What is spinal neurosurgery? Spinal neurosurgery is a subspecialty of neurosurgery. The spinal cord and its external structures are as much a part of neurosurgery as the brain and cerebrum. What diseases does spinal neurosurgery treat? All diseases of the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and their bony structures. Common disorders include spinal cord tumors, spinal cord cavities, sacral cysts and spinal nerve pathological pain (herpes zoster sequelae, residual limb pain, vertebral compression fractures) as well as various degenerative pathologies (cervical and lumbar spondylosis). How is cervical or lumbar spondylosis caused? The cervical or lumbar spine is made up of a series of vertebrae, which are normally very mobile and have to support the head or trunk, so they are prone to disc protrusion, vertebral instability, bone superfluity formation, nerve compression, neck/lumbar pain, hand/foot numbness, and progressive development can lead to ligament ossification, spinal stenosis, and a feeling of stepping on cotton in the lower limbs. Can I get massage or acupuncture for cervical/lumbar spondylosis? Actually, the pain and numbness are a reminder that your nerve is stuck! You subconsciously reduce your cervical/lumbar activities, which can be beneficial in relieving nerve damage. Tui na and acupuncture do provide temporary relief from the pain; you are free to move around without pain, which can cause more serious nerve damage. How do you get rid of cervical or lumbar spondylosis for good? The cause must be removed! The herniated disc should be removed and the vertebral body fixed at the same time. Our neurosurgery department is currently using minimally invasive surgery to remove the cause of the disease under a microscope. Can a vertebral compression fracture occur even without trauma? Especially older women are prone to osteoporosis and can develop vertebral compression fractures if they are not careful. Because the upper body weight is mainly carried by the lumbar spine, the lumbar segment of the vertebrae is most likely to be involved. What should I do after a vertebral compression fracture? In the past, the patient was mainly allowed to lie flat in March, but the reduction of bone stress will instead accelerate bone loss, and various fatal complications will occur in elderly people who are bedridden for a long time. And the open plate fixation is too traumatic and the screws are difficult to tighten due to osteoporosis. Now our neurosurgery department uses minimally invasive treatment, which does not require an incision, but simply inserts a needle into the vertebral body, through which an expandable balloon can be used to hold up the compressed vertebral body and inject “bone cement” to fix it, so that the pain can be stopped immediately and you can walk home on your own the next day. What is the best way to deal with spinal neuropathic pain? Nerves transmit pain signals, which can be helpful and indicate that something is wrong with the corresponding area, but can be harmful if the nerve itself is faulty. Common conditions are: postherpetic shingles, stump pain, etc. Nowadays, our neurosurgery department only needs to puncture the skin, place an electrode into the corresponding spinal cord plane, and effectively stop the pain by electrical stimulation (this technique can also be used to wake up vegetative people). Why were spinal diseases seen by orthopedic surgeons in the past? Neurosurgery in China started late and used to be called “brain surgery”, dealing only with brain diseases, while the extensions of the brain – the spinal cord and spinal nerves, including the spine – were neglected, and hospitals in general had orthopedic departments, so these patients were seen in orthopedics. In foreign countries, most spinal disorders are handled by neurosurgeons, and our country is now in the process of converging internationally. Should I see an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon? Orthopedic surgeons are more concerned with the stability of the bony structures, while neurosurgeons consider the nerve structures inside the spine, namely the spinal cord and spinal nerves, when performing surgery, and do spinal fixation on the basis of ensuring adequate nerve decompression. Neurosurgeons are better able to protect the nerves because of their long-term training in the fine art of operating under a microscope. In fact, spinal lesions may look like a bone problem, but the essence of the problem is the nerves inside the bones!