MEETING SUMMARY
International Conference on Recent Advances in Neurotraumatology (ICRAN) 2024.

We are delighted to report that the most recent International Conference on Recent Advances in Neurotraumatology (ICRAN) meeting was a resounding success. ICRAN 2024 was held in the historic and bustling city of Jaipur, India from February 29th to March 3rd, 2024 This meeting was endorsed by both the Asian Australasian Society of Neurosurgeons (AASNS) and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) ICRAN 2024 Jaipur

In total, there were almost 410 participants including neurosurgeons, neurologists, intensive care physicians, nurses, and students of varying levels of experience. As expected, there was a robust scientific and delightful social program. ScientificProgramme.pdf (icran2024.com). In addition, a focus of the meeting was an intense local and national outreach effort, including engagement with lay community leaders and dignitaries, schools, and universities as well as newspaper, TV, and social media outlets. See attachments – photos The goal of these efforts was to highlight the most common cause of neurotrauma in India, namely road traffic accidents and the need for more legislation to prevent and more resources to be allocated to the treatment of neurotrauma patients. Esteemed leaders of the Indian Neurosurgical Society were supported by the almost 53 international attendees from both the AASNS and WFNS. See attached – national and international committee members

ICRAN meetings are a WFNS-initiated and sponsored event. The first meeting was held in Japan in 1992, and was the brainchild of Franco Servadei (Italy), and Tariq Kahn (Pakistan). These annual meetings have become a mainstay of WFNS Neurotrauma activities and have been held on every continent, always with the engagement of local continental and national neurological societies, as was done this year in Jaipur, India. As the name suggests, these are international meetings that highlight advances in neurotrauma care, be it preventative measures, new therapies, and protocols, and initiate and encourage collaborative research efforts. The last pre-pandemic conference was held in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2019 led by Tariq Khan. After a 3-year hiatus, the first post pandemic conference was held last year (2023) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia led by Marcello Zentino, in conjunction with the Bolivian Neurosurgical Society and La Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Neurocirugía (FLANC).

ICRAN meetings are the perfect forum to highlight the many societal, legislative, and medical management issues associated with both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) in any location worldwide. Given that there are unique local nuances including administrative set-ups, epidemiology, cultures, and attitudes on neurotrauma, these meetings are uniquely positioned to positively influence the local and national community at large, including legislators and politicians. This was done in no uncertain terms at ICRAN 2024!

Drs Virendra Deo Sinha and Amit Chakraborty first pitched the idea of hosting ICRAN 2024 to a combined in-person and virtual WFNS Neurotrauma committee held on at the XVII Annual meeting, in Bogotá, Colombia on March 15th 2022. The entire committee was very impressed by the enthusiasm, ideas and commitment presented by Drs Virendra Deo Sinha and Amit Chakrabarty. A unanimous decision was taken to host ICRAN 2024 in Jaipur, India. We were not disappointed.

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 and is renowned for its rich history, culture, and architectural marvels. The city is famous for its pink-hued buildings, palaces, and forts, which were constructed using sandstone, giving them a unique and beautiful appearance. Some of the popular tourist attractions include the Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Amer Fort, and Nahargarh Fort. Many local and foreign guests took the opportunity to visit these sites as well as the Taj Mahal, a 4-hour drive away.

The theme of ICRAN 2024 was “stimulating innovations in neurotrauma”. The organizing committee did an outstanding job with both the scientific and cultural events. ICRAN 2024 Jaipur A huge shout-out to the local organizing committee ICRAN 2024 Jaipur, supported by their international colleagues

The “stimulation” began at a pre-conference workshop on skull base surgical techniques on the morning of Thursday, February 29th. . A 3D anatomy course was given with the use of an exoscope demonstation (such type of demonstration was for the first in any neurotrauma conference world over). This was organized by Mario Ganau (UK) and Dr. Iype Cherion (India) held at the SMS Medical College in Jaipur.There were approximately 61 attendees. An interesting set of didactic lectures were focused on a relatively controversial, but potentially important microsugical opening of the cisterns in TBI. The speakers included Shugar Jhamil Hinojosa Motta (Peru) who is an advocate for cisterostomy in TBI. Following this course, an impromptu meeting was held to decide on how best to study the role of cisternostomy in TBI care. The experts present will form the nidus of what is hoped will become a prospective, scientifically sound, multinational endeavor.

The second pre-conference workshop was organized by Andres Rubiano (Colombia), Mario Ganau and other colleagues of Global Neuro was held on that afternoon of Thursday, February 29th in the conference center of Clarks Amer Hotel. A huge thanks to Linda Domesian and Jenny Cheng of Global Neuro for organizing and co-sponsoring this event. The focus was on innovations in Prehospital care in Neurotrauma. Speakers included Virendra deo Sinha, Andrew Reisner (USA), Corrado Iaccarino (Italy) and Amit Agrawal (India). Both didactic and case presentations were given to illustrate up-to date contemporary neurotrauma care.

