NEUROSURGERY IN RWANDA DURING A UNITED-NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING MISSION

An analysis of the neurosurgical component of the medical support prov ided by a United Nations peace-keeping mission in Rwanda is presented, The Australian Defence Force contingent provided medical support to t he United Nations and the civilian population, Eight hundred thirty-ei ght procedures were performed during 12 months. A wide range of surger y was encompassed, with neurosurgery accounting for 17 (2%) of the tot al operations: compound depressed fractured skull, 5; intracranial pre ssure monitor, 2; burr holes for acute head injury and chronic subdura l hematoma, 2; skull osteomyelitis debridement, 1; rib-graft craniopla sty, 2; scalp rotation flap, 1; congenital myelomeningocele, 2; occipi tal meningocele, 1; craniofacial approach to Le Fort III fracture, 1. A broad range of neurosurgical procedures have been performed, The ove rall numbers of neurosurgical operations were small, but they were suc cessfully performed by general surgeons. Familiarity with neurosurgery is necessary in predeployment training of military surgeons working i n a remote location with limited resources.