TWI for the Children's
SPINAL CORD INJURY PROJECT
 in Bosnia

TWI for the Children 

Sponsored Trip to Bosnia

April 25 - May 3, 2000  

Spinal Cord Injury Project  

During the period 25 April - 3 May 2000, Dr. S. W. J. Seager, as part of the TWI for the Children pilot project to assist the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina establish a program to treat spinal cord injuries in disabled veterans and war injured persons, returned to Sarajevo and Mostar, as guests of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

  Dr. Seager was accompanied by Bobby Houser, President of TWI for the Children.  TWI for the Children paid for Dr. Seager's airfare to Bosnia. The Federation paid his accommodations and meals while in Bosnia.

Dr Seager evaluated the use of his electro-ejaculation procedure and use of the Seager Model 14 Electro-stimulator Unit in clinics in Sarajevo.  He saw 18 patients in Sarajevo and eight patients in Mostar.  He treated 23 patients using his electro-ejaculation procedure.  In Sarajevo, three patients with severe injuries had the electro-ejaculation procedure performed under general anesthesia.  He provided seminars on his work and answered detailed questions in Sarajevo and Mostar. 

In Bosnia, he worked with Dr. Sead Zeljo and Dr. Maja Stakovic.  Dr Seager plans to return to Sarajevo, Mostar and Bihac in the Spring of 2001 to see additional patients and complete the physician training process in this procedure.

Requirements:  

• This project needed input from obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) in relation to utilization of the semen and artificial reproductive technologies (ART) such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracellular cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

• It was strongly suggested that a team of spinal cord injury (SCI) doctors and nurses with an interest in urology or trained urologists visit the various centers in Sarajevo, Mostar and other cities to :

·         Examine spinal cord injury patients.

·         Train physicians and nurses in the long-term care of these patients.

·         Train spinal cord injury patients, their wives, home caretakers, and other relatives in the long-term care of these patients.

·         Establish at a minimum an annual medical examination for each of these patients with appropriate medical follow-up.

Action Taken:

Dr. Seager sent all the spinal cord injury subjects universal electro-ejaculation data sheets (Man) and information to Dr. Sead Zeljo for his files and for use with these patients.

"TWI for the Children" did not receive notification from the Federation that they profited from the pilot project or that they had taken action on the recommendations made by Dr. Seager. 

  The Federation did not communicate with "TWI for the Children" on any aspect of this pilot project. No action has been done to provide information to Dr. Seager on the progress of his patients. 

Evaluation

"TWI for the Children" discontinued  this pilot project due to lack of interest on the part of the Federation and their failure to increase the educational aspects of the project.  The required infrastructure for this type of project is beyond the capabilities of TWI for the Children.  As a result of our pilot project, we  identified areas in the field of spinal cord injury that needed to be pursued and deficiencies in basic patient care that must be corrected. 

   "TWI for the Children" considers the pilot project complete and beyond the scope of our organization to pursue further.

Dr. Steven Seager meeting with patients having spinal cord injuries in Mostar April 2000.

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Updated: 11/9/2004