ISPO-EPO2014 REPORT

7th Eastern European Regional Congress in Prosthetics and Orthotics

16^th-18^th October  2014, Antalya, TURKEY

After the last two ISPO Eastern European Congress which were held in Slovenia-2008 and in Hungary-2011, ISPO Turkey organized the 7th Eastern European Regional Congress in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Maritim Pine Beach Hotel in Antalya, Turkey,  between 16^th-18^th October  2014. Organizing committee members were Serap Alsancak, Kamil Yazıcıoğlu, Kezban Bayramlar, Salih Angin, Haydar Altnkaynak and Mustafa Gültekin from the Commitee Members of ISPO Turkey.

Chairs of the Congress were from Turkey (Serap Alsancak) and Slovenia (Helena Burger). Key note speaker Professor Rajiv Singh Hanspal made a presentation on ‘Mobility and functional outcome measures for lower limb amputation’. 

Partners and contributors of the ISPO meeting were Ankara University, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Prosthetics and Orthotics Association, Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Turkish Physiotherapy  Association.

The congress was attended by 185 participants which involves 110 delegates, 50 invited speakers and chairs from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, Mexico,  Slovenia, Turkey and United Kingdom, 13 company and professional organizations.

Scientific programme of the congress consisted of  13 plenary sessions, 4 symposiums, 4 workshops and 33 oral and poster presentations. The topics of the scientific meetings were discussed;

In the plenary sessions; ‘Evidence based rehabilitation of people following lower and upper limb amputation toward new technologies and components’ Helena Burger (Slovenia), ‘Surgical and orthotic treatment of the diabetic foot deformities’ Peter Farkas (Hungary), ‘Transfemoral sockets, M.A.S. and property differences’ Marlo Ortiz (Mexico), ‘National Syrian project in lower limb prostheses’ Jamal Qasem and Salah Jajeh (UK), ‘Bionic technology in upper limb prostheses and government support and payment in Germany’ Detlef Kokegei (Germany), ‘Advanced technology selection criteria in lower limb prostheses and their payments in Turkey’ Berrin Gündüz (Turkey), ‘Bionic technology in upper limb prostheses and government support and payment in UK’
Glyn Heath (UK), ‘Educational solutions PO’ Christian Schlierf  (Bosnia-Herzegovina), ‘Scoliosis and current treatment approaches in orthotics’ Michael Rexing, (Germany), ‘Biomedical technology’
Dick H. Plettenburg (Netherlands), ‘Clinical application of robot (advanced) technology in disabled people (lower and upper limb amputees and spinal cord injury patients)’ Yuichiro Honda (Japan), ‘Lower limb orthoses with microprocessor controlled’ Edward Lemaire (Canada), ‘Upper limb salvage, orthoses and prostheses in Turkey’ Mahmut Kömürcü,  Zeynep Hoşbay Yıldırım and Mustafa Alpaslan (Turkey).

In the symposiums; ‘Amputation and Prosthetic Rehabilitation in TR’ Mehmet Armangil, Canan Çulha, Sevgin Yosmaoğlu, Çiğdem Öksüz ‘Using of prosthetic and orthotic technology; satisfaction and goverment payments in TR’ Yaşar Tatar, Umut Altınkaynak, Mustafa Demiral (Turkey), ‘Orthotic treatment and rehabilitation in stroke; Rehabilitation with computer games; Occupational therapy in stroke’ Bilge Yılmaz, Güneş Yavuzer, Hülya Kayıhan (Turkey), ‘Surgical and orthotic treatment of lower limb deformities’ Hüseyin Özkan, Hakan Tuna, Senem Güner, Serap Alsancak, Fatma Uygur (Turkey), ‘Surgical and orthotic treatment and rehabilitation in CP’ Hakan Kınık, Yavuz Yakut, Evren Yaşar (Turkey).

In the technical workshops; ‘Sensorimotor insoles’ Igor Komnik and Frank Hepper (Springer-Germany), ‘Active and passive vacuum system in lower limb prostheses’ Irene Rodriguez Mortimer (Össur-Netherlands), Scoliosis and current treatment approaches in orthotics Michael Rexing (Germany),  Diabetic foot orthoses practice Peter Müller and Olaf Langner (Nora-Germany), ‘CAD-CAM’ Michelle Wymer (Vorum-Canada).

There was a good exhibition prepared by 13 P&O firms; Össur (Goldon Sonsor), Eryasin, Vorum, Nora, Springer, Simay, Anıt, Medipor, Bilim, Bioaktif, Kifidis and Ortotek. Thanks for the sponsors. Welcome reception,  amputee football show and special dinner for invited speakers and chairs  had also been achieved in the social programme of the meeting.