title: Neurosurgeons in Japan Are Exclusively Brain Surgeons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Japan, neurosurgeons have traditionally mainly treated brain diseases, with most cases involving the spine and spinal diseases historically being treated by orthopedists. Nowadays, spinal surgery is 1 of the many subspecialties in the neurosurgical field in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Most patients with neurological deficits or suspected neurological diseases see board-certified neurosurgeons directly in Japan, not through referrals from family physicians or specialists in other fields.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Problems originating in the spine and spinal cord have been overlooked or misdiagnosed in these situations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurosurgeons in Japan must rethink the educational program to include advanced trauma life support and spinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mita Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: spine-asm@iuhw.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asamoto
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007587:Job Description; D000069471:Neurosurgeons / Q000639:trends*; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000639:trends*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*
keywords: History of neurosurgery in Japan; Neurosurgery in Japan; Spine and spinal cord surgery in Japan