What Is Neurosurgery?
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty in which conditions and disorders of the spine and brain are diagnosed and treated with appropriate surgical intervention. In neurosurgery, we address problems that affect the nervous system, including the brain, spine, spinal cord, and skull.
Reasons To See A Neurosurgeon
Seeing a neurosurgeon doesn’t necessarily mean you need surgery. Your primary care physician may refer you to a neurosurgery specialist for a thorough consultation and examination regarding a suspected disorder or disease affecting your nervous system.
Neurosurgeons are trained to perform brain surgery. However, specialists like Dr. Lipani also provide an extremely high level of care for spinal disorders. The majority of procedures performed by a neurosurgeon are related to spinal conditions. The extensive training obtained by a neurosurgeon facilitates exemplary care for the entire spine, including the spinal canal and spinal cord.
What Conditions Does A Neurosurgeon Treat?
A neurosurgeon is a specialist who diagnoses and performs surgical procedures to treat disorders of the nervous system, including brain and spinal conditions. Some of the conditions that a neurosurgeon may treat include:
- Brain or spinal injuries
- Infections of the brain or spine
- Stroke
- Seizure disorders
- Degenerative conditions of the spine
- Brain or spinal tumors
Procedures A Neurosurgeon Performs
A neurosurgeon performs a wide variety of tests and procedures that diagnose and treat conditions affecting the nervous system. Dr. Lipani is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has received extensive training in the performance of cranial and spinal procedures, including radiosurgery.
His spectrum of care includes cranial procedures including but not limited to:
- Cranioplasty
- Diagnostic Cerebral Angiograph
- Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt for Hydrocephalus
- Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Craniotomy for Meningioma
- Craniotomy for Subdural Hematoma
- Craniotomy for Tumors
Advanced education in spinal conditions and procedures includes but is not limited to:
What Our Patients Say
"The Doctor outstanding in every way possible. Explaining every detail and taking his time to do so. Amazing for a surgeon to be so informing of the procedure to me and my wife. After the surgery he came out and explained everything to me. My wife is doing great after the cervical spine fusion, moving her arm in ways she hasn’t in years and getting her feeling back in her fingers"
How to Prepare for Your Consultation with a Neurosurgeon
We would like your visit to Princeton Neurological Surgery to be a productive event that gives you peace of mind about your health and wellness. Preparedness on your part can help ease nerves related to your consultation. It helps us gain the best understanding of your symptoms and helps you absorb the details of the proposed treatment. Aspects of your visit that are important include:
- Medications. Discuss all medications you are currently taking when you visit our office. These include over-the-counter supplements, vitamins, pain relievers, and all prescription medications.
- Symptoms. The more precisely you can document your symptoms before your visit, the more efficiently we can identify the root cause. In addition to documenting the symptoms themselves, also make note of details such as frequency, severity, and any triggering stimuli. Think of questions such as: is pain worse first thing in the morning or later in the day? Do certain activities instigate pain? These details should be discussed with your doctor.
- Expectations. It is important for the doctor and patient to understand the potential outcome of treatment and to compare possibilities with expectations. What would you like to achieve with treatment? Are there certain activities that you would like to be able to do, such as biking or running, after treatment? Sharing your expectations for life after treatment enables your doctor to strive to meet those expectations and also thoroughly discuss the potential and limitations of recommended procedures.
- Questions. Most patients will have at least a few questions as we discuss treatment options. These include what to expect and what might be done to maximize the outcome of the proposed procedure. Every question that comes to mind is worth asking, because every answer can increase your peace of mind.
Schedule A Consultation
If you are in need of a Neurosurgeon in New Jersey, schedule a consultation with Dr. John Lipani. Contact us today at (609) 890-3400 for more information or fill out an online contact form and our office will be in touch in touch with you. Princeton Neurological Surgery serves areas in and around Princeton, Somerset, and Morristown in New Jersey.
