Roger Härtl, MD, director of neurosurgery spine for New York City-based Weill Cornell Medicine and co-director for New York Presbyterian OCH Spine, has performed the first spine case using 3D navigation in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a March 23 email sent to Becker's.
The procedure took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as part of Weill Cornell's global neurosurgery course, which Dr. Härtl launched in 2008.
Through the program, Dr. Härtl and his students train local surgeons in Tanzania, select local surgeons for fellowships in New York City, and hold regular conference calls to discuss surgical challenges and patient management.
The 3D navigation system for the spine procedure was donated by medtech company Brainlab, the drills were donated by Medtronic, and DePuy Synthes donated $1.5 million worth of surgical screws.