Neuruppin, 13 January 2020

For the first time, MHB medical students attended the renowned Berlin symposium on arthroscopy, joints and sports; Oberwiesenthal was the location of the 37th edition of the event from 9 to 11 January 2020.

The original format was a symposium on arthroscopy for knees and shoulders exclusively; today the event offers a complete overview of treatment concepts in trauma and orthopaedic surgery for large joints, from hand to elbow and shoulder to hip, knee and ankle.

The aim was a standards-compliant presentation of the discipline including latest developments in the field. The organisers adhered to a proven concept: topical issues from surgical and conservative sports traumatology were presented and discussed by experts in lectures, videos, round-table discussions and case reports.

MHB medical student Max Lippert (head of the arthroscopy student initiative “AGA Studierende”) unterlined the event focus on demonstration in practice, specifically in sports. A ski and snowboard race had been arranged in the run-up to the symposium on Thursday with 6th-semester student Kim Viehmeier among the competitors, vociferously supported by the MHB team.

Lippert went on to describe the schedule on Friday with varied and exciting lectures (e.g. on cruciate ligament injuries and concomitant injuries) and discussions among young physicians on evidence based concepts of diagnosis and therapy. A highlight for the MHB group was an encounter with former Olympic competitors Kevin Kuske (bobsleigh) and Andreas Toba (gymnastics) who reported personal experience with sports injuries and the consequences for their careers at a forum with athletes.

“Saturday started with ‘hot topics in foot surgery’, followed by presentations from members of the medical associations AGA and DVSE (arthroscopy/shoulder and elbow surgery). Sessions on examination techniques and diagnostic imaging served to freshen up and practice acquired knowledge and skills. Discussions and exchange with fellow students and physicians turned out to be most valuable to the entire group,” so Lippert.

Summing up, he described the attendance at the symposium as very successful: “We have made promising new contacts, have added to our knowledge, and have grown together as a team. We hope to attend next year’s symposium as well.”

Interested in orthopaedics, trauma surgery and sports medicine? In the AGA student initiative and its activities? Feel free to contact Max Lippert or Kim Viehmeier.