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ExMex Forum in Copenhagen on Periarticular Fractures
Valuable interactive experience
The EFORT ExMex Forum in Copenhagen last April which dealt with the therapeutic and diagnostic challenges posed by periarticular fractures was a full success. In particular, participants found the highly interactive format of case discussions in small groups very rewarding, reports Dr. Morten Schultz Larsen who chaired the event.
“The ExMex Forum held in Copenhagen last April which was dedicated to complex periarticular fractures was the first ExMex Forum ever held in Denmark and the second one organized in collaboration with the EFORT Trauma Task Force”, said Dr. Morten Schultz Larsen, Chairman of the ExMex Forum and Head of the Trauma Section of the Orthopaedic Department at Odense University Hospital.
“I would not hesitate to underline that the meeting which brought together participants from about 10 countries, was a complete success. One of the reasons for this was the lectures held by some of the most renowned experts in the field from all over Europe were on a very high level,” he said.
In addition, attendees had the opportunity for practice-oriented involvement in the subject matter in the form of case discussions in small groups of not more than 15 participants. “We had a very positive feedback on the high level of interactivity provided by this specific format of debate,” Larsen explains. “Opportunities for interaction and strong dialogue were put to especially good use and participants found the close relationship with the faculty most rewarding. There is a particular value to such an environment of debate, and active involvement on the part of attendees, some of whom contributed their own cases to the discussions, helped maximize the benefit of this particular meeting format. This is an important message we should spread in the orthopaedic community.”
There is a need for continued education fora on complex periarticular fractures, and for good reason, as Dr. Larsen points out. Every joint has its own characteristics anatomically, as well as functionally. This requires a considerable amount of know-how when the indication is made, when the method of fixation is chosen and when the actual surgery is performed on this special category of fractures. In addition, with a growing number of implants that have improved features, it is all the more important that we build our treatments on scientific evidence and common basic principles,” Larsen said.
The comprehensive program of the Copenhagen ExMex Forum included a broad range of topics, from pertrochanteric or subtrochanteric fractures to complex distal femur fractures, from condyle fractures and bone substitutes in distal tibia fractures to complex forearm fractures.
ExMex Fora represent the most advanced level of the comprehensive EFORT Educational Pyramid Program; they are geared to specialists and senior consultants. There is broad agreement among the initiators that the organization of trauma-related ExMex fora should be pursued. The next forum is scheduled to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in April 2015.
“Many individuals contributed to the success of the ExMex Forum in Copenhagen,” Larsen said. “They include the members of the EFORT Trauma Task Force, its Chairman, Prof. Norbert Haas, as well as the committed members of the faculty, but I would also like to highlight the valuable support provided by the EFORT Head Office.”
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