20/10/2016 12:00 AM

Aspetar, the world renowned Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine hospital in Qatar has successfully concluded the region’s first world-class Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Master Class, which took place from October 13-15 at the recently unveiled state-of-the-art training facilities in the hospital’s West Wing.

Organised by Orthopedic and Sport Medicine Hospital - Aspetar in collaboration with the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS). In addition to the European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).

The world-class Master Class was attended by a number of internationally renowned surgeons from around the world. During which, surgical anatomical specimens were used for surgical demonstrations. The course was attended by 40 surgeons from five continents of the world, they were trained during two full days in the same condition as the operating theatre. A total of 18 experts were present, including the surgeons of Aspetar. 

As the course was chaired by Aspetar’s Chief of Surgery, Dr. Philippe Landreau and Dr. Philippe Neyret, President of ISAKOS and Dr. Willem Mare van der Merwe (South Africa). Other participating leading surgeon included Dr. Guillermo Arce (Argentina), Dr. Sivaraman Arumugam (India), Dr. Nader Darwich (UAE), Dr. Matteo Denti (Italy), Dr. Marcin Edward Domzalski (Poland), Dr. Joao Duarte Espregueira-Mendes (Portugal), Dr. Michael Elias Hantes, (Greece), Dr. Jacques Ménétrey (Switzerland), Dr. James Robinson (United Kingdom), and Peter Verdonk (Belgium). Aspetar’s experts included Dr. Pieter Paul D’Hooghe, Dr. Bernard Lallemand, and Dr. Boris Poberaj.

In addition to this great list of orthopaedic leaders, Dr Freddie Fu, the living legend of knee surgery . He presented a surgical demonstration showing the advanced concepts of ACL surgery which are already used at Aspetar by the surgical team. 

Over the course of three days, Aspetar’s medical experts, along with a number of the above prominent surgeons presented workshops, seminars, and performed hands-on surgical experiments. Through this Master Class, Aspetar aims to educate participants further on the most common injuries that athletes face in several sports, discuss the medical challenges and what surgeons face when performing their tasks, in addition to introducing the latest surgical advances for treating knee and shoulder injuries. 

 

Acting CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, Mr. Mohammad Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, visited the Master Class to oversee its progress, and expressed his pleasure with Aspetar for this unprecedented accomplishment.

During his visit, he said,

I’m very pleased with what I’ve witnessed here today, what was once a dream has now become a reality. We’ve had plenty of ideas and discussions several months ago regarding the inauguration of this training centre, and over which international medical experts to invite. I’m very thrilled that this Master Class took place in Aspetar’s state-of-the-art facility, and honoured to be collaborating with leading international organisations in the field.

Al-Suwaidi also stated that this facility, which falls under Aspire Zone Foundation, will further advance Aspetar’s objects, given that it is the only Training facility of its kind in the whole MENA region. He affirmed that it will contribute to developing surgical skills, as the facility has been designed to provide the ideal environment for conducing surgical demonstrations using the latest technologies available.

He further noted that the management team in this training facility have visited multiple international training centres to familiarise themselves with the latest technologies available, in line with Aspetar’s objective of providing state-of-the-art facilities, and the most advanced technologies and equipment.

Finally, Al-Suwaidi ended his speech by congratulating Aspetar for the successful conclusion of this wonderful event, and hoped for further accomplishments and success for both Aspetar, and the Foundation, considered to be a leap in Qatar’s history. Noting that this event has also made Qatar proud

Commenting on the event, Dr. Mohammed Ghaith Al Kuwari, Acting Director General of Aspetar, said:

Organising this Master Class is a great achievement for Aspetar. Not only has it brought together internationally acclaimed experts under one roof to exchange opinions and expertise, it provided the opportunity for regional surgeons to participate and receive advanced medical education, in line with Aspetar’s strategy to provide the best integrated education and training experience.

Adding,

Aspetar’s vision is to become a global leader in sports medicine and exercise science by 2020, and an educational hub for medical experts in several fields related to Sports. Aspetar is not only a hospital to treat injuries, it is also a research centre as well as a training facility.

The first day of the Master Class activities comprised of two surgical demonstrations for the Anterior Cruciate Ligament anatomic reconstruction (single and Double Bundle), and Arthroplasty (Total Knee), in addition to workshops on Meniscal Repairs, Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Osteochondral Transfer.

The second day comprised of several lectures related to Knee and Shoulder injuries, on topics including knee ligament ruptures, shoulder instability, post-operative outcomes management noting that Aspetar has one of the lowest rate of post-operative infection in the world.

Meanwhile, the third day focused on Shoulder Injuries in athletes, as experts conducted surgical anatomical specimen workshops throughout the day on topics such as, Advanced Arthroscopic ligament repair and Advanced Rotator cuff tendon repair.

Commenting on the Occasion, Aspetar Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Gillogly, said,

This Course was organised by Aspetar’s Sports Surgery Training Centre (SSTC) is a key moment to Aspetar, especially after the official inauguration of the Centre, which was attended by representatives from leading International organisations specialised in Orthopedic Sports surgery and medicine.

Adding, Aspetar’s Chief of Surgery, Dr. Philippe Landreau

Through this Master Class, we were able to bring world-renowned experts in several surgical fields from all over the world, in hopes of extending our knowledge and expertise and contribute to benefiting our participants.” Landreau marked “This event as a key moment in Aspetar as it ranks it the region’s first-ever medical training workshops in sports surgery, thus contributing to making it one of the best sports medical facilities in the world.