neurosurgeryposts

[neurosurgeryposts]

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

With degenerative changes associated with the aging process, the shape of the spine changes, and the width of the spinal canal can get narrowed and create pressure on the spinal nerves. This process is known as spinal stenosis and when it occurs in the lower lumbar region of the spine, it’s known as lumbar spinal stenosis. Of all the degenerative changes seen in spinal stenosis, the most common is in the lumbar region.

While degenerative changes in the spine can be seen in around 95% of people by the age of 50, lumbar spinal stenosis is more commonly seen in those above 60 years of age. With increasing age, the inter-vertebral spongy discs tend to get hardened, resulting in loss of disc height and its bulging out into the spinal canal. This narrowing of the canal results in compression of nerves radiating out towards the legs and urinary bladder.

Symptoms

The patient may feel pain, cramping, or numbness in the legs, buttocks, or calves which could get further aggravated upon standing for long periods or walking. The pain could radiate to one or both legs and in rare cases, could even lead to loss of motor function of the legs or loss of bowel or bladder function. The pain will typically improve upon bending forward, sitting, or lying down.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is done based on your history, symptomatology, and physical examination. This can be further backed up by imaging studies including x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or myelograms.

Treatment

1.Conservative treatment

In some cases, non-surgical methods can contain the progression of lumbar spinal stenosis and include anti-inflammatory medications, epidural injections, physiotherapy, posture correction, weight management, bone-strengthening endeavors, and smoking cessation.

2.Surgical treatment

When conservative therapy doesn’t work, surgery is usually advised. The different types of surgeries usually performed are;

· Decompressive laminectomy

· Laminotomy

· Medial facetectomy

· Foraminotomy

· Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

· Anterior lumbar interbody fusion

· Posterior lumbar interbody fusion

· Posterolateral fusion

· Instrumented fusion

[neurosurgeryposts]

What is a Herniated Disc?

Herniated disc refers to the condition that occurs when the soft rubbery cushions known as discs get pushed out from in-between the individual bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. These discs located between each spinal bone act as shock absorbers. The disc has a tough exterior with a softer, jelly-like center that slips out (slipped disc or bulged disc) or gets ruptured (ruptured disc) through a crack in the tougher exterior wall. These types of herniated disc issues tend to press against the nerves within the limited space of the spinal canal and cause pain.

Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine but are usually limited to the neck or lower-back region and may or may not produce symptoms.

What are the causes of Herniated disc?

It could be due to an excessive, repetitive strain on a single area (occupational risks) or due to injury. In some it could be due to excessive weight and natural disc degeneration with age.

What are the general Symptoms in case of a Herniated Disc?

Some herniated discs produce no symptoms, others may produce mild to excessive pain. This can be in the neck or lower-back region and could radiate to the arms, legs and buttocks, depending on the location of the hernia and the nerves affected.

Apart from pain, there could be tingling, numbness, leg numbness, pins and needles, or uncomfortable tingling and burning weakness of affected muscles and bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made on the basis of the history, symptoms and physical examinations which are further supported by x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, myelograms or electromyograms and nerve conduction studies.

Treatment

Fortunately, most herniated disc cases are treated non-surgically with medication, physiotherapy and maintaining good posture. But for those patients that are undergoing debilitating pain that affects their lifestyle, surgery is usually recommended after taking the patient’s age and overall health into consideration.

The different types of surgical procedures to correct herniated discs include:

Discectomy Laminectomy Laminotomy Spinal fusion Artificial disc surgery

[neurosurgeryposts]

Lumbar Surgery

Lumbar surgery refers to any type of surgery in the lumbar spine, or lower back, between one and more of the L1-S1 levels.

There are two general types of lumbar spine surgery that comprise the most common surgical procedures for the lower back:

Lumbar Decompression

The goal of decompression surgery is usually to relieve pain caused by nerve root pinching. There are two common causes of lumbar nerve root pressure: from a lumbar disc which is herniated or stenosis of the lumbar spine.

This type of pain is usually referred to as a radiculopathy, or sciatica.

