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1st International IMLAS Congress - Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Sept. 15-17, 1994
After a ceremonious welcome by Congress President Bruno Gerber and IMLAS - President Henry Sherk, the first Scientific Session on "Lasers: Applications in Arthroscopy" began. A great variety of reports on clinical applications for treatment of degenerative symptoms, sport injuries, rheumatoid diseases, instabilities and skeletal diseases in knee, shoulder, hip and small joints were presented and discussed. The Holmium:YAG laser and the Excimer laser have proven to be feasible for most arthroscopic surgerical procedures. The Erbium:YAG laser with its newly available fiber technology will certainly be discussed extensively in the next years, especially for use of minimally invasive tissue removal.
During the Scientific Sessions on "Experimental Research" communications on photodymanic laser therapy, laser removal of bony tissue and many more subjects were presented. Especially the intensive information exchange of results and experience with laser systems using different parameters will increase the control over and optimize the output of laser systems. The discussions on the choice of application instruments and parameter settings were very informative.A special Scientific Session on "Biostimulation" was moderated by Siegfried Götte. Participants were informed on low level lasers and on the activities of the World Association of Low Laser Therapy (WALT). We look forward to more collaberation with "WALT".The topic of the final Scientific Session was "Laser Disc Surgery". Presenters shared their experience not only with intradiscal laser treatment of the lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine, but also with spinal endoscopic procedures and the treatment of the smaller spinal joints, including experimental results on biomechanics, pressure, temperature, ablation rates and new instrumentation.
Spinal laser surgeons from Great Britain, Japan, USA, Switzerland, Austria and Germany have very good clinical results; of course with correct use of laser systems and strict indication criteria.Along with the Scientific Program which included 61 oral, 27 poster and 20 video presentations, participants could attend a course on lasers safety and laser protection and/or a trilingual hands-on training course on the use of various laser systems from different companies in arthroscopic and vertebral disc surgery. Furthermore an arthroscopic laser operation was broadcast live from the Neuchâtel Hospital to the main auditorium and allowed a live discussion with the surgeon during OR.A competion for the most informative and graphically best poster was held. The prize of Cfr 500,- for first place was given to the authors T. Jansen, T. Oberthür, H. Nosir and C. Hendrich from Germany for their poster entitled "Effects of Different Laser Parameters and Wavelengths on Articular Human Cartilage". The 1st General Assembly of IMLAS was attended by many members. Due to the very active participation of our members, several important decisions were made and motions were passed, especially in regards to the IMLAS Bylaws and future IMLAS Congresses: the annual IMLAS Congress will be held alternatively in a European city and in a non-European city. This general guide line was established in order to make IMLAS meetings more available to the orthopaedic laser surgeons from Eastern European countries.
The 2nd IMLAS Congress will be held in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Dec. 1 - 3, 1995 with Stephen Abelow, M.D. as Congress President. Werner Siebert, M.D. will organise the 3rd IMLAS Congress in Kassel, Germany from Nov. 7 - 10, 1996. Japan will be host for the 1997 IMLAS Congress.
Due to the high quality of the Scientific Program, which was enhanced by lively discussions and to Bruno Gerber's organisation, the 1st International IMLAS Congress was a great success. Over 300 participants attended the IMLAS Congress and were very satisfied. We look forward to the next IMLAS Congress, during which more information on lasers in orthopaedic medicine will be shared, thereby improving the quality of laser medicine in orthopaedics.