title: Telemedicine in the management of a cervical dislocation by a mobile neurosurgeon
abstract: Neurosurgical teams, who are normally located in specialist centres, frequently use teleradiology to make a decision about the transfer of a patient to the nearest neurosurgical department. This decision depends on the type of pathology, the clinical status of the patient and the prognosis. If the transfer of the patient is not possible, for example because of an unstable clinical status, a mobile neurosurgical team may be used. We report a case which was dealt with in a remote French military airborne surgical unit, in the Republic of Chad. The unit, which provides health-care to the French military personnel stationed there, also provides free medical care for the local population. It conducts about 100 operations each month. The unit comprises two surgeons (an orthopaedic and a general surgeon), one anaesthetist, two anaesthetic nurses, one operating room nurse, two nurses, three paramedics and a secretary. The civilian patient presented with unstable cervical trauma. A mobile neurosurgeon operated on her, and used telemedicine before, during and after surgery
keyphrases: telemedicine mobile neurosurgeon teleradiology remote French military airborne surgical unit Republic of Chad French military personnel civilian patient unstable cervical trauma surgery cervical dislocation management health care