy is a sudden weakness and paralysis on one side of the face due to injury to the facial nerve. It occurs in approximately 40,000 Americans each year. It affects men and women equally.


Multiple Sclerosis MS
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the body's ability to send nerve signals. It occurs when your immune system attacks the myelin sheath, a protective coating on your nerve cells. The myelin sheath is like insulation on a wire. It doesn't just protect the nerve from damage; it also keeps the signal from being lost or distorted. When your myelin coating is damaged, the nerves inside it cant properly send signals, and the exchange of information between your body and brain is disrupted. MS also causes the immune system to attack oligodendrocytes, the myelin-producing cells that would otherwise repair the damaged sheath.

Brain Tumors
A brain tumor occurs when cells grow uncontrollably in the brain. A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms; this is called a tumor. There are two types of tumors: benign and malignant. Benign tumors stay in one place, grow to a certain size, and then (as a general rule) stop. Malignant tumors do not stop growing, and pieces of them travel to other parts of the body, where they also continue to grow. Malignant tumors, called cancers, are nearly all fatal if not treated. Currently, with treatment, about half of all cancers are being cured.

Optic Neuritis
The optic nerve allows you to see by carrying images from your eye to your brain. Optic neuritis involves inflammation of the optic nerve. This may cause sudden decrease or loss of vision. It is a serious condition that requires immediate care from your doctor.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. Blood quickly fills the area immediately surrounding the brain and spinal cord (called the subarachnoid space). This space contains the cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid cushions and bathes the brain and spinal cord. This life-threatening condition requires emergency medical care. The hemorrhage may increase the pressure around the brain. It can interfere with the brain's ability to function.


Skull and Facial Fracture

There are two major types of skull fractures:

Open skull fracture-part of the scalp is torn Closed skull fracture-the scalp is intact Facial fractures can occur in any of the face's bones. This includes: