FAQ: Neurosurgery
Answers to common questions about neurosurgery cases, lesion mapping, and GCS/MRC scoring.
What's the difference between the cranial and spine lesion maps?
The cranial map is used for injuries or conditions affecting the head and brain (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumor). The spine map is used for injuries or conditions affecting the spinal cord and vertebrae (e.g., spinal cord injury, compression, fracture). When you create a neurosurgery case, you choose which map (or maps) are relevant to the patient's condition. You may use both if the patient has injury to both the head and spine.
How do I mark a lesion on the cranial map?
When you open the case template, the cranial map is displayed showing the major brain regions and lobes. Click on the brain region where the lesion is located (e.g., frontal lobe, temporal lobe). The system highlights the selected region and records it in the case. If the lesion spans multiple regions, you can click each region involved.
What if I mark the lesion in the wrong location?
Open the case again and click the lesion section to edit it. You can unclick the wrong region and click the correct one. It's best to catch errors before invoicing, as correcting the location after billing may require documentation adjustments.
Do I have to use both GCS and MRC scales, or just one?
It depends on the patient's condition and your clinical protocol. GCS is typically used for patients with head injuries or reduced consciousness. MRC is used to document muscle weakness or paralysis. A patient with a spinal cord injury might have both a spine lesion map and an MRC score; a patient with a head injury might have a cranial lesion map and a GCS score. Use whichever scales are clinically relevant.
Can I update the GCS or MRC score later?
Yes. Open the case again, find the score field, and edit it. Each time you update the case, you create a clinical record of how the patient's condition changed (e.g., GCS improved from 8 to 10, or strength improved from 2/5 to 4/5). These follow-up scores can be entered in the same case or in a separate follow-up visit record, depending on your workflow.
Are GCS and MRC scores used for billing?
GCS and MRC scores are clinical documentation tools. They don't directly affect the charge for a procedure (a neurosurgery consultation costs the same regardless of GCS score). However, they are part of the patient's medical record and are included in the clinical documentation when the case is invoiced or transferred to another facility. They support accurate diagnosis coding and help justify the level of care provided.
What if a patient has a lesion affecting multiple brain regions?
Click each affected region on the cranial map. The system records all marked regions as part of the case. This is especially important if the lesion crosses into multiple lobes, as the clinical impact and treatment plan may be different than a single-lobe lesion. Mark all regions involved so the record is complete and accurate.
Can I use the lesion maps for non-traumatic conditions (tumor, stroke)?
Yes. The lesion maps are designed to document the location of any abnormality—not just traumatic injury. A brain tumor, stroke, infection, or other condition can be mapped on the cranial lesion map to show exactly where it is located. This helps clinicians understand the spatial distribution and plan treatment accordingly.
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