Decompression surgery involves removing a small a portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root to relieve pinching of the nerve and provide more room for the nerve to heal. The most common types of decompression surgery are microdiscectomy and laminectomy which was explained earlier

There are also a few alternatives available to the above two standard procedures, such as an X-STOP which is a possible option instead of a laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar Fusion

The goal of a lumbar fusion is to stop the pain at a painful motion segment in the lower back. Most commonly, this type of surgery is performed for pain and disability caused by lumbar degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis.

Spinal fusion surgery involves using a bone graft to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, which in turn should decrease the pain generated from the joint. Spine surgery instrumentation (medical devices), bone graft procedures, and bone stimulators are sometimes used along with spinal fusion.

There are also many surgical approaches to performing spinal fusion, such as ALIF, PLIF, XLIF, TLIF, posterolateral gutter fusion, anterior/posterior fusion, and certain minimally invasive approaches.

In addition to the above conditions, decompression and/or spinal fusion may be performed to address other types of the lumbar spine pathologies, such as infection or tumors.

[neurosurgeryposts]

Brain Tumor

Brain Tumor Brain Tumor is one of the most serious forms of a tumor, it is a condition where the brain cells multiply abnormally .Brain is enclosed by the skull which is very rigid .The brain fits exactly into the skull, any growth in the brain can cause an increased pressure inside the skull and the surrounding tissues. This can damage the surrounding brain tissue which can be life threatening. Causes for Brain tumors There is no specific cause for brain tumors, brain tumor is so variant that  we cannot  pin- point one cause - It can run in families or it can occur spontaneously where no one in the family had, there are varieties of brain tumors. -It can start in any part of the brain or start somewhere else in the body and reach the brain through blood. -There may be genetic predisposition for certain tumors depending on how the gene is made up. -There are many syndromes (that is a group of diseases ) which manifest as  tumors in the brain and nerves. -Tumors show up in different age groups from children to adults. The tumor type varies depending on the patient's age and where it occurs. -Some tumors are more common in males while some are more common in females. Different brain tumors present in distinct ways and in nature, Brain tumors have a variety of presentations with distinct specificities.

Symptoms of Brain tumor The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor usually vary based on the size of the tumor, its location and the rate of growth. • Headache is a common symptom of brain tumor, not all headaches are due to brain tumor , below are some of the types of headaches which may differ from the normal headaches which may be of concern and need an evaluation from a neurologist.        -Headaches which are worse in the morning          -Headache while you are sleeping          -Increased headaches on coughing, sneezing or during exercise        - Infrequent, persistent headaches, alongside the feeling of increased       pressure inside the head.        -There could also be a new onset or change in the pattern of headaches Some of the other symptoms are •        vomiting •        Abrupt vision problems, blurring ,double vision and abnormal eye movement •        Seizure even without any history of it and more in those who have a history of seizures •        Loss of appetite •        Difficulty in balance, swaying while walking •        The weakness of limbs, lethargy or loss of sensation •        Memory problem, confusion in routine things, behavioral  changes •        Rapidly enlarging head, in babies or toddlers •         Changes in the ability to hear, taste or smell •        Dizziness or vertigo •        Difficulty in writing and reading •        Numbness or tingling on one side of the body •        Decreased alertness, Change in mental functioning

Types of brain tumors Depending on the origin of the tumor they can be primary or secondary Brain tumors. Primary brain tumors are those that originate in the brain they can develop from - Brain cells - From the meninges (the membrane surrounding the brain) - Nerve cells - Glands Secondary brain tumors are those which start in any part of the body and spread to the brain, they are usually cancerous - Lung cancer - Breast cancer - Kidney cancer - Liver cancer etc

