Neurosurgery Services Close to Home: Care You Can Trust
- Category: Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Posted On:
- Written By: Emma James-Wilson
Your brain, spine and nerves control how you think, move and feel. That’s why you want expert neurosurgery care you can trust close to home when something's wrong. North Oaks Health System’s neurosurgery services are here to help you heal and get back to living your life.
What is neurosurgery?
Many people believe neurosurgery is just brain surgery. However, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) clarifies that neurosurgeons care for the entire nervous system, including the spinal cord and the network of nerves that runs throughout the body.
“Our brain controls our whole body, from our motor skills and movement patterns to our thoughts and memories. And it sends that information down the spinal cord, allowing the nerves to carry those signals to the rest of our body,” North Oaks Neurosurgeon Edward “EJ” Burkhardt explains.
“As a neurosurgeon, I take care of essentially everything involving the nervous system, whether that’s the brain or the spine,” he continues.
Neurosurgeons like Dr. Burkhardt do more than just surgery. They also work to prevent health problems, manage symptoms and help patients return to daily activities with less pain.
Is neurosurgery the same as neurology?
Neurology and neurosurgery both offer diagnosis and treatment of health issues impacting the brain, spine and nerves, but they are different kinds of medical care.
Neurology uses tools like medicine and therapy to diagnose and treat neurological disorders like headaches, seizures and memory issues. Neurologists do not perform surgery.
Neurosurgery involves operations to fix medical conditions like brain tumors, spine injuries or blood clots in the brain. Neurosurgeons are doctors trained to perform surgery to treat serious conditions affecting the nervous system.
What problems does neurosurgery treat?
While this list isn’t comprehensive, the North Oaks neurosurgery team treats neurological conditions including:
Spine Conditions
- Back/neck syndrome
- Herniated discs
- Neck and back pain
- Spinal disorders
- Spinal stenosis
Brain and Nerve Conditions
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If you have symptoms like severe headaches, weakness, numbness or trouble walking, our team can learn what’s causing them and recommend the most effective treatment.
How we approach your care
At North Oaks, you are the focus of your care. Every patient is different, so our team creates a customized treatment plan just for you. This plan may include:
- Tests to find the cause of your problem
- Nonsurgical treatments or surgery, depending on the best treatment options for you
- Therapy for healing and regaining your strength
We also work closely with other specialists such as physical therapists, neurologists and pain management doctors to give you the most complete care possible.
Neurosurgery services we provide
The North Oaks neurosurgery team provides a wide range of services to care for your brain, spine and nerves. From diagnosing problems to performing advanced surgical treatment and guiding your recovery, we offer complete care tailored to your needs.
Our neurosurgery services include:
- Prevention: Helping you avoid future problems with your brain, spine, or nerves
- Diagnosis: Using advanced tests to discover what’s wrong
- Surgery: Treating conditions with precise, safe procedures
- Recovery Support: Helping you heal and regain independence
Our neurosurgeons are highly trained in delicate brain and spine surgeries. For example, Dr. Burkhardt introduced the use of cutting-edge robotic spine surgery and advanced imaging technology at North Oaks in 2024. This technology means less time spent in the operating room, smaller incisions, better precision, less radiation exposure and shorter hospital staysꟷbenefiting patients by improving their outcomes, reducing risk factors and speeding up recovery time.
“This is the next frontier of what we call spinal instrumentation and navigation, where we use robotics to place screws and rods in the spine,” Dr. Burkhardt enthuses. “It's the leading technology emerging in spine surgery right now, and we have it here at North Oaks in Hammond.”
Your partner in brain and spine health
Neurosurgery can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. The North Oaks neurosurgery team will guide you through every step—explaining your options, answering your questions and offering support, from your first visit through surgical recovery.
Your health, safety and comfort are our top priorities. If you or a loved one needs neurosurgery services, we are ready to help.
“Our goal is to take care of any neurosurgical issue you might have right here in Hammond without you having to go anywhere else,” Dr. Burkhart notes.
The North Oaks Neurosurgery Clinic is located at 15784 Medical Arts Plaza, Suite B, in Hammond. It is open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.
Schedule your appointment today by calling (985) 230-2778.
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