Global Neurosurgery Advances From Trenches to Bedside: Lessons From Neurosurgical Care in War, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Response.

This article examines how wars and mass casualty disasters (MCDs) have driven innovations in global neurosurgery, particularly in resource-limited settings. Military neurosurgeons have pioneered advancements such as triage systems, early cranial injury operations near battlefields, damage control neurosurgery, and the development of the physician assistant/physician associate (PA) profession to address workforce shortages. These military-originated practices have influenced civilian and humanitarian neurosurgical care, including disaster relief missions and global neurosurgery efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which have adapted context-specific innovations to overcome resource constraints. The integration of military logistical strategies, such as rapid evacuation, portable imaging technologies, and telemedicine, continues to shape neurosurgical care delivery in both conflict zones and LMICs.