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EFORT Instructional Course: Hallux valgus and ankle arthrosis: Sharing expertise in complication management
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A highly successful EFORT Instructional Course dealing with the management of hallux and ankle arthrosis was conducted in Lausanne last November. Event co-chair and co-organiser Dr. Xavier Crevoisier (Lausanne) said the more than 120 participants from all over Europe appreciated the interactive format and the possibility for open exchange.
The EFORT Instructional Course (IC) on hallux valgus, ankle arthrosis and the management of complications in these conditions last November in Lausanne (Switzerland) was a complete success, according to Dr. Crevoisier, Head of the Foot and Ankle Centre of the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) and Past President of the Swiss Foot and Ankle Society. He organized and chaired the Lausanne IC together with Dr. Matthieu Assal, Head of the Foot and Ankle Centre at Clinique La Colline, Geneva, and President of the Swiss Foot and Ankle Society.
“We had already organized the foot and ankle EFORT ICs in Geneva in 2010 and 2012 which gave us some experience in offering participants the best possible interactive approach, aiming to deliver a message corresponding to the surgical reality of our specialty, based on solid scientific evidence, on the great experience of renowned surgeons, and this in a true and convivial atmosphere,” Crevoisier explained. “The recent course in Lausanne, which was designed as an advanced course, met those criteria and was another great success.”
The comprehensive program of the Lausanne IC included a broad range of topics, from joint-preserving surgery or complications in total ankle replacement to new developments in the field of ankle fusion. The full agenda attracted many specialists.
“We had the pleasure of welcoming 124 participants from 26 countries, making this course one of the best attended EFORT Instructional Courses ever,” Crevoisier said.
The feedback from more than 80 evaluation forms that were completed was excellent. Crevoiser: “All of the respondents said that they would take part in this kind of Instructional Course again and would recommend it to a colleague. The participants greatly appreciated the interactive format. It included five live surgeries, case discussion sessions, open exchanges, comparison of best practices, all while facilitating close and convivial contacts with the international faculty, surgeons from several countries and industry. They also spoke well of the city of Lausanne and our university hospital as an IC venue.”
There is a need for continued education fora on hallux valgus and ankle arthrosis and for a good reason. Crevoisier: “These pathologies occupy a large place in the foot and ankle surgeon’s practice. They offer an excellent basis for discussion and interaction because of substantial recent improvements in treatment and several controversies.
Furthermore we think that foot and ankle surgeons have made major strides in terms of knowledge and experience in recent years.”
The education context has therefore evolved, requiring an advanced course to be designed to allow the participants and also the faculty to go a step further. This is a motivation for further educational meetings in this format.
“The success of the Instructional Courses in 2010, 2012 and now 2014 is a reward of the close clinical and scientific collaboration between Doctor Assal and me for more than ten years now and certainly encourages the organisation of further interactive instructional courses.”
Crevoisier noted many individuals have contributed to the success of the IC in Lausanne.
“The organisation of such an event naturally involves a lot of work and it would not have been possible without the great contributions we received from a large number of individuals,” he said.
“We would like to express our thanks especially to Mrs. Kiss and Mrs. Orejuela from the EFORT office, the operating room head nurse, Mrs. Foughali, and her colleagues from CHUV, the educational committee of the European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS). Last but not least, I would also like to praise our outstanding international faculty and our active participants,” Crevoisier said.
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