How is brain tumor diagnosed? To begin with a physical examination and a look at your medical history is done .The physical examination includes a detailed neurological examination. Your doctor will see if your cranial nerves (These are the nerves that originate in your brain) are intact by conducting a series of tests. Your doctor will look inside your eyes with an ophthalomoscope,  to look directly into your eyes to see if there’s any swelling of the optic nerve. When pressure increases inside the skull, changes in the optic nerve can occur. The doctor may also evaluate your muscle strength, Co ordination, ability to do mathematical calculations, memory etc Your doctor may order more tests after they finish the physical exam. These could include: •CT scan of the head- C T Scans would detect any gross abnormalities in the brain and skull. •MRI of the head- It generally provides much more detailed pictures of the structures of the brain itself. •Angiography- It allows your doctor to see what the blood supply of the tumors looks like •Skull X-rays- Brain tumors can cause breaks or fractures in the bones of the skull. •Biopsy-A small piece of the tumor is obtained and the biopsy will identify if the tumor cells are benign or malignant. It will also determine whether the cancer originated in your brain or any another part of your body. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Early treatment can prevent complications. All Brain tumors may not require surgery. Sometimes the tumor may need only medication to treat it properly, some of the brain tumors may be life-threatening, if left alone. Therefore, a brain tumor isn't something to be feared about. Some of these can be easily removed and the patient can lead a normal life. Even in cases with malignant brain tumors, advanced treatment can help provide a better quality life for patients. Visit us at Neurosurgery if you’re worried about any symptoms you’re experiencing and for early detection of brain tumors. For  more information: Visit us info@neurosurgerybangalore.com

[neurosurgeryposts]

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

With degenerative changes associated with the aging process, the shape of the spine changes, and the width of the spinal canal can get narrowed and create pressure on the spinal nerves. This process is known as spinal stenosis and when it occurs in the lower lumbar region of the spine, it’s known as lumbar spinal stenosis. Of all the degenerative changes seen in spinal stenosis, the most common is in the lumbar region.

While degenerative changes in the spine can be seen in around 95% of people by the age of 50, lumbar spinal stenosis is more commonly seen in those above 60 years of age. With increasing age, the inter-vertebral spongy discs tend to get hardened, resulting in loss of disc height and its bulging out into the spinal canal. This narrowing of the canal results in compression of nerves radiating out towards the legs and urinary bladder.

Symptoms

The patient may feel pain, cramping, or numbness in the legs, buttocks, or calves which could get further aggravated upon standing for long periods or walking. The pain could radiate to one or both legs and in rare cases, could even lead to loss of motor function of the legs or loss of bowel or bladder function. The pain will typically improve upon bending forward, sitting, or lying down.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is done based on your history, symptomatology, and physical examination. This can be further backed up by imaging studies including x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or myelograms.

Treatment

1.Conservative treatment

In some cases, non-surgical methods can contain the progression of lumbar spinal stenosis and include anti-inflammatory medications, epidural injections, physiotherapy, posture correction, weight management, bone-strengthening endeavors, and smoking cessation.

2.Surgical treatment

When conservative therapy doesn’t work, surgery is usually advised. The different types of surgeries usually performed are;

· Decompressive laminectomy

· Laminotomy

· Medial facetectomy

· Foraminotomy

· Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

· Anterior lumbar interbody fusion

· Posterior lumbar interbody fusion

· Posterolateral fusion

· Instrumented fusion

[neurosurgeryposts]

Lumbar Surgery

Lumbar surgery refers to any type of surgery in the lumbar spine, or lower back, between one and more of the L1-S1 levels.

There are two general types of lumbar spine surgery that comprise the most common surgical procedures for the lower back:

Lumbar Decompression

The goal of decompression surgery is usually to relieve pain caused by nerve root pinching. There are two common causes of lumbar nerve root pressure: from a lumbar disc which is herniated or stenosis of the lumbar spine.

This type of pain is usually referred to as a radiculopathy, or sciatica.

Decompression surgery involves removing a small a portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root to relieve pinching of the nerve and provide more room for the nerve to heal. The most common types of decompression surgery are microdiscectomy and laminectomy which was explained earlier

There are also a few alternatives available to the above two standard procedures, such as an X-STOP which is a possible option instead of a laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar Fusion

The goal of a lumbar fusion is to stop the pain at a painful motion segment in the lower back. Most commonly, this type of surgery is performed for pain and disability caused by lumbar degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis.

