The first in the world transplant of a spinal cord segment from a deceased donor was performed at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care in Russia, according to TASS.
The complex operation was carried out by a joint team of Russian and Chinese specialists. The multidisciplinary team involved in the intervention included neurosurgeons, microsurgeons, plastic surgeons, orthopedists, anesthesiologists-resuscitators, and specialists in neurophysiological support. The procedure lasted 12 hours.
According to information published in the South China Morning Post, the surgeon who performed the operation was Xiaoping Zhen from Guangxi University. Previously, he had collaborated with Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero, discussing the concept of human head transplantation and even performing similar operations on cadavers.