CIOMR organized its first workshop neurosurgery at the CIOMR Summer Congress in Ghent in co-operation with Lt Col P.A. Stanworth, the University of Ghent – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - and the Royal Belgian Medical Military Reserves Association.

15 % of all casualties are head injuries. In peacetime the majority will be blunt traumata but in wartime the penetrating traumata are dominate. There is always a requirement for surgery and the results of treatment are frequently very rewarding. General surgeons with practical experience of head injuries are now extremely rare, mainly because of civilian specialization and partly through lack of operational experience. Therefore a neurosurgical workshop has been held in the United Kingdom for almost 10 years.

The attendees in mind are surgeons of all levels who may be posted to a field hospital without neurosurgical support and who need training in management of head injuries. The aim of the workshop is to provide clinical background & practical training. The training last for one day. The procedures are executed on isolated fresh pig’s heads.

Appraisals for the workshop are 80 to 100% for relevance.

Instructors :

• Lt Col P. A. Stanworth RAMC(V), consultant neurosurgeon, workshop leader

• Lt Col Colin Shieff RAMC(V)
• Lt Col Neil Buxton RAMC(V)
• Lt Cdr Erik Jantzen RDNR

Course coordinator Lt Col (R) Filip Stragier

Programme

• Introduction

• Lecture - Blunt head injury – Extradural Haematoma - Indications for Surgery
• Skill Station I - Burr Hole/Skin Closure

Coffee/Tea break

• Skill Station II - Craniotomy
• Skill Station III - Repair of Air Sinuses
• Case Discussion

Lunch

• Lecture - Penetrating Head Injuries
• Skill Station IV - Depressed Skull Fracture

Coffee/Tea break

• Skill Station V - Gunshot Wound Head
• Course Discussion

Closing drink