Spinal fusion surgery involves using a bone graft to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, which in turn should decrease the pain generated from the joint. Spine surgery instrumentation (medical devices), bone graft procedures, and bone stimulators are sometimes used along with spinal fusion.

There are also many surgical approaches to performing spinal fusion, such as ALIF, PLIF, XLIF, TLIF, posterolateral gutter fusion, anterior/posterior fusion, and certain minimally invasive approaches.

In addition to the above conditions, decompression and/or spinal fusion may be performed to address other types of the lumbar spine pathologies, such as infection or tumors.

[neurosurgeryposts]

Spinal tuberculosis or Pott's disease

Spinal tuberculosis or Pott's disease Tuberculosis is a highly communicable disease caused by the bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is most common in developing countries and death because of TB is one among the top-10 causes of death worldwide. The prevalence of this disease has increased in developing nations partially as a result of the spread of AIDS in the last few decades.   The lungs are the primarily affected organs by TB but can spread to other parts of the body. When TB spreads, it’s referred to as (EPTB) extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Around 15% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis will have extrapulmonary involvement. The spine- the thoracic spine, in particular, is the most common extrapulmonary site to be infected by TB. Spinal TB is a dangerous form of skeletal TB because it is associated with a neurologic deficit due to compression of the adjacent neural structures and cause significant spinal deformity. Pott’s disease is the slow hematogenous spread (spread through the blood) of tuberculosis to the neighboring sites, particularly the spine.  The infections spread from one vertebra into the intervertebral disc space of other vertibrae the severity increases. The disc remains in normal condition when only 1 vertebra is affected. When two successive vertebral bones are affected, the disc (which is devoid of blood vessels) stops getting the nutrients through blood and collapses completely. A phenomenon referred to as caseous necrosis is observed in these cases, wherein the disc tissue dies. This results in three phenomena- • Narrowing of the vertebral space • Vertebral collapse • Spinal damage TB of the spine can cause the destruction of the bone tissue that finally ends up in the development of kyphotic or kyphoscoliotic disfigurement and possible compression of nerve roots with the collapse of the vertebrae. Spinal canal can narrow due to the protrusion of granulation tissue, lesions like cold abscesses developed in the course of the TB infection, or because of direct infiltration. Spinal tuberculosis affects the vertebrae and spreads to adjacent spinal structures, resulting in osteomyelitis, and arthritis in several vertebrae What causes spinal tuberculosis? Spinal TB occurs once you contract tuberculosis and it spreads outside of the lungs. Tuberculosis is spread from one person to another person through the air. After one contracts tuberculosis the bacterium can travel through the blood from the lungs or lymph nodes into the bones, spine, or joints. Bone TB mainly begins within the middle of the long bones and vertebrae which are rich in blood supply. Bone tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose and may lead to severe problems if left untreated. What does the TB of the spine look like? The symptoms of tuberculosis of the bone are not easy to diagnose until it’s far advanced. Bone TB and especially spinal Tuberculosis is challenging to diagnose because it’s painless in the early stages, and therefore one may not  exhibit any symptoms, onset of symptoms of tuberculous spondylitis is more insidious than pyogenic infection. When bone TB is diagnosed, signs and symptoms are very advanced. Symptoms of patients with spinal TB may or may not experience normal symptoms of tuberculosis, which include: Chronic illness, malaise, night sweats, fever, fatigue, weight loss, back pain. Sometimes the disease could be dormant within the lungs and spread without the patient knowing that they had tuberculosis, there are some symptoms to look out for once a patient has contracted