War in Ukraine: a neurosurgical perspective

Abstract

Abstract Background The ongoing war in Ukraine leads to the destruction of critical infrastructure and the displacement of millions of civilians while the necessity for neurosurgical care has increased tremendously. The consequences of this armed conflict on the practice of neurosurgery are uncertain to date. Methods A cloud-based questionnaire including 10 single- and multiple-choice questions was sent through the email distribution list of the Ukrainian Neurosurgical Society and the Association of Neurosurgeons of Ukraine. Results Between June 2022 and July 2022, a link to the online survey was distributed to a total of 134 (100%) departments of neurosurgery across Ukraine. After 21 days of being available, a total of 96 questionnaires (72%) returned. Conclusions The survey highlights the field of activity as well as the severe impact on professional and personal life of Ukrainian neurosurgeons during the ongoing war.