Tetraplegic International Conference

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Tetraplegic International Conference

An international conference on upper limb surgery for tetraplegics will be held in Christchurch next week.

Chair of the organising committee Professor Alastair Rothwell said the conference has attracted several internationally renowned upper limb surgeons and therapists who are dedicated to restoring hand function in tetraplegic persons.

‘Dr Claes Hultling, Director of the Spinal Unit at the Karolinska Hospital & Institute in Stockholm will be the keynote speaker. “He is a physician, researcher, advocate and tetraplegic and will be the ideal person to lay down the challenges and stimulate us to meet the challenges for tetraplegic and other spinal cord injured people,’ he said.

Dr Vincent Hentz, from Stanford University in California, who is well known for his outstanding surgical skills, research and publications on upper limb surgery for tetraplegia will be the Founders lecturer.

Professor Rothwell said it was a tribute to the recognition given to the Canterbury District Health Board’s spinal unit at Burwood hospital that the conference was being hosted in Christchurch.

‘The conference marks the 25th anniversary of the first international meeting on upper limb surgery for tetraplegic. It is significant that this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the spinal unit in Christchurch being shifted to Burwood hospital.’

The conference has participants coming from spinal units of 18 countries, mainly from Europe, and it will be a unique opportunity to discuss new techniques of surgery which will ultimately benefit tetraplegic persons. It will also be a great opportunity to showcase the work performed at the Burwood Spinal Unit.

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