Afghan surgeon performs country’s first functional neurosurgery
An Afghan neurosurgeon has performed the country's first functional brain and nerve surgery, successfully relieving a patient's chronic pain
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — An Afghan neurosurgeon has performed the country’s first functional brain and nerve surgery, successfully relieving a patient’s chronic pain at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Kabul, hospital officials said.
The operation was carried out by neurosurgeon Najibullah Sekandar on a man who had suffered severe, persistent pain in his thumb after being wounded by a bullet three years ago. The procedure involved cutting pain pathways at the entry point of the posterior roots of the spinal cord, Sekandar said.
The patient, identified as Sabrullah, had sought treatment inside Afghanistan and in neighboring Pakistan without success and returned to his home in Baghlan province with his condition unchanged. His situation improved four days ago after nearly two hours of surgery in Kabul, which doctors said was successful. “My thumb used to hurt day and night,” Sabrullah said after the operation.
A close friend, Amir Mohammad, said public donations totaling about 80,000 afghanis, or more than $1,200, were raised in an effort to find treatment. “He was bedridden at home. Finally, I had no choice but to bring him to this doctor,” he said.
Sekandar said it was the first time functional neurosurgery had been performed in Afghanistan, adding that such procedures are still unavailable in many countries in the region and make up a small share of neurological surgeries worldwide.
To make the operation possible, he transferred specialized equipment from a private facility to the public hospital so the patient could be treated free of charge.
Doctors say the milestone highlights the need for greater investment in advanced medical equipment and support for Afghan medical professionals to reduce reliance on treatment abroad.
“To improve quality, we need the necessary facilities to be available,” said Mohammad Shafi Fazli, another physician at the hospital.
Health experts said the successful surgery signals growing domestic capacity in Afghanistan’s health sector, offering hope to patients who previously had little choice but to seek care outside the country.
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