“O&P Healthcare in Africa” was the theme of the South African Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (SAOPA) Congress of 2009, hosted at The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, from Sunday, November 8, through Wednesday, November 11. The 160 delegates and exhibitors experienced lectures and presentations, with 15 exhibitor booths showing in the products expo.
According to a report provided by Stanford Slabbert, SAOPA administrator, outgoing SAOPA Chairman Riaan Knight and local organizing committee Chairman Jonathan de Villiers opened the proceedings of the 29th annual SAOPA Congress, and International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) President Dan Blocka delivered the keynote address. Blocka provided an overview of ISPO’s activities around the globe. He noted the various challenges facing the profession and ISPO’s South Africa member society. He also congratulated the members for being the largest-ever new member society, with more than 100 members. Later in the conference, Mike Barkley, who had been the member society’s acting chair and the driving force behind the establishment of the South African member society, was formally elected as the ISPO South Africa chair.
International Speakers
International speakers featured on the program included Patrick Crowe (United States), Jeff Nemeth, CPO, FAAOP, (United States), and David Holmes (Sweden). Nemeth presented a workshop titled “Fundamentals of Cervical Spine Immobilization,” which provided a comprehensive overview of the principles of orthotic management relative to cervical spine immobilization. Discussions included radiographic analysis, physiology of the spine, component overview, unique case studies, and current halo considerations. His second workshop, “Fundamentals of Lower Spine Immobilization,” provided a comprehensive overview of the principals of orthotic management of the thoracic and lumbar spine. In it, Nemeth discussed key elements of proper external immobilization of the lower spine and highlighted the considerations necessary to ensure successful treatment outcomes. He focused on radiographic analysis, physiology of the spine, component overview, and unique case studies.
Day One
According to Slabbert, SAOPA had for the first time organized concurrent presentation sessions, providing a maximum of 22 points to those who attended everything. Presentations on the first day included a talk by Roger Wolfson titled “IPOP utilization in tumor and septic amputees in a government hospital,” which highlighted several case studies. Eugene Rossouw of Ossur, Reykjavik, Iceland, spoke on transtibial cushion liner and sleeve suspension systems, and Allan Oates spoke on common socket faults and their consequences. Eugene Vorster presented an overview of the South African Disabled Golf Association, and Crowe spoke on use of pressure mapping technology for achieving better orthotic outcomes. Knight gave a presentation on effective treatments for metatarsalgia.
The SAOPA general meeting followed, and Knight stepped down after ten years as chair. Chairman-elect Allan Oates was duly elected, and Silas Gidzha was re-elected as vice chair.
Day Two
Day two included a full day of lectures and workshops, with topics including “Solutions for neurological disorders in gait,” by David Holmes, and “How to manage CPD in O&P: A practical exercise,” by Jacques Swanepoel. The HSB Schoeman Awards for students were also presented. Jeanika Labuschagne was awarded Best Overall student, Best Practical, and Best Academic student; Danie Botes shared the Best Academic student award, and Penelope Cox shared the Best Practical student award. “Recognition of Outstanding Services” certificates were presented to the SAOPA executive committee members, and a special award was made to Knight for what Slabbert described as “dedicated and outstanding efforts as SAOPA chairman for the past ten years.”
Organizers of a reverse auction had hoped to obtain at least four transtibial prostheses for golfers on the development program, but Slabbert, as auctioneer, reported “had the delegates clamoring to be involved,” according to SAOPA, and netted fifteen prostheses, valued at over $60,000. Gary Bolton of Bolton & Midlane, East London, South Africa, agreed to sponsor all the prosthetic needs of one of the disabled youngsters from his region.
SAOPA’s 30th annual meeting will be held in Bloemfontein.
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