What We Do - Our Projects
Global Neurosurgery Research Lab
Our current research work includes measuring neurosurgical capacity, burden of neurosurgical conditions, and identifying gaps in neurosurgical care delivery.
Research Projects
International Neuro-Oncology Consortium Project
Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors are the number one cause of death in children. The burden of CNS tumors has been estimated to be nearly four times greater in low middle income countries (LMIC). However, the true burden of these tumors and scope of resources for management of these tumors is not well-reported.
Through this project led by Dr Michael Dewan and Dr Silky Chotai, the team aims to collect and analyze hospital-level burden and capacity-oriented data from pediatric neurosurgical oncology centers in Sub-Saharan Africa. With that aim we plan to conduct a cross sectional epidemiological survey study to determine the incidence, diagnosis, management and follow-up paradigm for pediatric brain and spine tumors.
Co-Investigators at Collaborating Sites:
Ethiopia - Dr Addisalem Belete, Zewditu Hospital/ Black Lion Hospital
Ghana - Dr Frank Nketiah-Boakye, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Kenya - Dr Will Copeland, Tenwek Hospital
Nigeria - Dr Hassan Isma’il, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital /Bayero University Kano
Dr Misbahu Haruna Ahmad, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital /Bayero University Kano
South Africa - Dr Jason Labuschagne, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
Tanzania - Dr Hamisi Shabani, Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute
Zambia - Dr Kachinga Sichizya, University Teaching Hospital
Neuro-oncology Research and Care in East Africa
This study aims to review existing literature on the distribution of primary CNS tumors and neuro-oncologic care, and the contribution of scientists and institutions to neuro-oncologic research across 18 East African countries over the last 5 decades. This is led by Dr Joseline Haizel-Cobbina and Jeffrey W Chen.
Disseminated Pediatric Low Grade Glioma
This systematic review aims to identify the pattern of genetic alterations found in cases of disseminated PLGGs, therapy received by patients and treatment outcomes published in literature. This is led by Dr Joseline Haizel-Cobbina and Rut Thakkar.
Publications
2021
Reynolds RA, Bhebhe A, Garcia RM, Chen H, Bonfield CM, Lam S, Sichizya K, Shannon C. Surgical Outcomes after Myelomeningocele Repair in Lusaka, Zambia. World neurosurgery. 2021 Jan;145 doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.10.069 PMID: 33091647
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33091647/
Magogo J, Lazaro A, Mango M, Zuckerman SL, Leidinger A, Msuya S, Rutabasibwa N, Shabani HK, Härtl R. Operative Treatment of Traumatic Spinal Injuries in Tanzania: Surgical Management, Neurologic Outcomes, and Time to Surgery. Global spine journal. 2021 Jan;11(1):89-98. doi:10.1177/2192568219894956 PMID: 32875835
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32875835/
Lepard JR, Barthélemy EJ, Corley J, Nalwanga J, Dewan M. In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding "The Resident's Role in Global Neurosurgery". World Neurosurg. 2021 Feb;146:433. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.053. PMID: 33607753. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33607753/
Haizel-Cobbina J, Chen JW, Belete A, Dewan MC, Karekezi C. The landscape of neuro-oncology in East Africa: a review of published records. Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 Sep 1. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05344-z. PMID: 34468839.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34468839/
2020
Lepard JR, Dewan MC, Chen SH, Bankole OB, Mugamba, Ssenyonga P, Kulkarni AV, Warf BC. The CURE Protocol: evaluation and external validation of a new public health strategy for treating paediatric hydrocephalus in low-resource settings. BMJ Glob Health. 2020 Feb 23. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002100 PMID: 32133193
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32133193/
Mkony D, Magogo Mzimbiri J, Leidinger A, Bonfield CM, Zuckerman SL, Härtl R. Delayed death after hyena bite in a 3-year-old Tanzanian boy: the unique reality of neurosurgery in a resource-limited setting. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 Feb 28:1-4. doi: 10.3171/2019.12.PEDS19495. PMID: 32109867.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32109867/
Lessing NL, Mwesige S, Lazaro A, Cheserem BJ, Zuckerman SL, Leidinger A, Rutabasibwa N, Shabani HK, Mangat HS, Härtl R. Pressure ulcers after traumatic spinal injury in East Africa: risk factors, illustrative case, and low-cost protocol for prevention and treatment. Spinal cord series and cases. 2020 Jun;6(1):48. doi:10.1038/s41394-020-0294-5 PMID: 32541848
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32541848/
Renne B, Radic J, Agrawal D, Albrecht B, Bonfield CM, Cohrs G, Davis T, Gupta A, Hebb ALO, Lamberti-Pasculli M, Knerlich-Lukoschus F, Lindsay S, McNeely PD, Pillai S, Rai HIS, Sborov KD, Vitali A, Walling S, Woerdeman P, Suryaningtyas W, Cochrane D, Singhal A, Steinbok P. Cerebellar mutism after posterior fossa tumor resection in children: a multicenter international retrospective study to determine possible modifiable factors. Childs Nerv Syst. 2020 Jun;36(6):1159-1169. doi: 10.1007/s00381-019-04058-7. PMID: 30659354
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30659354/
Lepard JR, Barthelemy EJ, Corley J, Nalwanga J, Dewan M. The resident’s role in global neurosurgery. World Neurosurg. 140:403-405. 2020 Aug PMID: 32797946
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32797946/
Lessing NL, Zuckerman SL, Lazaro A, et al. Cost-Effectiveness of Operating on Traumatic Spinal Injuries in Low-Middle Income Countries: A Preliminary Report from a Major East African Referral Center. Global spine journal. 2020 Aug;17:2192568220944888. doi:10.1177/2192568220944888 PMID: 32799677
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32799677/
Du RY, Thiong’o GM, LoPresti MA, Mohan NK, Dewan MC, Lepard J, Lam S. Pediatric Neurosurgery in East Africa: an education and needs-based survey. World neurosurgery. Sep 2020;141 doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.05.155. PMID: 32454199
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32454199/
Reynolds RA, Bhebhe A, Garcia RM, Zhao S, Lam S, Sichizya K, Shannon CN. Pediatric hydrocephalus outcomes in Lusaka, Zambia. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 Sep 2020;26:624–635. doi: 10.3171/2020.5.PEDS20193. PMID: 32916646
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32916646/
Baticulon RE, Dewan MC, Wittayanakorn N, Aldana PR, Maixner WJ. Pediatric neurosurgery in Asia and Australasia: training and clinical practice. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 Oct 2020;27:93–101. doi:10.3171/2020.6.PEDS20399. PMID: 33036002
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33036002/
Crevier-Sorbo G, Brunette-Clément T, Medawar E, Mathieu F, Morgan BR, Hachem LD, Dewan MC, Fallah A, Weil AG, Ibrahim GM. A needs assessment of pediatric epilepsy surgery in Haiti. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2020 Nov;27:189-195. doi:10.3171/2020.7.PEDS20256 PMID: 33254133
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33254133/
Lessing NL, Lazaro A, Zuckerman SL, et al. Nonoperative treatment of traumatic spinal injuries in Tanzania: who is not undergoing surgery and why? Spinal cord. 2020 Nov;58(11):1197–1205. doi:10.1038/s41393-020-0474-y PMID: 32350408
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32350408/
Olivieri DJ, Baticulon RE, Labuschagne JJ, Harkness W, Warf B, Dewan MC. Geospatial mapping of international neurosurgical partnerships and evaluation of extent of training and engagement. World neurosurgery. 2020 Dec;144 doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.09.107. PMID: 32992055
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32992055/
Niquen-Jimenez M, Wishart D, Garcia RM, Shlobin NA, Steinle J, Weiss H, Reynolds RA, Lam S, Rosseau G. A Bibliographic Analysis of the Most Cited Articles in Global Neurosurgery. World neurosurgery. 2020 Dec;144doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.084 PMID: 32829020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32829020/
