From 10 to 13 September 2024, Nizhny Novgorod hosted the X Russian Congress of Neurosurgery
The Congress was organized by the Russian Ministry of Health, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Association of Neurosurgeons, which was established in 1995 on the initiative of Polenov Neurosurgical Institute and is the successor to the All-Union Scientific Neurosurgical Society of the USSR. The Russian Association of Neurosurgeons is the country's leading professional body for neurosurgeons. The specialists of Almazov Centre played a key role in organizing the Congress and preparing its scientific programme.
The Congress was attended by four distinguished academics and four corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professors, chief supervising neurosurgeons of federal districts, regions and republics of the Russian Federation, researchers and doctors of regional and federal neurosurgical centres and hospitals. Notable neurosurgeons from abroad, hailing from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, along with the heads of neurosurgery departments and researchers in the field of neurosurgery in Tashkent, Astana, Bishkek, and Ashgabat, took an active part in the work of the Congress.
The Congress covered a wide range of contemporary issues in neurosurgery. Topics included educational courses on spinal, vascular, and functional neurosurgery, as well as updates on radiosurgery. The moderators were Academicians D.Yu. Usachev and V.V. Krylov, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) N.A. Konovalov, Professor of RAS K.A. Samochernykh, Professor V.E. Olyushin, Professor A.Yu. Ulitin, Professor N.E. Ivanova, Dr. A.V. Kim, Dr. D.A. Gulyaev, Dr. V.G. Nezdorovina, Dr. A.E. Petrov and many other esteemed colleagues. At the plenary and break-out sessions of the Congress, a range of issues related to vascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, combat-related CNS injuries, degenerative spinal disorders, spinal cord tumours, liquor dynamics disorders, functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and peripheral nerve surgery were discussed.
Considerable focus was placed on fundamental aspects of neuroscience, including the role of genetics and genomic technologies in the development of new approaches for neurosurgical conditions, modern technologies in the surgery of cerebrovascular and spinal vascular disorders, as well as in neuro-oncology. At the inaugural plenary session, Professor of RAS K.A. Samochernykh presented a comprehensive overview of the pivotal subject matter in contemporary neurosurgery, entitled «Innovations in neurosurgery: from idea to implementation, a look into the future.»
The congress featured a wide range of presentations summarizing the major achievements in vascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, functional neurosurgery, surgery for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
The plenary sessions featured presentations by Professor N.E. Ivanova on 'Functional rehabilitation', Professor D.A. Gulyaev on 'Aggressive meningiomas', and Dr. A.V. Kim on 'Modern aspects of surgery of recurrent cerebral tumors in children'.
A number of plenary and break-out sessions of the Congress were moderated by V.E. Olyushin, A.Yu. Ulitin, V.G. Nezdorovina and D.A. Gulyaev of Polenov Neurosurgical Institute. The specialists of the 2nd department gave 3 presentations (V.G. Nezdorovina et al.), the department of cerebrovascular surgery gave 5 presentations (A.E. Petrov, L.V. Rozhchenko, S.D. Rajabov, V.V. Bobinov et al.), the department and laboratory of neuro-oncology delivered 4 presentations (V.E. Olyushin, A.Yu. Kukanov, V.V. Orekhova, Y. M. Zabrodskaya), Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery gave 3 presentations (A.V. Kim, V.P. Ivanov, et al.), 1 presentation was made by the specialists of the 1st department (A.Yu. Orlov, A.S. Nazarov, et al.), 1 presentation by the Rehabilitation Department (E.N. Zharova, et al.), 2 presentations by the 5th department (D.A. Gulyaev, et al.).
At the Congress, the priority directions of neurosurgery development for the next three years were defined as follows:
— To improve functional neurosurgery.
— To enhance surgical, combination and comprehensive treatment of neuro-oncological patients.
— To develop clinical recommendations on various areas of neurosurgery.
— To establish a working group on radiotherapy and radiosurgery in collaboration with the Russian Association of Neurosurgeons and the Russian Association of Oncologists.
— To proactively engage with engineering and design organizations to develop and implement domestic diagnostic and intraoperative systems, devices and consumables, ensuring a modern technological level of neurosurgical care.
Furthermore, the Congress instructed the Board of the Russian Association of Neurosurgeons to develop the main directions for the implementation of the residency programme in Neurosurgery.
The Congress approved the composition of the Board of the Russian Association of Neurosurgeons, which comprises 33 members.
The following specialists of Almazov Centre were elected to the Board: Professor of RAS Konstantin Samochernykh, Professor Natalia Ivanova, Professor Alexey Ulitin and Professor Dmitry Gulyaev. Professor Viktor Olyushin was appointed an honorary member of the Russian Association of Neurosurgeons.
The Congress decided to convene the next XI Congress in the city of Nalchik in 2027.