Neurosurgery Thesis Topics: Top 50 Research Ideas 2026

Neurosurgery PG thesis topics demand rigorous clinical research at the intersection of surgery, neuroscience, and neuroimaging. MCh Neurosurgery students in India operate in high-volume tertiary centres with rich case material spanning traumatic brain injury, brain tumours, complex spinal pathology, and vascular anomalies. Choosing the right thesis topic — feasible within the MCh tenure, supported by adequate case numbers, and addressing a genuine evidence gap — is the cornerstone of a successful neurosurgical research career.

1Why Neurosurgery Research Matters in 2025–2026

Neurosurgery is one of the most technically demanding and rapidly evolving surgical specialties. Advances in neuronavigation, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, endoscopic skull base surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and minimally invasive spine surgery are transforming patient outcomes — but the Indian evidence base for many of these technologies is still thin. MCh Neurosurgery fellows are uniquely positioned to generate high-quality prospective data from their operative experience, contributing to both national and international literature.

Head injury remains the most common neurosurgical emergency in India, driven by the high burden of road traffic accidents. Brain tumours — particularly gliomas, meningiomas, and vestibular schwannomas — account for a large elective operative workload. Spinal surgery, hydrocephalus, and paediatric neurosurgery further expand the research landscape. Each of these domains offers multiple feasible thesis topics with clear outcome measures, defined patient populations, and strong clinical relevance.

2Head Injury & Trauma Thesis Topics (1–20)

1. Traumatic brain injury: GCS on admission, CT Marshall grading, and 30-day mortality predictors
2. Extradural haematoma: surgical vs non-surgical management criteria, outcome predictors, and GOS at discharge
3. Acute subdural haematoma: timing of surgery, midline shift on CT, and neurological outcome (GOS)
4. Chronic subdural haematoma: burr hole vs craniotomy — recurrence rate, complications, and functional outcome
5. Diffuse axonal injury: MRI DWI/SWI grading, GCS trajectory, and 3-month functional outcome
6. Traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage: CT Fisher grade, vasospasm incidence, and outcome
7. Depressed skull fracture: open vs closed, dural tear, surgical technique, and infection rate
8. Penetrating brain injury: civilian vs missile — injury pattern, surgical management, and outcome
9. Paediatric head injury: NAI screening, CT radiation reduction protocols, and outcome
10. Decompressive craniectomy in refractory ICP: timing, contralateral craniectomy, and 6-month GOS
11. Intracranial pressure monitoring: invasive vs non-invasive methods — accuracy and clinical utility
12. Post-traumatic hydrocephalus: incidence, risk factors, and VP shunt outcomes after TBI
13. Spinal cord injury: ASIA grade on admission, surgical timing, decompression technique, and motor recovery
14. Traumatic cervical spine injury: SLIC score, surgical vs conservative management, and functional outcome
15. Thoracolumbar burst fracture: TLICS scoring, pedicle screw fixation vs conservative — pain and neurological outcomes
16. Road traffic accident–related TBI: helmet use, injury severity score (ISS), and outcome in a level 1 trauma centre
17. Polytrauma with TBI: combined injury management, damage control neurosurgery, and outcome
18. TBI in elderly patients (>60 years): anticoagulant use, injury pattern, surgical risk, and outcome
19. Repeat CT in mild TBI: yield of repeat imaging, predictors of deterioration, and clinical decision rules
20. Post-TBI cognitive rehabilitation: neuropsychological outcomes and return to work rates at 6 months

3Brain Tumors & Oncology Thesis Topics (21–40)