bone TB: • Severe back pain • Swelling • Stiffness • Abscesses When tuberculosis in the bone is more advanced, some dangerous symptoms include: • Neurological complications • Paraplegia/paralysis • Limb-shortening in children • Bone deformities Late symptoms that occur after significant bony destruction and deformity which can be made out by physical examination are • Kyphotic deformity (angular deformity due to the destruction of vertebral bodies), • Neurological deficits seen in patients with Pott’s disease, • Mechanical pressure on the cord due to granulation tissue, by an abscess, tubercular debris or caseous tissue, • Mechanical instability like subluxation or dislocation, • Paraplegia with severe deformity from healed disease, • Stenosis from ossification adjacent to severe kyphosis. How is Pott’s disease diagnosed and treated? For the right detection of Pott’s disease, a detailed diagnosis of both the respiratory manifestations and also the joint ailments is extremely necessary. For the detection of Tuberculosis, the subsequent diagnostic tests are preferable- • Chest X-ray (to examine the lungs) • Sputum cultures (to to detect the presence of bacteria) • Blood culture • Tissue biopsy (to check for the chances of cancer) • Mantoux Tuberculin skin tests ( 84-95% of the patients results are positive in patients having Pott’s disease) • Nucleic acid amplification test In addition to the above tests, the doctors also advise the patients to go for laboratory examinations in order to detect the extent of the problems- • Blood tests: An elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ESR are seen in patients. This is often not necessarily associated with the degree of inflammation since people having very serious inflammation often have normal or near to normal values of CRP and ESR. An ESR more than 100 mm/h indicates Pott’s disease. Complete blood count (CBC) is usually done so as to detect if leukocytosis has occurred or not. • BASDAI: the bath ankylosing spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) gives a measure of the inflammatory burden of the prevailing diseases. • Schober’s test: The flexion of the lumbar spine is measured by this test during the preliminary physical examination. The radiographs of the spine yield these results- • Collapse of the vertebral body • Osteoporosis of the vertebral endplates • Destruction of the intervertebral discs • Fusiform paravertebral shadows (indicates abscess formation) • Bone lesions Spinal tuberculosis treatment Tuberculosis if it’s contracted is preventable, and generally treatable if it’s discovered early. If one has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, it's highly important for them to undergo extensive treatment to completely cure this condition. When tuberculosis is not treated appropriately or if there is any delay in the treatment, it can result in the spreading of the disease to the surrounding tissues. While bone tuberculosis can cause some painful side effects, the damage is typically reversible when treated early with the proper regimen of medicines. In many cases, spinal surgery is necessary, like a laminectomy (where a section of the vertebrae is removed). When this disease is diagnosed, it's treated with a regimen of medicines, and in severe cases medications is used in addition to surgical intervention. Medications are the primary line of treatment for spinal tuberculosis, the course of treatment can last anywhere from 6–18 months. Treatments which include: • Anti tuberculosis medications, like Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide • Surgery Tuberculosis of the spine is preventable and treatable .Early diagnosis and management of spinal tuberculosis are very important to prevent serious complications. The accurate imaging modalities like MRI and advanced surgical techniques have made early diagnosis and management of spinal tuberculosis easier. • Visit your physician if you observe symptoms like a persistent cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, malaise, night sweats, fever, etc. • Get screened for a latent TB infection in case you are susceptible to the infection like health care workers, I V drug users, people in contact with TB patients, HIV AIDS patients. • CT scan or MRI to be done to confirm the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. 

