Neurology & Neurosurgery

The specialty of neurology and neurosurgery encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord), and the neuromuscular junction and muscles.

The following is a list of diseases or disorders that are routinely diagnosed and treated in the Neurology department here at The Sams Clinic. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.

BRAIN Case Study: Snocat's Story

Brain tumors

Brain cysts

Encephalitis (inflammation or infection of the brain)

Head trauma

Hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction associated with liver disease)

Hydrocephalus (enlarged fluid filled spaces of the brain cavities) and other brain malformations (e.g. Chiari-type malformations)

Seizures

Vascular accidents

Vestibular dysfunction (dizziness, head tilt, rolling, falling)

SPINAL CORD

Link to Minimally Invasive Disk Surgery page

Atlanto-axial luxation (instability of the first 2 cervical vertebrae)

Fibrocartilaginous emboli (a “stroke-like” condition of the spinal cord)

Intervertebral disk disease

Lumbosacral disease

Meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the spinal cord)

Myelitis (inflammation and/or infection of the spinal cord)

Spinal fracture

Spinal tumors (arising from the bone or spinal cord tissues)

Syrinx (fluid accumulations in the spinal cord)

Vertebral stenosis or instability (often called “Wobbler’s disease”; abnormal formation of the bones of the cervical spinal column)

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM & MUSCLES

Masticatory myositis (inflammation of the muscles of chewing)

Myasthenia gravis (auto-immune disorder of the nerve-muscle junction)

Nerve root/sheath tumors

Polymyopathy

Polymyositis (inflammation of multiple muscle groups)

Polyneuropathy (diseases affecting multiple nerves)

Trigeminal nerve sheath tumors (tumors of cranial nerve 5)

Trigeminal neuritis (inflammation of cranial nerve 5)

Click here to download Dr. Klopp's Seizure Questionnaire. Bring along a completed copy, or fill one out at the Clinic before your appointment.

Intervertebral Disk Disease

The intervertebral disk is located between two adjacent vertebrae (spinal bones) and acts as a “shock absorber” to handle forces along the spine. There are two parts of the disk which each work differently. The center portion, called the nucleus pulposus (NP), has a high water concentration and is positioned to help absorb the forces along the spinal column. The outer portion, the annulus fibrosis (AF), is more like a ligament. When forces impact the intervertebral disk, the nucleus pulposus spreads and transmits forces outwards to the annulus fibrosus which also spreads. The annulus fibrosus, while flexible, is more rigid and maintains disk structure. When the forces along the intervertebral disk cease, the elasticity of the annulus fibrosus allows return to the normal shape of the disk.Below is a schematic diagram showing the impact of these mechanical changes to a healthy disk.