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Neurosurgery Facts
| Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A neurological surgeon may provide either surgical or non-surgical care, depending upon the nature of the injury or illness. |
How are Neurological Surgeons Trained?
After five years of medical school and internship following college, the doctor enters a neurosurgical residency training course of five to seven years. Because of the extreme complexity of the nervous system and the high technology used in neurosurgical operations, residency training is long and rigorous. After successful residency training completion and two years in practice, the neurological surgeon may take the American Board of Neurological Surgery examination, a difficult written and oral test. Following successful completion of this, the neurological surgeon is Board-certified in the specialty.
While the neurological surgeon has extensive knowledge after medical school and residency training, there are continual changes in the specialty which require ongoing study throughout the neurological surgeon's professional career. Monthly scientific journals, annual meetings, specialized symposia, and other educational opportunities help the neurological surgeon keep pace with rapid changes and developments in the specialty.