For more information about problems related to the spine contact Dr. Venugopal S. Or Visit us www.neurosurgerybangalore.com Call us on+91 9353884928

[neurosurgeryposts]

Navigation Guided Brain Surgery

Navigation guided brain surgery Neurosurgical procedures require precision and accuracy for locating the tumor, planning the surgery, and during surgery Navigation guided brain surgery – It is like a GPS where anatomical structures can be tracked continuously on the monitor with 3D images of the overall brain, tumor, and healthy tissue (Advantages -Preoperative approach planning - Accurate and minimal skin incision and craniotomy - Helps detect deep-seated lesions -Determination of lesion boundaries -Trauma is minimized in and around the tumor. -Accuracy provides a safe approach to deeply located lesions) for creative Navigation guided brain surgery avoids some potential risks in brain tumor surgery.

For more information

Visit us:  www.neurosurgerybangalore.com Call: +919353884928

[neurosurgeryposts]

Endoscopic skull base surgery

Endoscopic skull base surgery Endoscopic skull base surgery is a minimally invasive technique of brain surgery, that enables surgeon access to inaccessible areas of the brain where certain types of tumors and abnormalities may develop. The skull is made of many bones and cartilages, the base of skull is formed by bones of the eye socket, roof of the nasal cavity, some sinuses and the bones that surround the inner ear. The skull base is a complicated area with different blood vessels, openings of the spinal cord and nerves. It allows for the removal of cancerous and non cancerous tumors and abnormalities underside the brain, and the top of the spinal column as these areas are difficult to see and reach, without the need for a large incision in the skull; instead, tumors are removed through the mouth, nose, or a small opening above the eyebrow. Traditionally the tumors in the base of the skull were removed through the bony skull, which required large skull and facial incisions, bone flaps, and brain retraction to reach these tumors and remove them through a network of blood vessels and nerves. Endoscopic skull base surgery is one of the latest, safe, and fast techniques that use highly specialized instruments and a high definition endoscopic camera system. 

What is Endoscopic skull base surgery? 

Endoscopy is a technique of using a thin rigid tube with a lens and a light source to look into a body cavity through a tiny opening. An endoscope is like a small camera that looks at the pathology or problem. The endoscope includes a light source and is connected to a monitor. The surgery is performed while watching the screen and the actual target size is magnified over 100 times. The aim is to get to the target pathology or problem while minimizing the trauma to the surrounding tissues. This approach is often used to treat both brain and spine disease in neurosurgery. The endoscopic skull base surgery is performed using an endoscope, which is a small, rigid tube with a camera and a small set of surgical instruments attached. This procedure is often used to remove a tissue sample for further testing (a biopsy) or to remove part or all of a brain tumor. This approach allows the surgeon to reach these areas without the necessity for large incisions or removal of parts of the skull making recovery quicker and less painful. Indications for Endoscopic skull base surgery

 • Tumors of the base of the Skull

 • Pituitary tumors

 • Meningiomas 

• Craniopharyngiomas (a kind of tumor-derived from pituitary gland tissue)

 • Chordomas (rare, slow-growing malignant tumors at the bottom of the skull)

 • Spinal fluid leaks/rhinorrhea etc. 

Procedure of Endoscopic skull base surgery: The brain tumor or any other pathologies in the base of the skull is surgically removed through natural openings like a nostril or small incisions with minimal or no brain retraction. The procedure starts with the insertion of an endoscope through the nose and used to visualize and perform the neurosurgical operation. This prevents the need for incision in the skull part to access the brain and also gives a far better highly illuminated magnified view of the base of the skull. The surgery is performed while viewing a monitor that displays magnified real-time video from the endoscope. The surgery is completed with similar techniques as open surgery, but requires the utilization of special instruments and allows for less retraction and chance of injury to the brain and therefore called a minimally invasive endoscopic skull base surgery. 

The tumor is removed with clear margins. After the removal, the reconstruction is done using vascular pedicle grafts with or without bone graft. The tissue grafts accumulated from other parts of the body may be used for reconstruction. To hold the tissues in place tissue glue is used. 

What are the risks of endoscopic skull base surgery? Any major surgery carries some risk, most people get through this surgery and heal well without problems, but complications can develop. The risks are mostly the same as for open surgery and are specific to the area of the brain or spine being operated on and the nature of the disease or pathology. However, as less retraction is required most of the risks are decreased compared to open surgery. 

Possible risks include:

 • Reactions to the anesthesia

 • Excessive bleeding

 • Hematoma (a pooling of blood in the wound site)

 • There can be damage to veins, arteries, nerves, and other structures in the area 

• Cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the nose

 • Infection

 • Slow healing 

• Blood clots 

• Pneumonia The procedure may carry other risks, depending on one’s specific medical condition. 