21. Glioblastoma multiforme: extent of resection (EOR), MGMT methylation status, and 12-month survival
22. Low-grade glioma: watch-and-wait vs early surgery — time to malignant transformation and progression-free survival
23. Intraoperative MRI-guided glioma surgery: extent of resection and residual tumour volume comparison with standard surgery
24. Awake craniotomy for eloquent area gliomas: language/motor preservation, EOR, and quality of life
25. Meningioma: Simpson grade of resection, WHO grade, and recurrence at 5 years
26. Skull base meningioma: surgical approaches, cranial nerve outcomes, and recurrence
27. Vestibular schwannoma: House-Brackmann grade, hearing preservation rate, and approach (retrosigmoid vs translabyrinthine)
28. Pituitary adenoma: transphenoidal vs transcranial approach — hormonal remission, visual recovery, and complication rates
29. Craniopharyngioma: extent of resection, DI incidence, visual outcome, and recurrence
30. Posterior fossa tumours in adults: medulloblastoma vs metastasis — surgical outcomes and adjuvant therapy response
31. Brain metastases: surgical resection vs stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — local control and survival
32. Ependymoma: surgical grade, extent of resection, and recurrence-free survival
33. Primary CNS lymphoma: role of biopsy, methotrexate-based chemotherapy, and survival
34. Intraventricular tumours: endoscopic vs open resection — complication and outcome comparison
35. Spinal cord tumours: intramedullary vs extramedullary — neurological outcomes and recurrence rates
36. Neuronavigation in brain tumour surgery: impact on EOR, surgical time, and complication rate
37. Fluorescence-guided surgery (5-ALA) in high-grade glioma: EOR improvement and neurological outcomes
38. Tumour-treating fields (TTFields) in GBM: survival data, tolerability, and quality of life outcomes
39. Recurrent glioblastoma: re-resection vs bevacizumab — progression-free survival and performance status
40. Epilepsy in brain tumour patients: seizure type, surgical outcome on seizure control, and AED management

4Spinal Surgery Thesis Topics (41–60)

41. Lumbar disc herniation: microdiscectomy vs tubular retractor discectomy — pain (VAS), ODI, and complication rates
42. Lumbar spinal stenosis: decompression alone vs decompression + fusion — outcomes at 1 year
43. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: TLIF vs PLIF — fusion rate, VAS back/leg pain, and ODI at 2 years
44. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: ACDF vs posterior laminoplasty — JOA score improvement and complications
45. Cervical disc arthroplasty vs ACDF: adjacent segment disease rate and functional outcomes at 2 years
46. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS): TLIF vs open TLIF — blood loss, hospital stay, and functional outcomes
47. Spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease): anterior vs posterior approach — kyphosis correction and neurological recovery
48. Spinal cord compression from metastases: surgical decompression + stabilisation — Frankel grade improvement and survival
49. Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL): laminoplasty vs laminectomy + fusion — JOA score outcomes
50. Adult spinal deformity: correction surgery outcomes — Cobb angle correction, SRS-22 score, and complication rates
51. Sacral tumours: resection margins, reconstruction technique, and functional outcomes
52. Pyogenic spinal infections: conservative vs surgical management — neurological recovery and recurrence
53. Intramedullary spinal cord tumours: surgical approach, extent of resection, and McCormick grade outcomes
54. Cauda equina syndrome: timing of surgery (<24h vs >24h) — bladder/bowel and motor recovery outcomes
55. Percutaneous vertebroplasty vs kyphoplasty in osteoporotic fractures: pain relief, height restoration, and cement leak
56. Pedicle screw accuracy: freehand vs fluoroscopy-guided vs CT navigation — breach rate comparison
57. Adjacent segment disease after lumbar fusion: incidence, risk factors, and revision surgery outcomes
58. Failed back surgery syndrome: aetiology, revision surgery outcomes, and spinal cord stimulation response
59. Cervical laminoforaminotomy for radiculopathy: pain relief, return to work, and recurrence at 2 years
60. Spinal AVM: Spetzler-Martin grading, surgical vs endovascular treatment — neurological outcomes

5Vascular Neurosurgery Thesis Topics (61–75)

