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The Össur Academy team is offering support through a series of thought-provoking key opinion leader virtual learning sessions
The face of orthopaedics and healthcare has changed. Given current guidance from NHS England and national professional bodies and associations, the processes with trauma, orthopaedics and musculoskeletal care will need to respond to the growing backlog of patients affected by the imposed restrictions. Preparing for this requires reflecting on best practice, and to support this, the Össur Academy team has offered support through a series of thought-provoking key opinion leader virtual learning sessions.
These free webinars feature a wide range of relevant topics and affirming clinical evidence on conservative solutions for traumatic or degenerative conditions for limbs as well as spinal injuries, providing valuable content to healthcare professionals across the board with over 350 people tuning in each week. Appealing to physiotherapists, orthotists in training and orthopaedic and trauma consultants among others, the extended Össur community has come together and ensured quality training is delivered straight to your front room.
Watch all the webinars here!
The story so far
In April, Professor Michael Callaghan, of clinical physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University, at the cutting edge of osteoarthritis research, began by covering the basics of knee joint anatomy and pathological changes associated with knee osteoarthritis and discussed the evidence base surrounding physiotherapy, exercise and bracing for patients affected by osteoarthritis.
Following this, the Össur North Europe online learning team welcomed Ian McDermott, consultant knee surgeon at London Sports Orthopaedics and honorary professor associate of Brunel University, to discuss how, despite the current crisis, healthcare professionals are still able to help patients with knee issues cope.
Audiences were then engaged in the discussion led by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Neil Jain, from the Pennine Acute NHS Trust, around rotator cuff tears. As a specialist in sports injuries to the knee and shoulder, Jain offered top tips and tricks for differentiating between chronic and acute tears as well as treatment options for both, surgically and conservatively.
With the North Europe team at Össur spearheading these sessions, it opened the door for sharing best practice across borders, when internationally renowned consultant hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon Dr Christian Inngul led the first May webinar live from Stockholm. Dr Inngul discussed osteoarthritis of the hip with emphasis on examination and treatment options, drawing upon his work in periprosthetic joint infections and surgical treatment of major bone loss.
Next, Össur broadcasted live from London, with guest speaker Adil Ajuied, a consultant at Guy’s and St Thomas’ specialising exclusively in knee surgery. Ajuied gave an overview of the challenges and treatment of multi-ligament knee injuries, including the risk of over- and under-treating. He even walked attendees through the clinical and economic benefits of a new pathway for the treatment of complex knee ligament injuries seen within the trauma setting.
Understanding the need for a varied focus within these webinars, attendees then had the opportunity to learn more about the anterior cruciate ligament with Paul Trikha, a highly skilled consultant and orthopaedic surgeon specialising exclusively in knee surgery and conditions of the knee, with a focus on preservation. Attracting more than 800 registrations in just one week, this webinar boasted two excellent topics. First, The Ruptured ACL, examining clinical research, reconstruction and repair, prevention strategies and offered a focus on the treatment review for children. Then, moving onto evidence-based treatment in the current practice for knee osteoarthritis, weighing in on physiotherapy, rehabilitation, the role of injections, steroids, PRP and stem cells.
Moving on to the spine, Sashin Ahuja, who is a consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board and is an expert advisor to NICE and MHRA, gave an overview on the management of spinal trauma, including the anatomy of spinal trauma, the concepts of stability and instability, and the management options that exist for both.
Most recently, Össur had the pleasure of collaborating with the highly respected and research-active rehabilitation and conditioning specialist, Dr Claire Minshull. She is principal researcher at the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital and director of Get Back To Sport. Dr Minshull discussed the likely consequences of lockdown on muscle performance and how to establish a hierarchy of importance in the rehabilitation plan and optimise outcomes.
What’s next?
With the working world adapting upon the easing of some lockdown measures, Össur’s Virtual Classroom programme is evolving with it. The Össur Academy team will be streaming its next webinar, Brace before Replace, with Amit Chandratreya, live from the Manchester office on Wednesday 17 June at 7pm, and look forward to welcoming all professionals to the insightful discussion on conservative osteoarthritis management. Össur has adapted to recent challenges with understanding and flexibility and will continue to respond to the changing needs of professionals across the UK.
We hope you can join us in the future for one of our informative and interactive sessions.
Register for Brace Before Replace? Conservative OA Management here
