Beyond the spine: HELSINKI
2012

The soft, cartilaginous discs that lie between the spinal vertebrae are the main topic of the World Forum for Spine Research (WFSR) in Helsinki—with a special focus on today's understanding on various aspects of the intervertebral disc, from degeneration to pain and treatments thereof. Thirty of the world’s experts on the intervertebral disc will be speaking at this event, which will shed new light on the care and management of this unique tissue.

In the opinion of Chairperson, Kenneth Cheung, Clinical Professor and Deputy Chief of the Division of Spine Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, “As our technical knowledge grows, it becomes critical to understand the reasons and mechanisms of degeneration in order to mobilize these technologies towards regenerating the disc.”

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is one of the main causes of back pain, and affects a large percentage of the global population. This year’s Forum will provide a comprehensive overview of the biology, pathology, and treatment of intervertebral disc disorders in a series of keynote addresses, plenary lectures, poster viewings and interactive discussion sessions. In addition to the world’s top researchers and clinicians, key representatives from industry will also contribute their findings on advances in technology.

The choice of topic

Why did AOSpine select this topic? According to Chairperson, Keita Ito, Professor of Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology, the topic was chosen following an AOSpine member poll. “We have decided to focus on the intervertebral disc because our members felt this to be an area of high priority and interest ". In addition, this year, there will be a special focus on back pain and its treatment.

Unique concept

What’s so special about the World Forum? The WFSR is based upon the concept of a multidisciplinary meeting with a clear focus on one key topic. Says Kenneth Cheung, “We wanted to create an event where all professionals interested in the field could meet to discuss the topic.” This concept was at the heart of the design of the WFSR. “We chose to hold all talks in one hall, and organize only one running session,” revealed Kenneth Cheung. “In this manner, we would ensure that clinicians, scientists, engineers, and anyone else in the field would have plenty of opportunity to meet and discuss with their peers.”

Pre-meeting tutorial

On Monday afternoon the forum starts with a pre-meeting tutorial with the title "Starting Disc Research: what is needed & what is hot?"

What can participants expect from that meeting? What is the focus of that meeting? Teija Lund says: "One of the main goals of AOSpine is to attract more young surgeons to our activities, and in the case of the WFSR we want to pay special attention to young researchers in the beginning of their careers. The pre-meeting tutorial will leave them better equipped to start basic or clinical research in spine, to get their results published, and to get funding for their research. Our world-known faculty with vast expertise on research will be there to share their experience with us".

At the waterfront

True to the concept of the WFSR, this year’s event will be held at the Marina Congress Center, in the heart of Helsinki. In addition to being a stone’s throw from the city’s main attractions, the congress center is right at the waterfront, offering stunning views from its terrace. The organizing committee chose this venue for its world-class conference facilities that will enable the Forum to be held in a professional environment, maximizing the time spent during the event and at informal discussions between colleagues.

Building on the Montreal success

“The Montreal meeting was fantastic,” recalls Chairperson Keita Ito. “Everyone was very excited about the unique format and concept.” The Forum was packed with over two hundred attendees from all over the world, and included the world’s leading experts in the field. For a highly specialized meeting, this level of attendance is tribute to the quality of the program. The organizing committee was overwhelmed by the number of abstract submissions and excellent ideas for break-out sessions and symposia. Industry sponsors also provided their enthusiastic support, making the exhibit hall an ideal area for networking.

A learning experience

The feedback of attendees was very positive: Jacob Matthew, Christian Medical College, India "This event inspired me to explore something new in spine surgery". "This meeting is different from many others" commented Michele Battie, Professor for common spinal disorders at the University of Alberta, Canada. "It has got a fair amount of diversity, which is interesting for me because I do not get the chance to keep up with a lot of other areas."
Discussions were another aspect of the WFSR in Montreal which attendees enjoyed. "For me the interaction sparked off new ideas” states Sally Roberts, Keele University, UK.

The road to the future

What were some of the obstacles experienced by the committee during the preparation for such an event? Teija Lund says: “Many clinicians are afraid of attending such a meeting, because they feel that the science would be beyond their understanding. However, clinicians play a vital role in meetings like the WFSR, as it is only through their input that scientific research can be placed within the right context. We hope that the pre-meeting tutorial in Helsinki will also help new researchers to the field to overcome this concern.”

The mission

The goal of the WFSR is to bring all those working in a specific field under one roof, to foster discussion and knowledge exchange. “In doing so, we hope to encourage new friendships and collaboration amongst world experts in this area,” says Keita Ito. “This complies with the mission of AOSpine: to act as a catalyst for enriching knowledge, and ultimately help the patients who suffer from intervertebral disc disorders and back pain.”