SICOT e-Newsletter

Issue No. 21 - June 2010

Editorial by Maurice Hinsenkamp
Chairman of the Conference Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC) & SICOT President Elect

Since their creation in 2001, the SICOT Annual International Conferences have year after year significantly expanded in size and in scientific representation and excellence. This year, the conference is organised jointly with the Swedish Orthopaedic Association (SOF). Japan is the Friendship Nation and our colleagues from the Japanese Orthopaedic Association are organising two symposia and one plenary lecture given by Shinichi Kikuchi on "International collaboration beyond the culture gap". Five other plenary speakers will also be presenting a lecture this year:

• Mohit Bhandari: "Evidence-based orthopaedics: how far have we come?"
• Stevin Garfin: "Spinal motion sparing: is it here to stay?"
• Tommy Hansson: "Ways to improve outcome in orthopaedic surgery"
• Ian Learmonth: "What will shape improvement in THA in the future – Technology, Technique or Training?"

and our SICOT President, Cody Bünger, will deliver a lecture on "Global Challenges in Orthopaedics".

Twenty-six symposia are being organised by SICOT and SOF on the most interesting topical questions. For more details, I encourage you to have a look at the scientific programme on the website. The SICOT Trauma Committee focuses its attention on trauma on the upper femur with one symposia and will introduce three free paper sessions on the same topic. Four sessions on orthopaedic paediatrics are being organised jointly with IFPOS (International Federation of Paediatric Orthopaedic Societies). Also, following the recent tragedy in Haiti, this year there will be a symposium on "Natural Disasters" with the participation of SICOT members who were involved in the MSF missions in Haiti.

No less than 1,761 abstracts were submitted on time. All were assessed by a blind refereeing process and reviewed by two independent referees. Due to the high number of abstracts submitted, there will be 48 free paper sessions, which represents an increase of almost 40% compared to the number of sessions held last year at the Pattaya conference. There will be 108 invited speakers introducing the free paper sessions and presenting during the 26 symposia. On Tuesday, 31 August, SOF is holding Instructional Courses in English, which are open to all participants. On the last day, the ten best oral presentations will be awarded, as well as the ten best posters.

In addition to this excellent programme, our Swedish colleagues have prepared unforgettable social events where you will be able to meet your international colleagues in a friendly and warm atmosphere, so do not miss this exceptional SICOT meeting. 

More information about this meeting is available here.