The identification and the education of a pediatric neurosurgeon at an international level.

Although the field of application of pediatric neurosurgery is easily identified by the age criterion as well as the specific illnesses of children, the "pediatric neurosurgeon" is still fairly undefined. In fact, the evolution of the process by which the pediatric neurosurgeon is identified is quite different in the various countries, depending on the cultural environment, the socioeconomic level and the age distribution of the population. In North America, in recent years there has been activity aimed at obtaining full independence for pediatric neurosurgery. On the other hand, as a result of inertia, academic tradition and the health care system, Europe only appears to be willing to recognize this subspecialty culturally and to oppose its actual independence from general neurosurgery.