Dr Bernard A Rawlins, a spine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York has donated one million dollars worth of spinal implants to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital towards the formation of a spine unit.

The implants will allow the surgical treatment of spine fractures of the neck, thoracic and lumbar spine, which were previously not performed in the country.

Dr Rawlins who is also Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cornell University provided initial instruction through tutorials, lectures and hands-on instruction during surgery while in the country.

Dr Holbrook Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu received the equipment and noted that the implants will help early surgical treatment and fixation to provide improved healing, early mobilisation and the prevention of neurological deficit in patients with spinal disorders.

Dr Smith describe Dr Rawlins as an internationally recognised surgeon with a busy academic practice who intends to return to the country to assist in the transfer of techniques to surgeons in Ghana as well as provide additional surgical equipment, should the spine unit develop as intended