Welcome to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)

British Orthopaedic Association: "Welcome to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) website, which was re-launched in June 2006. The BOA was founded in 1918 and is the professional association for over 4000 surgeons and training surgeons treating injuries and disorders of bones, joints and their associated tissues."

Helge: I want to talk about Mediracer in this context.


Welcome to the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)
The BOA is the professional association for orthopaedic and trauma surgeons in the United Kingdom and those abroad who have had orthopaedic training in the UK or who show a continuing interest in the affairs of the Association.

Helge: Continuous training, great, are BOA's looking for ways for early diagnostics of CTS?


The Objects of the BOA
These are the advancement for the public benefit of the Science, Art and Practice of Orthopaedic Surgery with the aim of bringing relief to patients of all ages suffering from the effects of injury or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Helge: The public benefit would be to detect CTS at an early stage!


BOA Membership
The BOA currently has about 4000 members in the UK and overseas, who enjoy a range of membership benefits. The majority of these are UK consultant and trainee orthopaedic surgeons. For more information on how to join the BOA, click here.

Helge: How can we get out the message?


Burden of Disease

Soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and cartilage, can be injured in any violence, road accidents, work accidents, sports, repeated overuse, and normal everyday activities.

Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, contusions, tendonopathy, bursitis, lacerations, ruptures, crushing, and compression injuries.

In the UK, soft tissue injuries and conditions have been estimated to account, annually, for:

• 1/3 million hospitalisations, 1.5 million bed days,
• 1 million outpatient visits,
• 3 million emergency room visits, and

There are an estimated 2 million sports injuries per year in the UK; 95% involve soft tissues.

• More than 50% of knee injuries result from sports.

The leading work injuries causing lost productivity include:

• Sprains to the low back, knee, and upper arm;
• Amputation or crushed cuts of fingers.

Cumulative trauma disorders, possibly including carpal tunnel syndrome, synovitis, tendonitis tenosynovitis and bursitis, account for 64% of all occupational illnesses.

Directions for Future Research

1. To explore the link between pain and soft tissue disorders.
   
   
2. Develop improved methods of nerve repair.
   
   
3. Develop synthetic replacements for muscle, ligament, tendon, and cartilage using tissue engineering or gene therapy.
   
   
4. Understand the fitness requirements for men and women, for different age groups and for people with physical disabilities.
   
   
5. Develop training programs that improve muscle performance.
   
   
6. Study how joint injury occurs to help prevention and development of more effective protective devices for particular sports and jobs.