Independent Medical Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of Neurosurgery and Spinal Disorders
Doctor-authored, referenced and reliable information on brain and spine conditions. A neutral, academic reference covering definition, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Categories
Spinal Disorders
Lumbar and cervical disc herniation, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and other spine-related conditions.
3 articlesBrain Tumors
Benign and malignant brain tumors; glioma, meningioma and other intracranial masses.
1 articlesVascular Disorders
Brain aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, cavernoma and cerebrovascular diseases.
2 articlesHydrocephalus & CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders; hydrocephalus, shunt and endoscopic treatments.
1 articlesSurgical Techniques
Endoscopic discectomy, microsurgery, minimally invasive approaches and neurosurgical methods.
1 articlesFeatured articles
Lumbar Disc Herniation (Herniated Disc)
A lumbar disc herniation occurs when the soft inner core (nucleus pulposus) of an intervertebral disc pushes through its outer ring (annulus fibrosus) and compresses a nearby nerve root. It is most common at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels and is a frequent cause of sciatica — pain radiating from the lower back into the leg.
Cervical Disc Herniation (Neck Hernia)
A cervical disc herniation occurs when a disc in the neck region protrudes and compresses a nerve root or the spinal cord. It is most common at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels and typically causes pain radiating into the arm, with numbness and weakness.
Endoscopic Discectomy
Endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which the fragment of a herniated disc compressing a nerve root is removed using an endoscope inserted through a small incision. The aim is to preserve muscle and allow faster recovery.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve-root canals in the lower back. It most often develops from degenerative (age-related) causes and is characterized by leg pain that worsens with walking and eases with rest (neurogenic claudication).
Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma (IDH-wildtype) is the most common and most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults. It is classified as grade 4 in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and tends to grow rapidly and infiltrate surrounding brain tissue.
Brain Aneurysm (Intracranial Aneurysm)
A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like outpouching that forms because of a weakness in the wall of a brain blood vessel. Most aneurysms cause no symptoms; if one ruptures, it can lead to a life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage.