Analysis of the Caribbean Neurosurgery Workforce: Scope of Practice, Challenges, and Ways Forward.

Background: The neurosurgical workforce in the Caribbean and surrounding countries is largely unknown due to the diversity in cultural, linguistic, political, financial disparities, and colonial history between the countries. About 45 neurosurgeons serve 16 million people in the Caribbean Community and Common Market, a trade alliance including most Caribbean nations. We aimed to understand the current scope of neurosurgical workforce in this region while highlighting any system challenges and potential solutions for upscaling the workforce.

The impact of traumatic brain injury on economic productivity in the Caribbean.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the Caribbean as well as globally. Within the Caribbean, the prevalence of TBI is approximately 706 per 100,000 persons - one of the highest rates per capita in the world.

Research Question: We aim to assess the economic productivity lost due to moderate to severe TBI in the Caribbean.

Time to Care: Analysis of Time Differences and Outcomes in the Management of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury for a High-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Country.

Background: Pediatric cranial trauma is the leading cause of acquired death and disability in children worldwide. However, trauma resources vary widely among countries. We sought to compare management and timely access to care between a level 1 U.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Pediatric Post Neurosurgical Care in a Lower Middle-Income Country: The Zambian Experience.

Objective: Pediatric postoperative neurosurgical care is an essential component of a child's treatment pathway. It is important to better understand how neurosurgeons in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) have been able to address socioeconomic and systemic factors to improve their patients' access to quality pediatric postoperative neurosurgical care. We aim to characterize the pediatric neurosurgical postoperative system in place in Zambia and to discuss how these efforts have been implemented to improve outcomes and address socioeconomic barriers to accessing health care.

Implementing a Neurotrauma Registry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a disproportionately greater impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One strategy to reduce the burden of disease in LMICs is through the implementation of a trauma registry that standardizes the assessment of each patient's management of care.  This study aims to ascertain the interest of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) nations in establishing a shared neurotrauma registry in the regional block, based on an existing framework for collaboration.

Racial and Social Determinants of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Head.

Objective: To assess the clinical, racial, and social characteristics of victims of Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the head and assess for associations between these factors and outcomes.

Summary Background Data: Previous literature has not focused on the association of race and socioeconomic factors with these specific injuries.

Methods: We identified patients with GSWs to the head who presented to 2 urban academic medical centers between 1998 and 2020, and extracted patient-level demographic data, information about the clinical and surgical course, and outcomes at discharge and follow-up.

Timely Access to Neurosurgical Care in the Caribbean Using Geospatial Analysis.

Background: Access to timely neurosurgical care in particular remains limited worldwide, and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, a decrease in overall life expectancy, and catastrophic economic costs. To date, access to neurosurgical care has not been completely studied and reported in the Caribbean neurosurgical literature. In this study, we aim to understand the geographic distribution of hospital facilities with neurosurgical capacity among the CARICOM member states to determine timely access to neurosurgical care.

The Governance of Helmet Safety to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury in the Caribbean.

Background: The Caribbean is a unique region of islands and cays home to nearly 43 million people. A significant challenge facing this population is the burden of traumatic brain injury, which disproportionately affects younger individuals and carries a significant economic burden. A preventive measure to reduce this burden is consistent wearing of helmets.

Global Neurosurgery Education in United States Residency Programs.

Background: Global neurosurgery encompasses the social and surgical practices that effect the neurologic health of vulnerable and underserved populations in domestic and international resource-limited settings. Formal academic engagement in global neurosurgery is limited in residency programs. Here we explore the current status of global neurosurgery education in residency programs across the United States.