The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT) have announced a collaborative agreement to mutually develop and expand education and research opportunities. 

Professor Cyrus Cooper, IOF President, stated: 

“As the largest global organization dedicated to osteoporosis and fracture prevention, IOF is delighted to work in collaboration with ESCEO and SICOT. Our respective organizations share mutual values and a mission to provide the best possible care to patients worldwide, including through optimal post-fracture rehabilitation and osteoporosis care. The three organizations have already held several successful joint educational events and this spirit of collaboration will now be underlined by a new formal agreement which sets an excellent framework for future joint efforts.”

The organizations pledge to hold annual joint educational events at the respective annual congresses and support mutual advocacy themes. IOF and ESCEO will also collaborate in the development of webinars and educational content for SICOT Pioneer. SICOT Pioneer is a program of innovative orthopaedic networking, e-learning, education and research. The platform hosts webinars and e-events and, together with the conventional SICOT Congress program, strives to facilitate knowledge exchange in all regions of the world and from the most experienced to the youngest of surgeons.

This year the three organizations have already planned the joint session ‘ESCEO-IOF-SICOT joint Symposium: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in Orthopaedic Surgery’ to be held at the  upcoming virtual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, from August 26-29, 2021. As well, a joint SICOT-ESCEO-IOF Symposium will be held at the 41st SICOT Orthopaedic World Congress, planned in Budapest, Hungary, from Sept. 15-18, 2021.

Professor Jean-Yves Reginster, ESCEO President and IOF Chair of the Committee of National Societies, reinforced the importance of educational outreach to orthopaedic surgeons: 

“Approximately half of all patients who suffer a hip fracture have had a previous ‘warning’ fracture. Nevertheless, around 80% of fragility fracture patients are not being identified, diagnosed and treated for the underlying disease. Through our collaboration with SICOT we hope to raise awareness of the osteoporosis care gap through intensified educational outreach to orthopaedic surgeons. As the first specialists to see fragility fracture patients these specialists are uniquely placed to initiate identification and management of osteoporosis, and they play an important role within coordinated, multidisciplinary hospital-based units, most often known as Fracture Liaison Services.”

Dr Ashok Johari, President of SICOT, stated:

“As a leading international provider of education for orthopaedic surgeons, SICOT’s mission is to promote the advancement of orthopaedics and traumatology at an international level, in particular for the improvement of patient care. There are many unreached areas on the globe and the coming together of three great organizations will mean a wonderful synergy of expertise in working for common causes. I look forward to a long-term continuing cooperation and collaboration between our organizations for the benefit of mankind. My best wishes for a better future for all.”

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Further reading:
•    Virtual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases, Aug. 26-29, 2021
•    SICOT PIONEER: https://www.sicot.org/pioneer
•    41st SICOT Orthopaedic World Congress, Sept. 15-18, 2021

About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 268 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. www.osteoporosis.foundation  @iofbonehealth

About ESCEO
The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to a close interaction between clinical scientists dealing with rheumatic disorders, pharmaceutical industry developing new compounds in this field, regulators responsible for the registration of such drugs and health policy makers, to integrate the management of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis within the comprehensive perspective of health resources utilization. The objective of ESCEO is to provide practitioners with the latest clinical and economic information, allowing them to organize their daily practice, in an evidence-based medicine perspective, with a cost-conscious perception. www.esceo.org 

About SICOT
The Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie (SICOT) is an international non-profit association. SICOT’s mission is to promote the advancement of the science and art of orthopaedics and traumatology at an international level, in particular for the improvement of patient care, and to foster and develop teaching, research and education. It maintains the philosophy that orthopaedic education should be available, accessible and appropriate for surgeons no matter their background, culture or resources. In 2019, SICOT celebrated its 90th birthday. SICOT’s annual Orthopaedic World Congress is a truly global gathering of orthopaedists from over 110 member nations. https://www.sicot.org/   @SICOTortho