This spring, the FICEBO team travelled to the Austrian Alps for the Finnish-Austrian Orthopedic Meeting in Oberlech. Teppo Järvinen, Lasse Rämö, Thomas Ibounig, and Mathias Bäck joined a diverse group of colleagues from across Europe for four days of focused scientific exchange — orthopedic and hand surgeons, neurosurgeons, and internal medicine doctors all under one roof, in a setting that was hard to beat.
This was the 23rd edition of the course, which has been organized every two years since 1981 — a testament to the enduring value of this tradition of education and collaboration across specialties and borders.
A special mention goes to Thomas Ibounig, Lasse Rämö, and FICEBO collaborator Professor Jörg Schilcher, all of whom were part of the organizing committee and had put in an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to make the meeting happen. Their effort showed — the program was excellent and the event ran seamlessly.
Our presentations
On top of their organizing duties, Thomas, Lasse, and Jörg also found time to contribute scientifically. Thomas presented results from the FIMAGE project and from a study on variations in the incidence of lateral malleolus fracture surgeries. Mathias Bäck presented the 10-year results from the FIMPACT trial. Teppo Järvinen presented results from the Super-FIN project and the 10-year results from the FIDELITY trial. Lasse rounded out the FICEBO contributions with presentations on the HARD trial and the FISH trial.
Professor Schilcher presented three pieces of work: results on atypical femur fractures, findings on acute compartment syndrome as part of the BioFACTS project, and results from a hamstring rupture study. It was a pleasure to have his expertise and perspective as part of the scientific program.
The presentations sparked lively discussion and gave participants the chance to exchange perspectives across different clinical traditions and specialties. It is always rewarding to bring this kind of evidence to a multidisciplinary audience that can challenge it, push back, and help sharpen the thinking.
Life on the slopes
Oberlech delivered on all fronts outside the meeting room too. The alpine scenery was stunning, and with excellent conditions on the slopes, there was no shortage of ways to make the most of the mountain air between sessions. Whether skiing, snowboarding, or simply soaking in the landscape, the surroundings made for a memorable backdrop to the whole trip.
A big thank you to all our colleagues for a stimulating and enjoyable four days — and once again, a well-deserved round of applause for Thomas, Lasse, and Jörg for pulling it all together. We look forward to the next one!
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