Advantages of Endoscopic skull base surgery 

• No incision is made on the skull or any other part of the body 

• Leaves no scar 

• Surgery is initiated through a natural opening like the mouth or nostril 

• Avoids pressure on the brain

 • Both benign and malignant tumors can be treated 

• Facilitates the very best rate of resection with minimal morbidity 

• Minimal stay in the hospital (2-4 days after surgery) Because of the surgical precision provided by the endoscope the success rate is incredibly high. Endoscopic skull base surgery offers a variety of benefits over open brain surgery; as with other minimally invasive procedures, it is often associated with shorter recovery times and lower complication rates. Dr Venugopal S is a leading Neurosurgeon in Bangalore with experience of more than a decade post qualification. 

Dr.Venugopal is having hands-on experience in various subspecialties of Neurosurgery which includes complex Brain and Spine diseases in both adult and pediatrics.

 For more information about endoscopic skull base surgery or any of the other advanced brain tumor treatments, or problems related to the spine contact Dr Venugopal S. Or Visit us:  www.neurosurgerybangalore.com

[neurosurgeryposts]

What are the silent symptoms of brain tumor

The symptoms of brain tumors are mainly due to increased intracranial pressure. The brain is enclosed by the very rigid skull, any growth in the brain can increase the intracranial pressure. Different parts of the brain have different functions, the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor usually vary based on the size of the tumor, its location, and the rate of growth. It is said that only 1% of the world’s population is affected by brain tumors but the scary part is that the symptoms of a brain tumor may look like any other everyday ailments like headache or weakness.

These are a few silent symptoms of a brain tumor which you should be aware of. Remember these symptoms can be common for other brain related ailments too and hence a differential diagnosis by a specialist can only be conclusive. Seizures Seizure is one of the signs of brain tumor reported by one-third of patients diagnosed with a brain tumor. The occurrence of seizures or fits, particularly in those patients who do not have a medical history of fits. Seizures lead to intense abnormal body movements with or without the loss of consciousness. Unrestrained, prolonged staring along with visual disturbance such as flashes of light is caused by a seizure. Cognitive decline Memory loss and the inability to concentrate or focus on usual activities is a matter of concern and could be a sign of a developing brain tumor.

A brain tumor may also affect the brain’s processing speed. If it takes longer than usual for a person to complete basic tasks, it is best to get a consultation from your doctor at the earliest. Headaches Headache is a common symptom of brain tumor, not all headaches are due to brain tumor, headaches which differs from the normal headaches may be of concern and need an evaluation from a neurologist, headaches which are worse in the morning. Headache while you are sleeping, increased headaches on coughing, sneezing or during exercise, Infrequent, persistent headaches, feeling of increased pressure inside the head, there could also be a new onset or change in the pattern of headaches. Weakness A person with a brain tumor will not be able to function as efficiently with their arms and legs. They may also experience some clumsiness in walking and loss of balance while walking.

Loss of vision A tumor close to the optic nerve can cause vision problems like blurred vision, double vision, loss of peripheral field, abnormal eye movements, in some cases temporary loss of vision may be present. Changes in personality A brain tumor can even alter the behaviour and personality of individuals, and he or she may be irritated, confused, forgetful, lack of interest, may have mood swings, etc. Hearing problems One may experience symptoms related to balance,a constant ringing sensation in their ears, loss of hearing in one ear which may eventually lead to loss of hearing ability. Speech problems A sudden change in the speech, like stuttering or slurred speech and not able to recall or pronounce words, maybe a sign of a brain tumor.

An apparent lag in speech is seen in individuals with brain tumors. Other brain tumor symptoms include extreme sensitivity towards heat or cold, altered taste perception, obesity, hand tremors. Some types of brain tumors proliferate while other tumors grow gradually.

If you are concerned about any such symptoms visit your neurologist, timely detection, and proper treatment at the right time is very important for a good prognosis.

[neurosurgeryposts]

Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The patient may feel pain, cramping or numbness in the legs, buttocks or calves which could get further aggravated upon standing for long periods or walking. The pain could radiate to one or both legs and in rare cases, could even lead to loss of motor function of the legs or loss of bowel or bladder function. Pain will typically improve upon bending forward, sitting or lying down.

 Diagnosis

Diagnosis  is done based on your history, symptomatology and physical examination. This can be further backed up by imaging studies including x-rays, CT scans, MRIs or myelograms.