Neurosurgery

Aims

1. To become familiar with the recognition, natural history, and general and specific treatment of those neurosurgical conditions that one would expect to encounter in a general surgery practice in a community lacking the immediate availability of a neurosurgeon.
2. To familiarize oneself with the pathophysiology of neurosurgical conditions, and the response of a patient to the various neurosurgical problems.
3. To participate fully in the ambulatory and inpatient settings including clinic, wards and the operating room

Clinical Skills

Given a patient with a neurosurgical disease, the clerk will be able to do the following to the satisfaction of his/her supervisor(s):

• Take a relevant history.
• Perform an acceptable physical exam concentrating on the relevant areas.
• Arrive at an appropriate differential diagnosis.

Curriculum

1. Review basic neuronal mechanisms
2. Hydrocephalus- etiology treatment – how a shunt works
3. Trauma- Head Injuries and the Glasgow coma scale
4. Epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, skull fractures brain injuries cerebral edema monitoring of ICP (methods and indications) Brain death criteria
5. Neck and back pain surgical and medical indications
6. Vascular anomalies of the brain
7. Neoplasm’s of nervous system
8. Evaluation and management of peripheral nerves and nerve injuries
9. Radiological understand the mechanism and indications for CT and MRI of the brain