CHICAGO (April 28, 2008) - The Fifth Annual Neurosurgery
Awareness Week (NAW) kicks off this year from April 28-May 1 during the 76th
Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
in Chicago. Approximately 3,000 neurosurgical medical professionals will meet
to further their continuing medical education in specialty areas including
spine and peripheral nerves, as well as cerebrovascular, pain, pediatrics,
stereotactic, trauma, tumor, and socioeconomic issues affecting the specialty.
"When people hear the word "neurosurgeon," most think brain surgeon. However,
neurosurgeons are medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders of the
entire nervous system. They certainly operate on the brain, but they actually
spend close to 70 percent of their time helping patients with spine and peripheral
nerve problems, providing surgical and nonsurgical care," stated Ghassan Bejjani,
MD, AANS spokesperson.
Neurosurgeons are trained to treat diseases of the spine throughout their
seven-year residency. In fact, they are the only physicians who treat the entire
spine - both the spinal cord itself and the structures that can exert pressure
on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
It is estimated that between 75 and 85 percent of all Americans will suffer
from low back pain and/or neck pain at some point in their lives, according
to the AANS. An estimated 12 million Americans suffer from degenerative disc
disease, with over one million patients undergoing surgery each year. Back
and neck problems can be attributed to several underlying issues, including
a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, injury, or osteoarthritis.
In about 90 percent of all cases, conservative treatment will help alleviate
pain without the need for surgery. Neurosurgeons first try conservative treatment
options on patients who have not previously been treated specifically for back
or neck problems. In some cases, a patient may seek consultation for the first
time with a neurosurgeon after he or she has been treated by another medical
specialist without achieving adequate pain relief. An exception is when a patient
suffers severe traumatic injury or has a severe neurological deficit, which
usually requires immediate surgical intervention.
Nonsurgical treatment options include physical therapy, weight reduction,
steroid injections (epidural steroids), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications,
rehabilitation, and limiting activity. All of these treatment options are aimed
at relieving the inflammation and strengthening the back.
A herniated disc is a fragment of the disc nucleus which is pushed out of
the annulus into the spinal canal, through a tear or rupture. Discs that become
herniated are usually in an early stage of degeneration. The spinal canal has
limited space, which becomes inadequate for the spinal nerve when a disc fragment
herniates into the space. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine.
They are more common in the lower back (lumbar spine), but also occur in the
neck (cervical spine). The area in which you experience pain depends on what
part of your spine is affected.
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal
cord and/or the nerve roots, and is most frequently caused by aging. The discs
in the spine that separate and cushion vertebrae may dry out. As a result,
the space between the vertebrae shrinks, and the discs lose their ability to
act as shock absorbers. This can lead to disc degeneration, bone spurs, or
pinched nerves, causing impaired function and pain. Lumbar spinal stenosis
is more common than cervical spinal stenosis.
Back and neck injuries are commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls,
other trauma, or sports. Pain from these injuries may be caused by tears in
muscles or injuries to the joints between vertebrae. Other causes of pain are
ligament rupture or damage to a disc. Conservative treatment of these injuries
includes pain medication, bed rest, reduction of physical activity, and physical
therapy.
To find out more detailed information about back and neck health topics, visit: http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/condition_treatments.asp.
The following comprehensive topics are just a selection of those available:
Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of
Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with
more than 7,200 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty
of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical
care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American
Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
(Neurosurgery) of Canada, or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC.
Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire
nervous system, including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, and peripheral
nerves.
