A neurosurgeon is a doctor who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of different conditions of the nervous system and the brain. A neurosurgeon treat conditions such as injury, infection, inflammation of the brain and all other problems associated with the brain, spinal cord and the nervous system, either by surgery or by medicines.

A neurosurgeon has training in surgery of the brain and other organs in the nervous systems. A neurosurgeon can therefore, operate on a brain tumour and remove it either partially or completely, depending upon the area of the brain it is affecting.

No, a neurosurgeon performs many roles apart from performing surgeries. A neurosurgeon also deals with rehabilitation of the patients who have undergone neurosurgery. The emergency department can also consult a neurosurgeon in case of a patient with a neurological complication.

You can see a neurosurgeon in case of the following conditions: bleeding in the brain, paralysis, problems affecting the spine, cancer or tumours of the brain, seizures, severe pain, Parkinson's disease, injuries of the spine or other nerves, and multiple sclerosis.

Neurologists often work with neurosurgeons, however they cannot perform surgery. Many birth defects can be cured only with help of a surgery. Hence, a neurologist alone cannot treat birth defects.