The Seminar

Saturday was the 10th annual seminar held this year at the Melia Hotel. This is an educational forum and exchange between the Vietnamese and the AOFAS participants. Walking into the hotel is stepping into an international business class hotel. Quite a change from the Lucky! Escalators wisk us up to the second floor where a large exhibit with locally made medical braces is set up. Peter Salamon, from California, who came to speak at the seminar and then is headed to Cambodia for a week at a children's hospital prior to returning for the second week of Team 2, focused on a abduction foot orthosis (Dennis Brown) for clubfoot treatment. This is very lightweight and he thought it was well made. He discussed with the owner several minor adjustments to make. Participants for seminar arrived steadily and Rose, Vin Anh, Yin and others handed out badges, seminar books and bandage scissors with AOFAS/OEF labels as a small gift to each participant. We started the seminar a few minutes late as it was difficult to pull the 150 participants away from the coffee, fruit, pastries and socialization. Dr. Toan opened the seminar with a few remark

s and then Zan gave a 10 min presentation of 10 years of the AOFAS, POF and Vietnam project. Then we began the scientific presentations. Questions and discussion was lively, particularly after the clubfoot presentations. At the break Dr. Nimh, a young resident Vietn Duc, approached me with X-rays and would I see a patient! This was a 6 year old with a bad hip. I found Dr. Salamon and introduced him to his first Vietnamese patient. The young boy has Perthes disease but good motion and gait. He should get better with time. The examination was held on the stage, surrounded by doctors! HIPPA does not exist in Vietnam! One of the Vietnamese presentations was by young Dr. Toan on the first 2000 arthroscopies/500 ACL's at Viet Duc Hospital! Many of the Vietnamese presentations ended with questions for the AOFAS doctors. From AOFAS, Dr's Mario Adames (Brazil), Angel Arnaud (Mexico), Peter Salamon (USA), Samuel Barouck (France), Pascal Rippstien (Switzerland) and myself presented quite an international contingent. Lunch was a great buffet. The afternoon continued and we rearranged the schedule as we were running late due to all the questions. At 3:45, the conference ended with presentation of certificates, a small gift and flowers to the speakers. Picture taking is mandatory and cameras flashed! Rose has some ideas for next years seminar. We presented Rose with an engraved crystal star for 10 years of assistance and guidance with AOFAS!