Common Procedures Brain amd Spinal Cord

Hematoma

Localized collection of blood which usually clotts

Subdural hematoma

Leakage of blood between the dura and arachnoid membranes injury creates a space which does not normally exist, usually results from a trauma. Hematoma must be drained.

Craniotomy

Bony opening cut into the skull. A section of the skull, called a bone flap, is removed to access the brain underneath and subsequently replaced

Craniectomy

The bone flap is not intended to be replaced

Burr

Bone flap is removed by a series of small holes made in the skull

Transspenoidal hypopysectomy

Surgery of the temporal lobe the most common part of the brain involving seizures temporal lobectomy

Hydrocephalus

An inflammation of cerebrospinal fluid

Intracranial shunt

Created by means of ventriculocisternostomy or ventriculocisteral shuuning

Torkilden operation

Technique that involves performance of the ventricular I strut no stomp to form communication between the lateral ventricles and the cistern a magna

Endoscopic third ventriculostmy

Uses a laser under neuroendospic guidance to create a duct from the third lateral ventricle to the cisyerna magna without need for a shunt

Extravranial shunts

May require periodic revisions, including irrigation and complete or partial replacement

Reprogrammable shunt

Allows noninvasive pressure adjustments to correct over and under drainage of the csf

Neurostimulars pulse generator system

A surgically implanted pace maker like device delivering pre- programmed intermittent electrical pulse to the nerves or brain structures used to treat Parkinson's disease and epileptic seizures

Deep brain stimulation

High electrical stimulation of anatomic regions deep within the brain using neurosurgical implanted electrodes

Electroencephalogram

A test to measure electrical activity in your brain, recording any abnormalities in the brain waves. Diagnoses brain disorders such as epilepsy and sleeping disorders

Epidural lysis of the spinal cord

The surgeon inserts a needle near the patient's tailbone and threads a catheter through the nedfle to inject medication

Per cutaneous aspiration

A procedure where the surgeon removes contents of a cyst or syrinx(a fistula or diseased area) with a needle using a c arm x-ray machine to verify the placement of the needle. The surgeon then aspirates the cyst or syrinx of its contents and removes the needle.

Continuous epidural injection

Catheter placement involves a special needle called a Touhy needle, which is inserted between the vertebrae into the epidural space

Laminotomy

The removal of a small piece of the vertebra through the hole in the lamina to relieve back pain caused by pressure

Laminectomy

More involved procedure in which most of the bone is removed. Used to relieve back pain by pressure on the spinal cord