Brain tumours
Brain tumours can be either benign or malignant and vary in type. Some types include meningioma, pituitary adenoma, ependymoma, and gliomas, among others. If you have a brain tumour, you may experience headaches, difficulty thinking and speaking, loss of hearing, vision changes, seizures or convulsions, dizziness, unsteadiness, confusion, disorientation, memory loss, personality or behaviour changes, weakness, numbness, or paralysis in one side or one part of the body. However, brain tumours don’t always have symptoms, and some don’t cause symptoms until they’re quite large.
Treatment options depend on the type, size, grade, and location of the tumour and typically involve surgery, radiation therapy, radiosurgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
CSF Disorders
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders, such as hydrocephalus and Chiari malformations, affect the flow or absorption of CSF around the brain and spinal cord. Hydrocephalus occurs when excess fluid builds up in the brain, leading to increased pressure, which can cause headaches, nausea, balance issues, and cognitive decline. Chiari malformations, on the other hand, involve a structural defect where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, often leading to headaches, neck pain, and difficulty swallowing.
Treatment options for CSF disorders may include surgical intervention such as ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus or decompression surgery for Chiari malformations. These procedures aim to restore normal CSF flow and alleviate symptoms, improving overall brain function and patient outcomes.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
This is a type of chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which provides sensation to the face. This disorder has symptoms of sudden and severe stabbing pain in the face triggered by activities like eating, speaking, or even touching the face, pain episodes lasting between a few seconds to several minutes, pain with facial spasms, pain on one side of the face at a time, or other kinds of abnormal facial pain.
Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia varies depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms. Some people may only need medications with no additional treatment. However, either the condition may stop responding to medications after some time or patients can experience side effects. In these cases, injections or advanced surgical options (such as microvascular decompression or stereotactic radiosurgery) may be necessary.
Brain Bleeds
Brain bleeds, or haemorrhages, occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, leading to bleeding either within or around the brain. Common types include chronic subdural hematomas and intracerebral haemorrhages. Chronic subdural hematomas typically develop slowly after a head injury, causing symptoms such as headaches, confusion, weakness on one side of the body, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, memory loss, disorientation, and vision changes. Intracerebral haemorrhages, often caused by high blood pressure or aneurysms, result in sudden, severe symptoms such as intense headaches, vomiting, loss of consciousness, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, light sensitivity, trouble breathing, slurred speech, paralysis, and loss of consciousness.
Treatment for brain bleeds depends on the type, severity, and location of the bleed. Treatment can range from close monitoring and medical management to surgical interventions, such as craniotomy, craniectomy, or decompression.
NeuroSpine Clinic
Dr Christopher Huang performs complex cranial surgeries on adults and children at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Australia’s leading hospital in advanced DNA genomic testing for tumours and syndromic conditions.
Dr Huang and Dr Ralph Mobbs are innovators in the field of spinal surgery and thrive on educating people in this field. They perform complex spinal surgeries using endoscopic and keyhole techniques.
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Our team can provide you with further details on spine trauma and help you seek appropriate treatment.
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