Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 3, 2021

The neurosciences program at Kootenai Health is growing! It includes both neurology (nonsurgical care) and neurosurgery (surgical treatment) of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system. Here are a few of the specialty areas this includes. Neurology Multiple sclerosis (MS) MS is a condition in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Our specially trained team offers comprehensive care that focuses on the unique physical, emotional and psychosocial needs of each patient. Much of this work includes medication management with a pharmacist who specializes in MS care. See what we have to offer NEUROSCIENCES: Neuromuscular disorders Neuromuscular disorders affect the motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. They often lead to muscle weakness. Kootenai Clinic neurology offers specialty care for individuals with muscle disease or inflammation, disorders of the neuromuscular junction like myasthenia gravis, and conditions that impair the function of the peripheral nervous system. Movement disorders Movement disorders are a group of nervous system conditions that cause an abnormal increase in movement or reduce or slow movements. They include conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, tremor disorder, Huntington’s disease and Tourette syndrome. Our neurology team can help diagnose the cause of movement disorders and recommend treatments. Epilepsyandseizures Epilepsy and seizure disorders can affect people of all ages. Sometimes the cause is known—for example, a brain injury—but many times it is not. To help better understand complex cases, Kootenai Health has an epilepsy monitoring unit. Its specially designed patient rooms provide Neurosurgery Brainsurgery Surgery can help a variety of conditions in and around the brain. This can include surgery following a traumatic brain injury or to treat conditions such as tumors, blood clots, aneurysms, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Kootenai Clinic Neurosurgery and Spine has been performing brain surgeries at Kootenai Health for over 30 years. Using an intraoperative stereotactic computer, our surgeons can virtually visualize the patient’s brain in three planes and also in a three- dimensional view. This helps our surgeons make tumor surgery more accurate, maximizes the removal of the tumor or damaged tissue, and minimizes damage to surrounding normal brain tissue and surgical complications. Spinal surgery Injuries and complications with the vertebrae, disks and ligaments of the spine can cause debilitating pain. When nonsurgical interventions no longer provide relief, spinal surgery may be an option. Kootenai Clinic Neurosurgery and Spine brings patients the experience needed to achieve the best outcomes possible. Common types of procedures include a spinal fusion, which immobilizes the spine at the point where pain is occurring; laminectomy, which removes a part of the vertebra or any bone spurs putting painful pressure on the spinal column; and diskectomy, which removes all or portions of bulging or herniated disks that are causing 8