A spine neurosurgeon, on the other hand, would do more spine procedures. So the specialization decides the most common procedure performed. A general neurosurgeon in a non academic set up would mostly do spine surgeries and (cranial) trauma surgeries. read more
Academic is the key word. No school is going to pay the going rate for an exceptional surgeon doing volume. They may teach well, but they also have residents covering for them at nights, on weekends, and holidays. read more
It's all about the procedures. Procedures are the money maker for all specialties. Name a highly paid specialty that isn't procedure based. I'm not saying it's right but the reimbursment is slanted towards procedures rather than diagnosing and Rx. That's why peds/FP, and IM don't make as much as rads, optho, derm. read more