In a major milestone, the sixth year of the September Neuro Camp 2024 at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) successfully performed the institution's first-ever cervical corpectomy surgery. The procedure, led by a team of highly skilled neurosurgeons, involved the removal of a damaged cervical spine bone to prevent paralysis.
The patient, a young man who had sustained a severe neck injury after falling from a quarry, faced the risk of paraplegia due to a broken cervical bone pressing on his spinal cord. The surgical team, headed by Dr. Bethwel Raore, Dr. Walter Adero, and Dr. Lee Ogutha, carefully drilled into the vertebral body and removed the damaged bone.
To replace the missing bone, the surgeons grafted a piece of bone from the patient’s pelvis. The intricate three-hour surgery marked a significant achievement for JOOTRH and showcased the expertise of the medical team.
"This surgery required meticulous planning and execution," Dr. Raore said. "By removing the damaged bone and grafting a bone from the patient’s pelvis, we were able to prevent further spinal cord injury and enhance the patient’s chances of a full recovery."
Beyond this pioneering surgery, the Neuro Camp successfully completed 34 other complex neurosurgical procedures, including skull-based tumor removals and multi-level spine fusions.
The Neuro Camps are organized by the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, a project supported by Giving Back to Kenya, an NGO founded by Dr. Raore and Ms. Irene Dulo. The initiative aims to expand access to neurological care in Kenya while offering educational opportunities for young people.
Held every three months, the Neuro Camps bring together teams from different regions. Dr. Timothy Ogutu leads the German team, Dr. Victor Awour heads the Ohio, USA, team, and Dr. Bethwel Raore leads the team from Atlanta, Georgia, USA.