Neurosurgical procedures

Peripheral nerve damage typically occurs when nerves get trapped and compressed. When this happens, you may need peripheral nerve surgery.

A neurosurgeon may advise non-surgical treatments. This includes exercise, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, can resolve some peripheral nerve damage. However, a neurosurgeon may recommend surgery if a patient doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatment.

A patient may also need surgery if they experience a complex peripheral nerve injury. This can result from tumours or trauma caused by incidents such as motor-vehicle crashes, sports injuries and falls.

What are the different types of peripheral nerve surgery?

Common types of peripheral nerve surgery include:

• ulnar nerve decompression
• carpal tunnel decompression

When should a neurosurgeon do peripheral nerve surgery?

A neurosurgeon will do a comprehensive assessment to determine whether someone needs surgical treatment. This includes analysing your history, performing a physical examination and assessing the risks of an operation. It also means liaising with other medical professionals involved in your care, such as your general practitioner (GP) and physiotherapist.

If a neurosurgeon believes that surgery is the most appropriate treatment, depending on how the condition affects you, other surgeons, such as plastic and reconstructive surgeons, may do surgery with them.