2019
Pourtaheri N, Wang DZ, Lesko RP, Bonfield CM, Taub P, Kumar AR. Unilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis in an Apert-Like Patient. Plast Surg (Oakv). 2019 Feb;27(1):78-82. doi: 10.1177/2292550318800322. PMID: 30854365.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854365/
Mukhopadhyay S, Punchak M, Rattani A, Hung YC, Dahm J, Faruque S, Dewan MC, Peeters S, Sachdev S, Park KB. The global neurosurgical workforce: a mixed-methods assessment of density and growth. Journal of neurosurgery. 2019 Apr;130:1142–1148. doi:10.3171/2018.10.JNS171723 PMID: 30611133
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30611133/
Dewan MC, Zuckerman SL, Sivaganesan A, Chatterjee S, Figaji A, Bonfield CM. Addressing the Global Burden of Neurosurgical Disease Beyond the Operating Room: Comment on Recent Global Neurosurgery Article in Journal of Neurosurgery. World neurosurgery. 2019 Feb;122:364-365. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.134 PMID: 30611133
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30471441/
Bell JS, Koffie RM, Rattani A, Dewan MC, Baticulon RE, Qureshi MM, Wahjoepramono EJ, Rosseau G, Park K, Nahed BV. Global incidence of brain and spinal tumors by geographic region and income level based on cancer registry data. J Clin Neurosci. 2019 Aug;66:121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.05.003. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31133367.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31133367/
2018
Dewan MC, Rattani A, Mekary R, et al. Global hydrocephalus epidemiology and incidence: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of neurosurgery. Apr 2018;130:1065–1079. doi:10.3171/2017.10.JNS17439 PMID: 29701543
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29701543/
Dewan MC, Rattani A, Gupta S, et al. Estimating the global incidence of traumatic brain injury. Journal of neurosurgery. 2018 Apr;130:1080–1097. doi:10.3171/2017.10.JNS17352. PMID: 29701556
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29701556/
Dewan MC, Rattani A, Fieggen G, et al. Global neurosurgery: the current capacity and deficit in the provision of essential neurosurgical care. Executive Summary of the Global Neurosurgery Initiative at the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2018 Apr;130(4):1055-1064. doi:10.3171/2017.11.JNS171500 PMID: 29701548
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29701548/
Punchak M, Mukhopadhyay S, Sachdev S, Hung YC, Peeters S, Rattani A, Dewan M, Johnson WD, Park KB. Neurosurgical Care: Availability and Access in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries. World Neurosurg. 2018 Apr;112:e240-e254. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.01.029. PMID: 29325943.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29325943/
Lopez CD, Kumar A, Lin AY, Bonfield CM, Weinzweig J, Naidich T, Smith CM, Taub PJ. Demystifying the "Triple Point: " Technical Nuances of the Fronto-Orbital Advancement. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 May;29(3):796-799. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004147. PMID: 29489569.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29489569/
Rudolfson N, Dewan MC, Park KB, Shrime MG, Meara JG, Alkire BC. The economic consequences of neurosurgical disease in low- and middle-income countries. J Neurosurg. 2018 May 1:1-8. doi: 10.3171/2017.12.JNS17281. PMID: 29775144.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29775144/
Dewan MC, Rattani A, Baticulon RE, Faruque S, Johnson WD, Dempsey RJ, Haglund MM, Alkire BC, Park KB, Warf BC, Shrime MG. Operative and consultative proportions of neurosurgical disease worldwide: estimation from the surgeon perspective. J Neurosurg. 2018 May 1:1-9. doi: 10.3171/2017.10.JNS17347. PMID: 29749918.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29749918/
Kumar R, Lim J, Mekary RA, Rattani A, Dewan MC, Sharif SY, Osorio-Fonseca E, Park KB. Traumatic Spinal Injury: Global Epidemiology and Worldwide Volume. World Neurosurg. 2018 May;113:e345-e363. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.033. PMID: 29454115.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29454115/
