7 Types of Treatments Paediatric Neurosurgeons Provide
While most people think of the head, spine, or brain when they think of paediatric neurosurgeons, they are actually trained to deal with all sorts of body parts and issues that affect young patients. Whether you or your child has suffered a spinal cord injury, trauma to the face or head, epilepsy, or even something as simple as headaches caused by growing pains, there is likely a specialist out there who can help. This list provides an overview of 7 different types of treatments paediatric neurosurgeons can provide.
1) Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a birth defect where one or more of the fibrous joints (sutures) between the skull bones close prematurely before brain growth is completed. The result can be an abnormal head shape and distortion, as well as increased pressure on the brain that may lead to neurological problems. A cranial vault remodeling procedure, such as a craniectomy, might be needed to relieve pressure on the brain. In other cases, surgery may be needed to remove part or all of the suture that closed early to prevent further growth in the wrong direction and worsening symptoms.
2) Chiari Malformation
Paediatric neurosurgeons provide treatments for a variety of brain and spine disorders. One such disorder is Chiari Malformation, which is a congenital condition in which the cerebellum protrudes through the opening at the bottom of the skull. It is most common in children under 10 years old and can be treated with surgery to re-surgically decompress the cerebellum. Treatment options also include medication, physical therapy, and counseling.
3) Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect in children. It can cause significant disability, especially if left untreated. If a child has spina bifida, it means that their spinal cord did not form properly and that there is a defect or hole in their spine. In this condition, the nerve roots are exposed to the amniotic fluid and other substances around them while they are still developing inside their mother’s womb. This can cause problems with brain function later on in life as well as other serious problems like bowel control, bladder control, walking ability, sensation and more.
The severity of spina bifida depends on which parts of the spinal cord are affected by the damage.
4) Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a condition that causes the brain and spinal cord to swell, leading to significant pressure on the brain. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting and vision problems. Hydrocephalus is caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Hydrocephalus is classified into two types: communicating and noncommunicating. Communicating hydrocephalus occurs when CSF can flow freely between chambers while non-communicating hydrocephalus occurs when there is an obstruction preventing CSF from flowing into different chambers. The most common cause of communicating hydrocephalus is aqueductal stenosis – narrowing of the canal in which CSF flows from one side of the ventricles to other side.
5) Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain from an external physical force. TBIs are most often caused by car accidents or falls, but they can also be a result of gunshot wounds, falls, or other serious injuries. TBIs can range from mild to severe and some symptoms may not present until days after the injury has occurred. The severity of the injury is determined by how much damage there is to the brain cells and their connections with each other. Mild TBIs usually have no long-term effects and people often recover on their own within a few weeks. Severe TBIs can have lasting effects and require more intensive treatment.
6) Tumours
Tumours are one of the most common conditions that paediatric neurosurgeons treat. Tumours are a mass or lump on a part of the body, which can either be benign or malignant. Benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body and usually grow slowly. Malignant tumours can grow quickly and invade other tissues. The treatment for tumours in children is different than for adults because it is more effective and does not have as many side effects. Doctors will start by doing tests to diagnose what type of tumour it is and then figure out how best to treat it. They may use surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy on the child depending on their diagnosis.
7) Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition where the person will experience seizures. The seizures can be generalised, meaning they affect both sides of the brain, or focal, which means they only affect one side of the brain. Epilepsies are diagnosed by collecting information from a patient’s history and observing them during a seizure. A CT scan or an MRI may be used to rule out any structural abnormality in the brain that could be causing the seizures. There are many treatments for epilepsy including medications, surgical procedures and alternative therapies.
Finding the best Pediatric neurosurgery hospital
For the Pediatric neurosurgery in Coimbatore Neurosurgeons are one that specializes in the treatment of children’s brains. A pediatric neurosurgeon is a doctor who specializes in treating diseases and disorders that affect the brain, spine and other parts of the nervous system. They provide a range of treatments for patients with these conditions, including surgery and medications. Most pediatric neurosurgeons treat patients from infancy to 18 years old, but they can also take on adult cases.