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International Report by Stephen A. Isham, DPM, MD
Dear Fellows:
Each time that I am asked to prepare an International Report for the member newsletter, I feel a sense of excitement. This excitement extends from the positive feedback from our international directors. These directors report on the advancement and progression of minimal invasive foot and ankle surgery in their areas. It is almost incredible to learn that from the tip of Argentina to the high altitudes of Mexico City, Monterey, Mexico, to the deserts of Morocco, to the Middle East, India and to the historic European countries, England, Italy, Germany, Spain and France, that the public can receive a benefit from our advanced surgical procedures. The impact that the Academy has made world wide these past 35 years is impressive and here are some recent examples.
Argentina: Juan Sanchez Pugar, MD, PhD, shares with fellow members the starting of a formal course on minimal invasive procedures at the Catholic University of Cordoba, along with
one to two week courses for other orthopedic surgeons interested in learning these advanced procedures. For further information connect to
sanchezp@ciudad.com.ar.
China: Professor Wang Zheng Yi has just published his textbook on foot and ankle surgery and included is a chapter on minimal invasive techniques for the correction of Hallux Valgus. For further information connect to anklewzy@yahoo.com.cn.
England: Amin Sain, Podiatric Director of the Academy in England reports two educational programs just completed. First was the Society meeting held in October, 2006 and also a second cadaver course at the Leiscester Medical School. Our congratulations to Mr. Sain on his membership in the Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons. For further information connect to amin.sain@ntlworld.com.
France: Christophe deLavigne, MD, Director of France and his staff and colleagues are extensively working on the first conference on minimal invasive foot surgery, which will be held the first part of June, 2007. Attendance is encouraged by membership. It will be held on the coast of France. For information please contact Professor deLavigne, cdelavigne@numericable.fr.
Also planned for the fall of 2007 is the annual course involving arthroscopic ankle surgery and other procedures, including percutaneous foot and ankle surgery.
Germany: Gebhard Suger, MD, our Germany Regional Director, has just completed a comparative study of minimal invasive procedures with traditional procedures and reports that the findings are twofold. The scientific results are comparable to or equal to that of traditional procedures. Second, the patients are much more satisfied due to the decrease of disability, pain and complications. Dr. Suger is opening a foot and ankle center for patient care and education of surgeons in Mozartstr .2 Michelsbert, Germany. For further information connect to orchid1@t-online.de.
Spain: Our Spanish Podiatrists relate an ongoing successful course. The Diplomat Program as reported before is very successful and is training a new group of MIS surgeons. For further information connect to Aeis@hotmail.com. Mariano DePrado
MD, PhD, and Pau Golano, MD, a renowned anatomist at the University of Barcelona recently returned from Rio De Janeiro where MIS procedures were received with much excitement by South American orthopedic surgeons. At this meeting, Juan Sanchez Pugar, MD, PhD, our South American Director, received the award for an outstanding scientific paper. This was on minimal invasive heel spur surgery. The Barcelona University School of Medicine had their annual seminar on MIS Foot and Ankle Surgery, February 2, 2007.
Mexico: The national meetings of AMOT which SOMCAP, our regional association in Mexico, continue to sponsor important conferences in addition to the ongoing six seminars at San Francisco Hospital in Mexico City where orthopedic surgeons come as far away to attend, as Canada, Italy, Spain, Central and South America.
Again it is my honor to be active internationally and to be able to share with the membership some of these exciting activities by our international members.
Fraternally,
Stephen A. Isham
Stephen A. Isham, DPM, MD,
Dr HC, FAAFAS,
International Director
& Past President
The Academy of Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Surgery
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