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Neurosurgery guides
20 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Neurosurgery, with clinical review status shown on each page.
Acoustic neuroma surgery (Surgical removal of a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma))An operation to remove an acoustic neuroma — a usually non-cancerous tumour on the balance and hearing nerve — when it is large, growing, or causing problems.Brain tumour removal (Surgical resection of a brain tumour (craniotomy and resection))An operation to remove all or part of a brain tumour, and to take a tissue sample that tells the team exactly what the tumour is and how best to treat it.Cervical disc replacement (Cervical disc arthroplasty (prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement))An operation to remove a worn or slipped disc in the neck that is pressing on a nerve or the spinal cord, and replace it with an artificial disc that aims to keep some movement.Chiari malformation surgery (Posterior fossa (craniovertebral) decompression for Chiari malformation)An operation to make more room at the base of the skull where part of the brain (the cerebellum) extends into the spinal canal, easing pressure and helping fluid flow in Chiari malformation.Craniotomy (brain surgery) (Craniotomy)An operation that temporarily opens part of the skull so a neurosurgeon can reach the brain — for example to remove a tumour, stop bleeding, or treat a blood-vessel problem.Deep brain stimulation (Deep brain stimulation (DBS))An operation that places fine electrodes deep in the brain, connected to a pacemaker-like device, to ease movement symptoms in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, tremor and dystonia.Laminectomy (Laminectomy (decompressive laminectomy))An operation to remove part of the bony arch of a spine bone, making more room for squashed nerves — most often to ease leg pain, numbness or trouble walking from a narrowed spinal canal.Microdiscectomy (Lumbar microdiscectomy)A keyhole-style operation that uses a microscope to remove the part of a slipped disc in the lower back pressing on a nerve, mainly to relieve leg pain (sciatica).Neck fusion for a slipped disc (ACDF) (Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF))An operation through the front of the neck to remove a worn or slipped disc pressing on a nerve or the spinal cord, then join the two bones together (fusion) to stabilise the spine.Peripheral nerve surgery (Surgery of the peripheral nerves)A group of operations on the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord — to release a trapped nerve, repair or reconstruct a damaged one, or remove a nerve lump.Pituitary tumour surgery (Transsphenoidal (endoscopic) resection of a pituitary tumour)An operation, usually done through the nose, to remove a tumour of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, often to relieve pressure on the eyes or correct a hormone problem.Sciatica surgery (Surgery for sciatica (lumbar discectomy / decompression))An operation to take pressure off a squashed sciatic nerve root — usually by removing part of a slipped disc — to relieve leg pain, pins and needles or numbness.Shunt insertion for hydrocephalus (Insertion of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt (usually ventriculoperitoneal) for hydrocephalus)An operation to put in a thin tube (a shunt) that drains excess fluid from the brain to another part of the body, relieving the pressure caused by hydrocephalus.Slipped disc surgery (lumbar discectomy) (Lumbar discectomy)An operation to remove the part of a slipped (prolapsed) disc in the lower back that is pressing on a nerve, mainly to relieve leg pain (sciatica).Spinal decompression surgery (Spinal decompression (including lumbar decompression))An operation that takes pressure off a squashed spinal nerve or the spinal cord, usually to ease leg or arm pain caused by a trapped nerve.Spinal fusion (Spinal fusion (spinal fixation / arthrodesis))An operation that permanently joins two or more spine bones together, usually with metalwork and bone graft, to stop painful or unstable movement between them.Treatment of brain aneurysm (Treatment of an intracranial (cerebral) aneurysm by coiling or clipping)Treatment to seal off a weakened, balloon-like bulge in a brain blood vessel (an aneurysm) to stop it bleeding, either from inside the vessel (coiling) or with an operation (clipping).Treatment of spinal stenosis (Management of spinal (lumbar or cervical) stenosis)The range of treatments for a narrowed spinal canal that is squashing nerves — from exercise and pain relief to injections and, when needed, surgery to make more room.Trigeminal neuralgia surgery (Surgery and procedures for trigeminal neuralgia)Operations and procedures to ease trigeminal neuralgia — severe, electric-shock-like facial pain — when medicines no longer control it or cause unacceptable side effects.Ulnar nerve decompression (Ulnar nerve decompression at the elbow (cubital tunnel surgery))An operation to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow, usually to ease numbness, tingling or weakness in the little and ring fingers caused by cubital tunnel syndrome.
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