Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is the medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system injuries, disease or disorders. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. A healthy nervous system is vital because it runs every bodily function. Every part of your body is connected to the nervous system. The nervous system works by sending messages through your nerve cells.

Neurosurgeons at TexomaCare use individualized neurosurgery treatment by first identifying risk factors in every patient and using screening tests. Screening tests typically include CT scans, MRI and PET scans. Our neurosurgeons are trained in the cerebrovascular system, the spinal column and spinal cord, trauma, tumors and pain management. They provide not only brain surgical treatments, but also nonoperative management of neurological disorders.

Neurological Conditions We Treat

At TexomaCare, our neurosurgeons diagnose and treat patients with neurological injuries or diseases. Our extensive neurosurgery services include treatment for the following conditions:

Brain Aneurysms

A brain aneurysm is a widening or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain. It is caused by a weakness in the artery walls. Most brain aneurysms aren’t discovered until they rupture. 

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm may include a sudden and severe headache, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness. The signs of a stroke are very similar to a brain aneurysm. 

Treatment depends on the size and location of the aneurysm and whether it has burst. One possible treatment for a ruptured brain aneurysm is surgical clipping. A neurosurgeon must remove a section of your skull to locate the blood vessel feeding into the aneurysm. Then, a tiny metal clip is placed on the neck of the aneurysm to stop the blood flow into it. 

A less invasive approach is an endovascular treatment. A neurosurgeon can insert a catheter into an artery and threat it up to the aneurysm. Then, they use a combination of devices to destroy the aneurysm from inside the blood vessel. 

Chronic Low Back Pain

Low back pain impacts nearly 80 percent of adults at least once during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most low back pain is short-term, lasting between four and 12 weeks. However, chronic back pain can last more than 12 weeks.

Spinal Tumors

Spinal tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). The treatment of benign tumors depends on symptoms, such as pain or lack of mobility. It may be treated with a watch-and-wait approach, medication, radiation or surgery. 

Malignant tumors can be treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery is often used in addition to these treatments to relieve pain, stabilize the spine and improve quality of life.

Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. It can originate in the brain or travel to the brain from another part of the body. 

Primary brain tumor forms in the brain itself or in the tissues close to it. This occurs when normal cells develop mutations in their DNA. The mutations cause the cells to grow and divide. The result is a tumor. 

A secondary brain tumor is caused by another cancer that starts somewhere outside of the body. That cancer then spreads to your brain and creates a tumor there. 

There are different types of brain tumors. They fall into two categories: benign or malignant.

• Benign tumors usually do not recur once they are removed and do not invade surrounding tissue. A benign brain tumor diagnosis has a good outlook because it is not cancerous. That means that it will not invade or spread to other parts of the body. However, they cause symptoms similar to cancerous tumors because of their size and location in the brain.
• Malignant brain tumors contain cancer cells. The tumor cells are usually fast growing and invade tissue, but they rarely spread to other areas of the body. Malignant tumors can recur after treatment. Sometimes, brain tumors are not cancer, but they are called malignant because of their size and location.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

The skull protects the brain from most minor bangs and bumps. However, severe head injuries can occur from falls, motor vehicle accidents and contact sports. When this happens, the brain moves inside the skull causing bleeding, tearing of tissues and swelling.

Common head injuries include skull fractures, concussions and traumatic brain injury that causes moderate to severe damage to the brain. Injuries to the brain can cause different problems depending on the part of the brain affected. 

The brain has six parts: brain stem, cerebellum, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe. Each of these parts has distinct functions that would be impacted if that location is damaged. In most cases of traumatic brain injury, multiple areas of the brain are injured and cases multiple functions are impacted. 

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries signals between the brain and the body. When a spinal cord injury occurs, the signals are disrupted. This usually happens from a sudden blow to the spine that often fractures or dislocates vertebrae. 

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete. With a complete injury, there is no motor function below the injury. With an incomplete injury, there is still some movement and sensation below the injury.

Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Peripheral nerves are nerves that are outside the brain and spinal cord. There are many types of peripheral nerve disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms may include numbness, pain, muscle weakness and tingling. Treatment can help reduce pain and alleviate symptoms.

Other Services Provided

• Arnold Chiari treatment and surgery
•  Brain and spine trauma/injury surgery
•  Brain and spinal tumor surgery
•  Brain lab and brain suite stereotactic surgery
•  Cerebral vascular disease treatment
•  Complex revision surgery
•  Critical care complex neurological consultation
•  Degenerative spine disease treatment
•  Disc herniation and spondylolisthesis
•  Intracranial cerebral monitoring (somatosensory and motor evoked potential surgery)
• Intracranial hemorrhage treatment and surgery
•  Intracranial pressure monitoring, treatment and surgery
•  Kyphosis and scoliosis surgery
•  Meningioma, schwannoma and neurofibromatosis treatment
•  Minimally invasive spine surgery
•  Peripheral nerve surgery
•  Radiculopathy and sciatica treatment
•  Spinal reconstruction

Location

TexomaCare Neurosurgery at Denison
5012 S US Hwy 75
Suite 240
Denison, TX 75020
903-416-6460
903-416-6461 (Fax)