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Aims
The primary goal of the International Musculoskeletal LAser Society IMLAS is the worldwide improvement and enhancement of health care provided by physicians and other medical personnel using lasers, to approach patients and to give them information and knowledge about the healing capabilities of laser.
It promotes its activities and pursues its goals through continuous research, education programmes, congress activities, publication of newsletters, collaborations with internationally recognised journals and by updating its web site.
The IMLAS was founded on April 23, 1993 in Paris as a non-profit association of physicians, engineers and industrial technicians wishing to develop laser, radio frequency, ultrasound, coblation, photo-dynamic therapy and other electromagnetic techniques for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Our interest incorporates the advancement of endoscopic surgery, navigational aids, interactive diagnostics and robotics in the application of these minimalist techniques.
The membership consists of clinicians and academics addressing topics ranging from intra-articular meniscectomy, resurfacing, osteophytectomy, ligamentoplasty, meniscal repair, revision arthroplasty, tumour ablation and photo dynamic therapy, keyhole vertebroplasty, spinal and neurosurgery, technical development of interactive diagnostics, navigational aided and robotic minimalist surgery, to basic sciences examining of tissue wavelength interaction in the short and long term.
Encouragement is given to the pursuance of prospective research programmes, publications, the collection and exchange of clinical and experimental results and education at meetings, courses and congresses. IMLAS holds an Annual Congress and is a long standing affiliate of SICOT. On the basis of the research track record to date, IMLAS is seeking industrial and technical funding to support IMLAS research awards granted by the Scientific Committee.
A General Assembly for all members is held once a year and the results are published in the IMLAS Conference Report upon our web site. A Newsletter is sent to all IMLAS members annually. The IMLAS affiliated Journal is The Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery.
Members have produced a textbook, ‘Lasers in Musculoskeletal Surgery’, published by Springer Verlag in two volumes and a CD describing the selection of patients and the techniques of laser application in orthopaedic and spinal surgery. This Society is seeking to expand educational and research output and to offer assistance with database provision for studies accepted by the IMLAS Scientific Committee. IMLAS is keen to assist in the incorporation of electromagnetic and laser techniques in National educational training programmes.
Members are welcomed to this Society to challenge existing treatment protocols and to develop new minimalist treatment modalities for the benefit of patients with musculoskeletal problems.