Features
Chaired by: Professor Justin Cobb, Imperial College London
Led by: 40 key opinion leading international faculty

Focus
The Great Debate is a meeting dedicated to the issue of early intervention in osteo-arthritis of the hip and knee.

In a world where obesity is commonplace, the role of orthopaedic intervention has changed from simply relieving pain and suffering in the elderly, to keeping people fit and active for longer.

• Has technology advanced far enough to allow us to reconstruct a joint that will be used in the gym?
• Are we accurate enough in the operating theatre?
• In the high demand patient who is likely to use their joint for over 20 years, how accurate can we be?
• Is the current generation of instrumentation adequate?
• Does surgical navigation or even robotics have any role to play?

Sessions focusing on conservative surgery will discuss the delay or even prevention of joint replacement, but when should these interventions be implemented?

Format
The theme of the meeting is interactive; an international faculty will talk on their specialist subject whilst handpicked chairmen will lead the ensuing debate. Delegates are able to respond to questions posed by the faculty using interactive handsets; results will appear instantaneously on the giant IMAX screen. Handsets can also be used to communicate directly with the faculty using an inbuilt microphone.

“The Great Debate programme is very exciting; the faculty is one of the best I’ve seen”
Neil Thomas, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UK

“A very special meeting and a very interactive meeting”
Professor Thierry Judet, France

“The meeting provides debate, controversy and interaction”
Professor Johan Bellemans, Belgium

“The format is good; I’ve enjoyed it and learnt a lot”
Martyn Porter, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UK

“I have enjoyed a lively debate whilst being informed and entertained with new concepts and treatments of various joint disorders”
John O’Hara, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UK

Contact Sarah Crosby at sarah.crosby@finsbury.org to request a Great Debate informational DVD.

13 CPD points awarded in 2008