The International Study Group of Neuroendoscopy [ISGNE] was established by 15 pioneering neurosurgeons practising Neuroendoscopic Surgery, who gathered in Awaji Island, Japan on October 21-23, 2001 and exchanged ideas on how to further promote neuroendoscopy. The meeting had been organised by Shizuo Oi following discussions with Berhard Bauer and was very successful in sparking interest in collaborative research in neuroendoscopy. The founding members agreed to meet two years later.
The second meeting of ISGNE was organised by Giuseppe Cinalli in Naples in 2003. It was a widely attended and very successful meeting, which included papers, posters and video presentations on neuroendoscopy for hydrocephalus, spinal disorders, skull base tumours and vascular pathology. It became obvious then that Neuroendoscopy had been established as a subspecialist field. During that meeting, the idea for the first randomised controlled trial in neuroendoscopy was conceived.
The third meeting of ISGNE was organised by Dieter Hellwig in Marburg. It was widely attended and during that meeting the International Foundation for Hydrocephalus was founded, with the mission to treat hydrocephalic children in underpriviledged parts of the world. During the Marburg meeting it became evident that there was great interest to continue the Study Group and create a more lasting structure.
After the Marburg meeting extensive discussions took place between the members of the Executive Board of ISGNE and other neurosurgeons interested in neuroendoscopy on the best way to secure the future of ISGNE. As result of these discussions, during the Executive Board meeting of ISGNE on 3rd March 2007 in Hannover, it was decided to transform ISGNE to “THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF NEUROENDOSCOPY” (IFNE). The new Federation acquired structure and By Laws, which will ensure its future.
The fourth meeting was organised in Paris by Phillipe Decq and Paolo Cappabianca and was very successful. With nearly 500 delegates, a very rich scientific programme with papers, posters, video sessions and workshops on all apsects of neuroendoscopy was enjoyed by everybody. During the meeting Dr Benjamin Warf was given a special award for his work on setting up neurosurgery in Uganda, with particular emphasis on the use of neuroendoscopy to treat hydrocephalus in a country were shunts cannot be readily available due to the associated cost.
The Federation will continue to promote the development of neuroendoscopy worldwide with meetings, courses and publications.