61. Intracranial aneurysm: surgical clipping vs endovascular coiling — recanalization, retreatment, and 1-year outcome
62. Ruptured aneurysm and subarachnoid haemorrhage: Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, vasospasm management, and outcomes
63. Unruptured intracranial aneurysm: natural history, size/location risk factors, and treatment decision analysis
64. Cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM): Spetzler-Martin grading, surgical vs radiosurgery vs embolisation outcomes
65. Cavernous malformation: haemorrhage rate, surgical resection outcomes, and seizure control
66. Moyamoya disease: clinical presentation, angiographic staging, and STA-MCA bypass outcomes
67. Dural arteriovenous fistula: Borden classification, endovascular vs surgical obliteration, and outcome
68. Hypertensive putaminal haemorrhage: surgical evacuation vs conservative — 30-day mortality and functional outcome
69. Cerebellar haematoma: conservative vs surgical evacuation — GCS trajectory and outcome predictors
70. Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: haematoma volume, perihematomal oedema progression, and surgical timing
71. Intraventricular haemorrhage: external ventricular drain (EVD) + tPA vs EVD alone — clot lysis and outcome
72. Extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass: indications, graft patency, and stroke prevention outcomes
73. Spinal vascular malformations: type classification, surgical vs endovascular treatment, and neurological outcomes
74. Carotid endarterectomy: perioperative stroke rate, restenosis at 1 year, and neurological outcomes
75. Flow diverter (Pipeline) for large/giant aneurysms: occlusion rate, complications, and clinical outcomes

6Hydrocephalus, Functional & Paediatric Neurosurgery Topics (76–100)

76. Communicating hydrocephalus: VP shunt vs ventriculoatrial shunt — infection, blockage, and revision rates
77. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV): success rate by aetiology, ETV success score, and shunt-free survival
78. Shunt infection: incidence, organism profile, antibiotic-impregnated vs standard catheters, and outcomes
79. Normal pressure hydrocephalus: gait, cognition, continence triad, tap test response, and VP shunt outcomes
80. Aqueductal stenosis: ETV vs shunt — long-term outcomes and re-intervention rates
81. Myelomeningocele: level of lesion, Chiari II malformation, hydrocephalus co-occurrence, and functional outcomes
82. Chiari malformation type I: tonsillar descent on MRI, syrinx resolution after foramen magnum decompression
83. Paediatric brain tumours: medulloblastoma — extent of resection, Chang staging, and 5-year survival
84. Paediatric craniopharyngioma: radical vs limited resection — recurrence, endocrine outcomes, and quality of life
85. Tethered cord syndrome: clinical presentation, urodynamic findings, and neurological outcome after untethering
86. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease: UPDRS improvement, stimulation parameters, and complications
87. DBS for dystonia: Burke-Fahn-Marsden score improvement, stimulation target (GPi vs STN), and outcomes
88. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in drug-resistant epilepsy: seizure frequency reduction and responder rate
89. Corpus callosotomy in drop attacks: seizure freedom rate, complication profile, and disconnection syndrome
90. Temporal lobectomy for TLE: Engel class outcome, memory decline risk, and language lateralisation accuracy
91. Trigeminal neuralgia: microvascular decompression vs gamma knife — pain relief, recurrence, and facial numbness
92. Hemifacial spasm: microvascular decompression outcomes — complete relief rate and recurrence
93. Spasticity management: intrathecal baclofen pump — Ashworth scale improvement, complication, and quality of life
94. Stereotactic biopsy of deep-seated lesions: diagnostic yield, complication rate, and impact on management
95. Gamma knife radiosurgery for brain metastases: local control rate, radiation necrosis incidence, and survival
96. Endoscopic skull base surgery: approaches for pituitary, clival, and anterior skull base lesions — outcomes and CSF leak rate
97. Robotic neurosurgery: accuracy of robotic stereotactic systems vs frame-based stereotaxy for SEEG and biopsy
98. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM): alert rate, intervention rate, and neurological outcome impact
99. Post-craniotomy pain management: multimodal analgesia protocol — VAS scores, opioid consumption, and PONV
100. Neurosurgical outcomes in elderly patients (>65 years): complication rates, functional outcomes, and quality of life after major intracranial surgery