VAIL, Colo. – Nearly 100 medical professionals from around the world came to the Vail Valley last week to attend one of the world’s first conferences based solely on complex knee surgeries. The first annual Vail International Complex Knee Symposium, sponsored by Smith and Nephew and hosted by The Steadman Clinic, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, (SPRI) and Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center was held last Thursday and Friday at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa and SPRI.
The symposium was unique in that, in addition to lectures regarding complex knee issues, expert surgeons performed several live surgical demonstrations to aid in the learning process. The faculty included 25 of the top complex knee surgeons from every continent.
International Olympic Committee Medical Director Lars Engebretsen, M.D. Ph.D. and SPRI Chief Medical Officer Robert F. LaPrade, M.D. Ph.D, were co-directors of the symposium.
“Our clinic and institute consistently provide leading edge research, education and instruction, yielding tremendous evidence-based outcomes for our patients,” said Gary Peterson, CEO and President of the Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute. “Our goal is to always advance the standard and continually collaborate with other leaders in the orthopaedic world.”
Topics included complex meniscus issues, ACL and PCL injuries and how arthroscopy brought about major change for knee ligament surgery. Steadman Philippon Research Institute physicians invented many of the surgeries covered during the symposium.
“This conference was a testament to the excellent surgeons at The Steadman Clinic who are leaders in the management of complex knees,” said Doris Kirchner, CEO of Vail Health. “Their research once again demonstrates to the world that SPRI is a leader in the development of successful outcomes for its patients. I am proud to have these gifted surgeons and researchers in our local community and equally pleased that the world is coming to Vail for the conference.”
