Neurosurgery is a relatively small, but highly interesting subject. It covers a wide spectrum of disorders, from acute head and neck trauma to treatment of chronic ailments such as neuropathic pain and spasticity. We also treat patients with brain tumours, cerebral hemorrhages, hydrocephalus, congenital malformations of the central nervous system, as well as degenerative disorders in back and neck.

The department of neurosurgery at St. Olav's Hospital is also responsible for neurosurgical services for the entire central norwegian health region.

Research within Neurosurgery

Under the direction of the Competence Centre for 3D Ultrasound in Surgery, various projects are conducted with the use of 3D ultrasound during brain surgeries (contact: Professor Geirmund Unsgård):

• Multi-centre study of patients who undergo surgery with 3D ultrasound navigation.
• Evaluation of intraoperative ultrasound during pituitary surgery
• Biopsy study to map th reliability of 3D ultrasound during surgery of brain tumours
• 3D ultrasound angiography (power Doppler) under brain surgeries (arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms)
• Strain imaging of brain tumours
• "Blood flow imaging" (BFI) of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations

Under the direction of National Centre for Spinal Disorders, these projects are ongoing (contact: Professsor Øystein Nygaard):

• Post-traumatic neck plain / headache with diagnostic mapping of small ligaments in the neck and MRI
• Cervical radiculopathy: Comparison of MRI changes and biomechanical changes
• Randomised multi-centre study on lumbar disc prosthesis versus spinal rehabilitation on chronic back pain.
• Lumbal nerve root affection: Clinical and health economical aspects
• Surgical treatment of spinal stenosis, randomised study with two different surgical strategies
• Effect of cervical disc prosthesis in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy; a randomised study

Head injury research and research in neurointensive mediscine (contact: Professor Anne Vik):

• Moderate and severe head injuries: Prospective studies from acute phase to long-term outcome
• Head injuries: Findings with repeated conventional and advanced MRI
• Evaluation of intensive treatment and complications of head injuries
• Risk factors with subarachnoid hemorrhage: HUNT and the Tromsø study
• Head injuries and risk for post-traumatic headache: HUNT