MODULES

Here’s a division of the neurosurgery curriculum into 15 focused modules, providing a more granular breakdown of the essential areas:

Module 1: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology

  • Detailed understanding of the central and peripheral nervous system.
  • Functional mapping of the brain and spinal cord.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and intracranial pressure physiology.

Module 2: New Technology in Neurosurgery

  • Artificial Intelligence: Could be future for Neurosurgery (Bin Xu 2024)
  • Augmented Reality: For Imaging and Education
  • Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality: More Imaging
  • Robotics in Neurosurgery: Already making inroads

Module 3: Neuroimaging and Diagnostics

  • Mastery of MRI, CT, PET, and angiography interpretation.
  • Functional imaging: fMRI, DTI (diffusion tensor imaging).
  • Electrophysiological studies: EEG, EMG, and nerve conduction studies.

Module 4: Neurotrauma

  • Acute management of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  • Emergency spinal injury stabilization.
  • Surgical interventions: decompressive craniectomy, hematoma evacuation.

Module 5: Vascular Neurosurgery

  • Aneurysm clipping and endovascular coiling.
  • Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) management.
  • Stroke interventions: carotid endarterectomy, thrombectomy.

Module 6: Neuro-oncology

  • Surgical management of brain and spinal tumors.
  • Principles of tumor resection: intraoperative mapping, navigation.
  • Integration of adjuvant therapies: chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Module 7: Skull Base Surgery

  • Approaches to tumors in the cranial base (e.g., pituitary adenomas).
  • Endoscopic and microsurgical techniques.
  • Management of complex lesions near critical neurovascular structures.

Module 8: Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery

  • Degenerative conditions: herniated discs, stenosis, spondylolisthesis.
  • Tumors and infections of the spine.
  • Correction of spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, kyphosis).

Module 9: Pediatric Neurosurgery

  • Congenital disorders: hydrocephalus, spina bifida, Chiari malformations.
  • Pediatric brain and spinal tumors.
  • Craniosynostosis surgery and craniofacial reconstruction.

Module 10: Functional Neurosurgery

  • Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders.
  • Resective surgery for epilepsy.
  • Neurostimulation techniques: spinal cord stimulators, RNS.

Module 11: Peripheral Nerve Surgery

  • Nerve entrapment syndromes: carpal tunnel, ulnar neuropathy.
  • Peripheral nerve injuries: nerve repair, grafting.
  • Tumors of peripheral nerves: schwannomas, neurofibromas.

Module 12: Neurocritical Care

  • Monitoring of intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion.
  • Management of neurointensive care patients (TBI, stroke, postoperative care).
  • Ventilatory and circulatory support in critical neurosurgical conditions.

Module 13: Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery

  • Endoscopic techniques: endonasal approaches, ventriculostomies.
  • Minimally invasive spinal surgery.
  • Use of advanced tools: neuronavigation, robotics.

Module 14: Research and Evidence-Based Neurosurgery

  • Principles of research design and methodology.
  • Conducting clinical trials in neurosurgery.
  • Application of evidence-based practices in surgical decision-making.

Module 15: Ethics, Professionalism, and Communication

  • Ethical dilemmas in neurosurgery (e.g., consent, futility of care).
  • Effective patient and family communication.
  • Professional conduct and medico-legal considerations.