Move beyond rehearsed Functional & Stereotactic Neurosurgery answers to real clinical reflection

Question practice

Questions drawn from the realities of Functional & Stereotactic Neurosurgery

Practise explaining the clinical decisions, patient conversations and career experiences that matter in Functional & Stereotactic Neurosurgery—then handle follow-ups that ask for evidence behind your first answer.

1. 01

   What aspect of treating complex neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, or refractory epilepsy with neuromodulation or ablation excites you the most?

2. 02

   A patient with chronic, severe psychiatric symptoms, specifically OCD, has failed multiple lines of medical and psychotherapeutic treatment; what is your approach to assessing their candidacy for an ablative or neuromodulatory procedure?

3. 03

   During an awake microelectrode recording session for DBS, the patient becomes agitated and anxious, making it difficult to proceed; how do you manage the situation to ensure both patient comfort and successful lead placement?

4. 04

   You perform a stereotactic biopsy, and the final pathology report reveals a benign, non-surgical lesion, contradicting the pre-operative suspicion of a high-grade glioma; how do you disclose this diagnostic uncertainty and the unnecessary procedure to the patient and family?

5. 05

   How do you stay updated on the latest evidence-based guidelines and emerging technologies in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, given the rapid evolution of the field?

6. 06

   How does our program's mentorship model, particularly with faculty renowned for expertise in conditions like trigeminal neuralgia or spasticity, fit with your preferred learning style and professional development goals?