A team of dedicated AANS neurosurgeons, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) developed a series of online courses to provide comprehensive training for advanced practitioners involved in neurosurgical practices. This online course covers foundational knowledge and skills needed during the onboarding phase, particularly for advanced practitioners who are new to the neurosurgical specialty, to teach and/or reinforce key concepts.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Introduction to spinal braces

1. List the rationale for different types of braces
2. Apply different types of halos

Thoracic Spinal Disease

1. Recognize presentation of herniated thoracic disk
2. List common tumors

Spinal Emergencies 

1. Explain the rationale and presentation of spinal emergency patients (trauma,cauda equina, epidural abscess)
2. Describe the rationale for surgical intervention

Inpatient Post-op Care of Spinal patients 

1. Identify presentation of spinal fluid leak
2. Identify presentation of common post op complication

How to Interpret Lumbar Imaging 

1. Identify bones, disks, and nerves on a lumbar MRI
2. Differentiate disk herniation, canal stenosis, ligament hypertropy, and spondylothisthesis on lumbar MRI

Spine Clinic Pearls: Degenerative Lumbar Disease

1. Recognize the mechanism, patient history, and physical exam finding of lumbar stenosis
2. Create algorithm to discuss and direct treatment

Degenerative Cervical Spine Conditions:  Cervical Radiculopathy versus Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy versus Axial Neck Pain

1. Recognize the mechanism, patient history, and physical exam finding of cervical radiculopathy
2. Create algorithm to discuss and direct treatment