Neurosurgery (or neurological surgery, as it is also referred to) is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. Pediatric Neurosurgery, on the other hand, is a sub-specialty of neurosurgery focused in the evaluation and treatment of children with a range of neurological disorders, such as brain tumors, spasticity, movement disorders, intractable epilepsy, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, head injuries, and spina bifida, as well as other cranial malformations and spinal deformities.
Neurosurgeons, specially pediatric in this case, are more than just brain surgeons. These medical specialists are trained to help patients with head and spine trauma, cerebrovascular disorders, such as aneurysms of the brain and clogged arteries in the neck that can lead to strokes, chronic low back pain, birth defects, brain and spinal tumors and abnormalities of the peripheral (face, arms, legs, hands and feet) nerves. Also, and more importantly, Pediatric Neurosurgeons are in charge of provide the operative and non-operative management ( which involves prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care and rehabilitation) or neurological disorders. Because neurosurgeons have extensive training in the diagnosis of all neurological diseases, they are often called upon by emergency room doctors, neurologists, internists, family practitioners and osteopaths for consultations.