Zancanella, Chiara

OBJECTIVE Unmet global neurosurgical needs pose a significant challenge, as do unequal opportunities for neurosurgical education and training across the globe. Mission:BRAIN is a nonprofit organization working to provide neurosurgical expertise and resources to both patients and healthcare providers in underserved areas. It operates globally, with local chapters involving primarily medical students. Its presence in Europe has expanded in the last few years with initiatives that contribute to shaping an international approach to global neurosurgery challenges. The authors aim to investigate the impact of student-led organizations, such as Mission:BRAIN, on global neurosurgery, with a focus on low-income countries and low- to middle-income countries, while also assessing the changes observed within the European group during its initial 2 years. METHODS Quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed to investigate changes in the number of chapters, members, and events. The perceived impact was evaluated using a Likert scale survey administered to European members. RESULTS Between 2022 and 2023, the number of European chapters increased by 150% (n = 10) and memberships doubled. Of the 102 survey respondents, 56.9% were female and 42.2% were male. Similarly, the number of events grew by 240%, with a significant increase in educational events (325%, p = 0.007). Participation in events increased by 10.13%, reflecting growing interest and engagement. For most members (72.6%), the activities in the European region have increased global awareness of the importance of neurosurgical care in underserved areas; for 45.1% of them, outreach events have effectively communicated the importance of neurosurgical care to nonmedical audiences. For 67.6% of the members, European chapters have contributed to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among medical students and healthcare providers. Furthermore, 59% agreed that Mission:BRAIN initiatives have contributed to addressing disparities in neurosurgical care and education. CONCLUSIONS Mission:BRAIN’s growth in Europe showcases the pivotal role of medical students. The impact of the organization’s activities demonstrates the students’ potential to contribute to the overarching effort of bridging worldwide gaps in healthcare and education and calls for their active participation and recognition.

Introduction: The spinal rehabilitation process plays a crucial role in SCI patients’ lives, and recent developments in VR have the potential to efficiently engage SCI patients in therapeutic activities and promote neuroplasticity. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess a complete review of the extended impacts of VR-assisted training on spine rehabilitation in SCI patients. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) through a single database search in PubMed/Medline between the dates 1 January 2010 and 1 February 2024. MESH terms and keywords were combined in the following search strategy: (Augmented Reality OR VR OR Virtual Reality) AND (Spine OR Spinal) AND Rehabilitation. Included articles were written in English, involved adults with SCI, included an intervention with VR, AR, or any mixed reality system, and assessed changes in outcomes after the intervention. Results: The search produced 257 articles, and 46 of them were allocated for data extraction to evaluate 652 patients. Both when VR training was analyzed and reviewed separately, and when compared to traditional training, the findings exhibited predominantly promising outcomes, reflecting a favorable trend in the study. VR technologies were used in different settings and customizations, and the medium total time of VR training among the studies was 60.46 h per patient. Conclusions: This auspicious outcome of the study further motivates the intervention of VR and AR in the rehabilitation of SCI patients along with ameliorating their overall holistic well-being.