The main scientific program began on Friday March the 1st and ended 3 days later on Sunday March 3rd, 2024. See attached program ICRAN SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME.cdr (icran2024.com) The gatherings included over 410 students, nurses, emergency medical personnel, radiologists, intensivists,Neurologists, and neurosurgeons. Although a disparate group, the commonality is an interest in neurotrauma with the common goals of both enhancing preventative programs and streamline treatment protocols for our patients, the victims of traumatic brain and spinal injuries. These goals were achieved at this meeting with high caliber didactic lectures and lively debates. A total of 27 lectures was given, most often with 2 to 3 lecture halls and sessions occurring simultaneously.

On Day 1, session topics included road safety and organ donation awareness programs, ethical and legal aspects of TBI, recent advances and innovations in TBI and SCI, surgical aspects of neurotrauma, neurorehabilitation and craniovertebral junction trauma. Around ten family members participated and two ladies (Dr.Anita Hada and Sanjana Bhojwani) spoke on organ donation based on their personal experience. Their talk was highly motivating and encouraged the audience to support organ donation drive. All these courses were all well attended with each having 100 to 150 participants each.

This was followed by a poolside dinner at Hotel Clarks Amer. The meeting was formally inaugurated prior to dinner by lighting the lamp-which signifies the spread of knowledge and blessings by the almighty.

Day 2 sessions included a session on warfare injury, neuro endoscopy, brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries, cranioplasty and endovascular management of neurotrauma. In addition, there were several free papers and plenary sessions.

This was followed by the gala dinner held in the sumptuous grounds of Hotel Jai Mahal Palace. This venue was chosen as it portrays the glorious and rich cultural history of the state of Rajasthan. The dinner was a perfect platform where delegates got the chance to interact among themselves with a background folk dance and local music.

Day 3 sessions included epidemiology of TBI, pediatric TBI, neurocritical care and basic neurosciences. During this, as was the case with prior sessions, the topics covered the gamut of brain and spinal neurotrauma. Lively discussions and questions often ensued after the talks.

There was a total of approximately 61 course participants. There were 141 speakers and moderators. There were almost 53 international visitors: There were representatives from Colombia (Dr Rubiano, Peru (Dr Hinjosa), USA ( Drs. Reisner and Adelson), (Dr. Ganua, Corrado Iaccarino), Australia (Kate Drummond), UK (Peter Hutchinson) and Wan Tew (Singapore), Yigel Shoshan ( Israel) Dr..Lynne Lourdes N Lucena ( Philippines) Massimillano Visocchi ( Italy),Eiichi Suehiro (Japan). Xian -Jian Huang (China), Maximilian Mehdorn (Germany), Ahmed El-Fiki (Egypt), Amit Thapa (Nepal), Florian Stefan( Romania) , Surath S K Munasinghe ( Sri Lanka) , Debora Garozzo (UAE) , Dr. Rohadi Muhammad Rosyidi (Indonesia) and Eva Tsai ( Canada)

All sessions were conducted in a comfortable, respectful, and collegial atmosphere thanks to our hosts, and the organizing committees of the WFNS, led by Andrew Reisner (USA), co-chairs Andrés Rubiano (Colombia) Laura Lippa (Italy,) and the AASNS, led by Kate Drummond (Australia).

Our hosts could not have been more kind, courteous and well prepared. We particularly want to thank all the representatives from India including VD Sinha (President), Ashok Gupta and Amit Chakrabarty (main organizers). BK Misra (National Advisor), BS Sharma, H Bagaria, and Hemant Bhartiya (all patrons) as well as their extended committee. The committee was ably supported by an enthusiastic team consisting of Dr.Sanjeev Chopra, Dr.Jitendra Shekhawat, Dr.Ugan Meena, Dr. Gaurav Jain, Dr. Anil Kothiwala, Dr.Priya , Jitin Bajaj, Dr.Mihika Sinha and Mr. Gautam& team (Event manager) All took such pride in this event and were so appreciative of everyone’s efforts to attend.

The Course Sponsors were Aescolap, Stryker, Sun Pharma, Medtronic and Sanma.

I am not only appreciative of the conference organizers, but the entire WFNS Neurotrauma committee (2021- 2023) that served in an advisory capacity.

हम अपने सामान के साथ अच्छे विचारों, सुखद यादों, पुरानी दोस्ती को नवीनीकृत करने और नई दोस्ती से भरे हुए हैं। बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद

Andrew Reisner, Past Chair, WFNS Neurotrauma committee member
Andrés Rubiano, Co-Chair, WFNS Neurotrauma committee
Virendra D Sinha, President ICRAN 2024, WFNS Neurotrauma committee member
Ashok Gupta, Secretary, ICRAN 2024
Amit Chakrabarty, Scientific chair, ICRAN 2024

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