I attended a congress of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) held in Barcelona from 4 to 7 May. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to listen to presentations by world leaders in my field.
One of the highlights for me was the Ejnar Eriksson Lecture presented by Dr Giancarlo Puddu. He presented a colourful overview of his journey though the pioneering early days of knee ligament reconstructive surgery. I was inspired by his humility and description of the role that some of the legends of my field have had in shaping his career. He ended with this statement: “In conclusion, I want to pay tribute to two teachers: Albert Trillat and Jack Hughston. They taught me not only to treat a knee but moreover how to treat a patient. And thanks to these two leaders I was introduced to the world of knee surgery.” Inspiring words!
There were 4000 delegates from around the world so there were also many opportunities to share ideas and learn from other surgeons experiences. I now have a number of ideas for future research avenues to explore. I must commend the organisers on a brilliant academic programme and superb organisation of the meeting.
While in Barcelona I also took the opportunity to visit a local Spanish surgeon Dr Alfredo Rodriguez. He is a very experienced knee replacement surgeon and head of the department of orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital Universitari San Joan in Reus, a small town one hour’s drive from Barcelona. I spent a morning with him in theatre assisting him with two knee replacement operations. It was a privilege for me to learn some new tricks from a real master surgeon!
My wife, Chardri, accompanied me on the trip and we had a few glorious days of sightseeing in Barcelona before my congress. It is an amazingly vibrant city with abundant architectural jewels, historical monuments and museums. Our visit to the La Sagrada Familia church was a highlight for both of us. For me visiting the Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona Football Club, was a very emotional experience.
Our trip was capped with a marvellous congress dinner held at the Barcelona National Art Museum. It was an incredible trip….but it is good to be home again!
