03/14/2026
8 types of neurosurgeons? Details below:
All neurosurgeons in the US spend 7 years in training learning all the subspecialties. As a result, after completion of residency, neurosurgeons can become board-certified to practice any or all of these surgeries, although some have additional certifications.
As the field becomes more complex, more and more of us are completing advanced fellowships to socialize in particular types of surgeries. These can take 1-2 years after the 7 years of training. I specialize in 1 & 2, but there is overlap across many of them.
🧠 Oncology - Neurosurgeons who specialize in removing brain tumors inside the brain, including brain cancers.
🧠 Skull Base - Neurosurgeons who specialize in tumors and nerve conditions at the base of the skull, or "around the brain". This includes minimally invasive ways to get to the brain using natural corridors such as the nose
🧠 Cerebrovascular- Neurosurgeons who specialize in (open) surgeries for treatment of blood vessel problems
🧠 Neuroendovascular - Neurosurgeons (also neurologists and radiologist with advanced fellowship training) who specialize in treating blood vessel problems from inside the blood vessel, called a catheterization
🧠 Functional- Neurosurgeons who specialize in treating neurological conditions, like Parkinson's Disease, often using deep brain stimulation, as well as spasticity, pain conditions, and seizure disorders
🧠 Spine- the largest specialty in neurosurgery, focusing on all spinal disorders. While orthopedic spine surgeons also can operate on spinal conditions, only neurosurgeons also work on problems in the spinal cord and nerves
🧠 Pediatric - treat a wide range of conditions in children
🧠 Peripheral nerve- neurosurgeons who specialize in conditions affecting the nerves outside the brain.
🧠 Neurotrauma- Most neurosurgeons cover trauma emergencies, but some specialize in complex trauma and research in this area.
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