Neurosurgeons are doctors who specialize in:
● Diagnosis
● Surgical treatment of brain and spine disorders including brain tumors, epilepsy, and
trigeminal neuralgia.
The education and training to become a neurosurgeon are extensive and rigorous. India has
approximately 1800 neurosurgeons (including about 25 women). Of the 330 approved medical
colleges, only 59 have neurosurgical departments. These departments are recognized for an MCh
Neurosurgery training program.
The duration of the course is 3 years for candidates who have a master's degree in general surgery.
It is 5 or 6 years for those with an MBBS degree (basic medical degree).
A Neurosurgeon Degree is for those who can work for long hours, do night shifts and miss out on
meals occasionally.
What Neurosurgeons do?
Neurosurgery is not limited to brain surgery only. Many neurosurgeons diagnose and treat spine
conditions rather than brain conditions. The common areas of treatment by neurosurgeons are:
● Herniated discs
● Pinched nerves
● Degenerative spine disorders
● Chronic back and neck pain
● Traumatic head, neck, or spine injuries
● Spinal osteoarthritis
● Multiple sclerosis
● Magnetoencephalography (MEG scan), used to find the source of seizures
● Computed tomography (CT scan), a test that shows more detail than a standard X-ray
● Tumors (brain, skull, spine, spinal cord, nerves)
● Congenital brain disorders
● Epilepsy
● Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), used to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body
● Sciatica
● Infections
● Neurovascular disorders (aneurysm, stroke, hemorrhage)
● Peripheral nervous system disorders (issues with nerves that carry messages to and from the
brain)
● Spinal deformities
● Positron emission tomography (PET scan), often used to search for cancer
● Parkinson’s disease
Though the term surgeon is linked in the name, neurosurgeons do not always perform surgery. They
also work on non-operative treatment methods like
● Medications
● Vaccination
● Therapies, before recommending surgery.
Responsibilities of Neurosurgeons
1. Ordering, performing, and explaining the results of tests like MRIs, PET scans, and CT scans.
2. Meeting with families of patients in surgery and keeping them updated.
3. Working on a basic business tasks such as keeping records, writing prescriptions, and filling
out paperwork.
4. Attending academic conferences.
Who can become Neurosurgeons?
Neurosurgery is a demanding surgical specialty. To be a neurosurgeon, individuals will need skills
and personal qualities like:
● good hand-eye coordination
● a mix of confidence and caution
● good organizational ability
● excellent communication skills
● a strong interest in anatomy and physiology
● physical stamina when working for long hours and demanding nature of the work
● the ability to lead and manage a team effectively
● able to work with new developing technologies
Other than the above-mentioned skills they should also have the following skills
a) Active listening-giving full attention to people, taking time to understand the points made.
b) Critical Thinking- using logic to make a solution to problems
c) Complex problem solving
d) Coordination- working in teams and effectively managing them.
e) Time-management
f) Mathematics- using maths to solve problems
g) Persuasion- persuading patients and families to change minds and think logically in
distressed situations.
Scope of Neurosurgery in India and Abroad
Neurosurgeons can work in globally acclaimed hospitals in India like:
● Fortis Healthcare Hospital
● Apollo Hospitals
● NIMHANS
● AIIMS
Neurosurgeon Career in the clinical field generally has 2 paths that the majority follow: academic or
private practice.
Academic neurosurgeons work at university-affiliated medical centers. They are responsible for
seeing patients in the clinic, operating, and teaching residents, fellows, and medical students.
Private practice neurosurgeons work for small to mid-sized group practices. They have their
operating privileges at one or several hospitals.
There are other career options for neurosurgeons in:
● biotechnology
● pharmaceutical
● medical device industries
● finance
● military
● government services
In terms of monetary benefit, the first country is America. Other countries where neurosurgeons will
get a balanced work-benefit ratio is:
Australia South Africa Middle East
Japan Singapore New Zealand,
Most of the European
Countries
India Malaysia
● The Average Salary for Neurosurgeons in India is INR 4,32,000 PA.
● Freshers’ salary starts at INR 3 LPA. While experienced workers earn up to 5 LPA or above.
● In the US, the average salary is $613,700 every year. The lowest is $200,000.
● Salary varies based on the company.
Qualification Required to become Neurosurgeons
● Students interested in this field have to graduate in medicine.
● The first step is to appear in the NEET-PG exam for admission to Neurosurgical courses.
● AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of
Postgraduate Medical Education and Research) Puducherry conducts its entrance exams.
● All private institutes accept NEET scores.
MBBS
This is a 5 ½ course with a one-year compulsory rotating internship. After completing the MBBS
course, there are 2 options to get into the neurosurgery course.
1. The first is to appear in the entrance exam for a direct 6-year course in neurosurgery. Then
pursuing an M.Ch degree.
2. The second is to appear for NEET PG and study for an MS degree.
3. Students who are unable to secure a good rank in the NEET-SS exam can go for neurosurgery
training from private hospitals with DNB (Diplomate of National Board) accreditation.
Some of the top institutes offering neurosurgery courses in India are:
● All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
● National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
● Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
● SCTIMST (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology)
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