Neurosurgery is surgery of the nervous system. A neurological surgeon, or neurosurgeon, is a specialist who is trained in surgery of the nervous system, and can perform surgery on the brain, spinal cord, or other parts of the nervous system. This specialist is sometimes called a brain surgeon. The neurosurgeon also works with patients to diagnose, evaluate, and treat diseases or disorders of the nervous system, and aids in critical care of patients before, during and after surgery.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Injury, Herniated Disc, brain tumors, stroke, Spinal Cord Tumors, Scoliosis, epilepsy, Spinal Infection, Spinal Discectomy, Spinal Deformity, brain tumor, coma, seizure, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Disc Disease / Surgery, Back / Spine Surgery , Invasive Disc Surgery, Kyphosis Surgery, Laminectomy, Deep Brain Stimulation, endoscopic surgery, craniotomy, stereotactic radiosurgery, microsurgery, Endoscopic management, Cordotomy, transphenoidal surgery, and radiation implants.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including MRI Scan of the Brain, MRI Scan of the Spine, CAT Scan of the Brain, CT Scan of the Brain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Myelogram, Spinal Tap, Lumbar Puncture (LP), Electromyography (EMG), Cerebral Angiogram, Electroencephalography, Electronystagmography (ENG), Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Spinal Puncture, Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan), Myelography, Ocular Pressures, Evoked Potentials Studies, and Myogram.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Louisiana has 113 practicing neurosurgeons. Broken out by city, neurosurgery doctor density in Alexandria is 3, in Baton Rouge is 20, in Bossier City is 2, in Covington is 7, in Gonzales is 1, in Gretna is 5, in Hammond is 3, in Houma is 1, in Kenner is 5, in La Place is 2, in Lacombe is 2, in Lafayette is 13, in Lake Charles is 4, in Mandeville is 1, in Marrero is 5, in Metairie is 14, in Monroe is 4, in New Orleans is 46, in Shreveport is 16, in Slidell is 8, in Thibodaux is 2, and in West Monroe is 1.

Louisiana was named after French King Louis XIV, and the state joined the union in 1812. Louisiana’s population is 4,523,628, and Baton Rouge is its capital city. Louisiana has rich cultural heritage that is celebrated at many festivals all over the state. Taste a variety of cuisines, including Cajun and Creole food. Listen to jazz or zydeco music in New Orleans, visit the French Quarter, attend the Mardi Gras in the spring, or take a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Louisiana has a population of 4,523,628. Of this population, 1,132,763 are under the age of 18 and 528,837 are at or above the age of 65.