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Paediatric neurosurgery in India
1Medical Research Centre, Bombay Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, 12, Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020, India.
Insights
Paediatric neurosurgery in India has seen significant growth since the 1980s, driven by symposia and the establishment of the Indian Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery. Dedicated services and training programs are crucial for addressing the vast pediatric neurosurgical needs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- India's large child population (40% of 900 million) necessitates a robust paediatric neurosurgery subspecialty.
- Early symposia in 1983 and 1987 highlighted the need for specialized pediatric neurosurgical care.
- The 1987 International Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN) conference in Bombay significantly advanced the field in India.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the development and current status of paediatric neurosurgery in India.
- To emphasize the need for specialized pediatric neurosurgical services and training.
- To highlight the role of professional societies and multi-disciplinary institutes in advancing the subspecialty.
Main Methods:
- Historical overview of key events and initiatives.
- Formation and growth of the Indian Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN).
- Establishment of dedicated pediatric neurosurgical services within a multi-disciplinary institute.
Main Results:
- The Indian Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery was formed and now has 90 members.
- Annual meetings and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs have been consistently held.
- Several neurosurgeons now specialize in paediatric neurosurgery, with a dedicated service established at Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric neurosurgery in India has progressed significantly, spurred by professional organizations and international collaboration.
- Establishing dedicated pediatric neurosurgical services in multi-disciplinary institutes is vital.
- Future training programs and fellowships are essential to meet the ongoing demand for treating conditions like spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Abstract:
In a vast country like India, with children constituting 40% of a total population of 900 million people, the need and scope for paediatric neurosurgery is enormous. Initial organised attempts to focus attention on the need for paediatric neurosurgery as a subspecialty were made in 1983 and 1987, respectively, by holding symposia on infections and tumours in children. However, when the Annual Conference of ISPN was held in Bombay this served as a great impetus to the development of paediatric neurosurgery as a subspecialty in this country. It led to the formation of the Indian Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery in the following year, which now has 90 neurosurgeons in full membership. It has held annual meetings ever since its inception and has held CME programmes with international faculty in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Half a dozen neurosurgeons have already devoted themselves mainly to the practice of paediatric neurosurgery. Paediatric neurosurgery is best developed in a large multi-disciplinary paediatric institute. We have been able to establish a neurosurgical service at Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, a paediatric institute of repute in Mumbai, and hope to have training programmes and fellowships in the near future for both general and paediatric neurosurgeons, as they will have to continue treating cases of spina bifida and hydrocephalus for several years to come.
