Neurosurgery focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries or diseases of the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, peripheral nerves, and their blood supply, such as tumors that originate on the brain or spinal cord, as well as tumors that lead to complications by imposing pressure on the brain or spinal cord from the outside.

There are two surgical specialties that are concerned with the spine: Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine Surgery. Neurosurgery focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries to, or diseases of the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, as well as peripheral nerves, and their blood supply in both children and adults. Neurosurgery residency training in the United States takes seven years following medical school. It outnumbers all other medical and surgical specialties in terms of duration.

The most popular sizes of Cottonoids used in neurosurgery, spine and skull-based procedures are the following:

While the terms neurosurgery and brain surgery are often used interchangeably, neurosurgery focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries to, or diseases of the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, as well as peripheral nerves, and their blood supply in both children and adults. This article, however, will concentrate on surgical procedures of the brain together with the conditions that require brain surgery.

Neuro patties are a rayon sterile pledget used for hemostasis and soft tissue protection. They are x-ray detectable and have a locator string attached. They are soaked in saline prior to use. Neuro patties are not thrown away when soiled like larger type sponges. They are kept on the sterile field and discarded in a different location due to the fact that they must be accounted for at all times during and after the procedure. Counting Neuro patties after a procedure is a requirement and holds legal responsibility. The final count is recorded right away to prevent error and the person recording the count puts their initials by the numbers.