Robertson FC, Lepard JR, Mekary RA, Davis MC, Yunusa I, Gormley WB, Baticulon RE, Mahmud MR, Misra BK, Rattani A, Dewan MC, Park KB. Epidemiology of central nervous system infectious diseases: a meta-analysis and systematic review with implications for neurosurgeons worldwide. J Neurosurg. 2018 Jun 1:1-20. doi: 10.3171/2017.10.JNS17359. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 29905514.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29905514/
Hughes JD, Bond KM, Mekary RA, Dewan MC, Rattani A, Baticulon R, Kato Y, Azevedo-Filho H, Morcos JJ, Park KB. Estimating the Global Incidence of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review for Central Nervous System Vascular Lesions and Meta-Analysis of Ruptured Aneurysms. World Neurosurg. 2018 Jul;115:430-447.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.03.220. PMID: 29649643.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29649643/
Vaughan KA, Lopez Ramos C, Buch VP, Mekary RA, Amundson JR, Shah M, Rattani A, Dewan MC, Park KB. An estimation of global volume of surgically treatable epilepsy based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of epilepsy. J Neurosurg. 2018 Sep 1:1-15. doi: 10.3171/2018.3.JNS171722. PMID: 30215556.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30215556/
Dewan MC, Baticulon RE, Ravindran K, Bonfield CM, Poenaru D, Harkness W. Pediatric neurosurgical bellwether procedures for infrastructure capacity building in hospitals and healthcare systems worldwide. Childs Nerv Syst. 2018 Oct;34(10):1837-1846. doi: 10.1007/s00381-018-3902-y. PMID: 30030605.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30030605/
Dewan MC, Onen J, Bow H, Ssenyonga P, Howard C, Warf BC. Subspecialty pediatric neurosurgery training: a skill-based training model for neurosurgeons in low-resourced health systems. Neurosurg Focus. 2018 Oct;45(4):E2. doi: 10.3171/2018.7.FOCUS18249. PMID: 30269595.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30269595/
Dewan MC, Baticulon RE, Rattani A, Johnston JM, Warf BC, Harkness W. Pediatric neurosurgical workforce, access to care, equipment and training needs worldwide. Neurosurg Focus. 2018 Oct;45(4):E13. doi: 10.3171/2018.7.FOCUS18272. PMID: 30269579.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30269579/
Ravindra VM, Senglaub SS, Rattani A, Dewan MC, Härtl R, Bisson E, Park KB, Shrime MG. Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: Estimating Global Incidence and Worldwide Volume. Global Spine J. 2018 Dec;8(8):784-794. doi: 10.1177/2192568218770769. PMID: 30560029
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30560029/
Hughes JD, Dewan MC, Park KB. In Reply to "Demographics of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage". World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec;120:593. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.151. PMID: 30469296.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30469296/
2017
Estevez-Ordonez D, Dewan MC, Feldman MJ, Montalvan-Sanchez EE, Montalvan-Sanchez DM, Rodriguez-Murillo AA, Urrutia-Argueta SA, Cherry CB, Morgan DR, Alvarez-Rodriguez R, Bonfield CM. Congenital Malformations of the Central Nervous System in Rural Western Honduras: A 6-Year Report on Trends. World Neurosurg. 2017 Nov;107:249-254. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.07.131. PMID: 28765025.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28765025/
Dewan MC, Naftel RP. The Global Rise of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy with Choroid Plexus Cauterization in Pediatric Hydrocephalus. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2017;52(6):401-408. doi: 10.1159/000452809. Epub 2016 Dec 22. PMID: 28002814.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28002814/
2016
Dewan MC, Mummareddy N, Wellons JC, Bonfield CM. Epidemiology of Global Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Qualitative Review. World Neurosurg. 2016 Jul;91:497-509.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.03.045. PMID: 27018009.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27018009/