SECEC/ESSSE Founding Members

Doctor Norbert GSCHWEND
Doctor Didier PATTE^†

 

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Past Presidents of SECEC | Congress Presidents | SECEC Members | SECEC Congresses | Foundation History of SECEC

 

Past Presidents of SECEC

2006 - 2008 : Peter Habermeyer (Germany)

2004 - 2006: Gilles WALCH (France)

2002 - 2004: Herbert RESCH (Austria)

1999 - 2001: Steve COPELAND (United Kingdom)

1996 - 1998: Christian GERBER (Switzerland)

1993 - 1995: Otto SNEPPEN (Denmark)

1992: Michel MANSAT (France)

1991: Jochen EULERT (Germany)

1990: Mario RANDELLI (Italy)

1989: Michael WATSON (United Kingdom)

1987 - 1988: Norbert GSCHWEND (Switzerland)

 

Congress Presidents

2009: Emilio CALVO (Spain)

2008: Geert DECLERCQ (Belgium)

2007 : (Closed Meeting) Peter HABERMEYER(Germany)

2006: Pan SYMEONIDES (Greece)

2005: Franco POSTACCHINI (Italy)

2004: (Closed Meeting): Herbert RESCH (Austria)

2003: Peter HABERMEYER (Germany)

2002: Peter BALVANYOSSY (Hungary)

2001: (Closed Meeting): Steve COPELAND (United Kingdom)

2000: Jacinto MONTEIRO (Portugal)

1999: Jaap WILLEMS (Holland)

1998: David SONNABEND (Australia)

1997: Herbert RESCH (Austria)

1996: Angus WALLACE (United Kingdom)

1995: Martti VASTAMÄKI (Finland) and Richard WALLENSTEN (Sweden)

1994: Joaquin POAL-MANRESA (Spain)

1993: Otto SNEPPEN (Denmark)

1992: Daniel GOUTALIER (France)

1991: Jochen EULERT (Germany)

1990: Mario RANDELLI (Italy)

1989: Charles NEER (USA)

1988: Christian GERBER and Norbert GSCHWEND (Switzerland)

 

SECEC/ESSSE Members

2007: 350 from 26 countries

1996: 406 from 23 countries

1987: 54 from 12 countries

 

 

SECEC / ESSSE Congresses and Main Contents

 2009 Madrid

1. Biologics in rotator cuff tendon repair

2. The athlete's elbow

 

2008 Brugge

1. Subacromial impingment - What do we think of it today

2. Articular cartilage lesions in young patients

 

2006 Athens

1. Complications after head preserving surgery for fractures of the proximal humerus
2. Shoulder and sports

 

2005 Rome

1. Rotator cuff
2. Reverse prosthesis : where are we going ?
3. Acromioclavicular joint dislocations

 

2003 Heidelberg

1. Controversies in factures of the humeral head
2. Rotator cuff
3. Elbow arthroplasty
4. Failures and salvage procedures in rotator cuff repair
5. Shoulder arthroplasty
6. Shoulder instability

 

2002 Budapest

1. Shoulder arthroplasty
2. Rotator cuff tear
3. Shoulder instability
4. Disorders of the elbow
5. Stiff shoulder
6. Medical informatics
7. Elbow arthroplasty
8. Proximal humeral fractures
9. Sport injuries of the shoulder
10. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery

 

2000 Lisbon

1. Potential Pittfalls of Shoulder Pain Diagnosis
2. The Effect of Aging on Myotendinous Cuff
3. Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
4. Shoulder Instabilities
5. Proximal Humeral Fractures
6. Shoulder Arthroplasty
7. Progress in Brachial Plexus Management
8. Elbow and Scapula Pathology

 

1999 The Hague

1. Laser and Thermal Shrinkage: Basic Science
2. Cuff Pathology
3. Shoulder Fractures
4. Shoulder Prothesis
5. Elbow Fractures

 

1998 Sydney ICSS

1. Kessel symposium: Rotator cuff disease
2. Shoulder arthroplasty
3. Repair of an extended rotator cuff tear
4. Fracture of severe humeral head fractures
5. Instability

 

1997 Salzburg

1. Proximal fractures of the humerus
2. Disorders of elbow joint
3. Complications of shoulder surgery

 

1996 Nottingham

1. Basic science
2. Humeral shaft fracture management and osteoarthritis of the elbow
3. Nerve injuries of the upper limb
4. Imaging for the shoulder and the elbow

 

1995 Helsinki - Stockholm ICSS

1. Pathogenesis of rotator cuff disease
2. Partial cuff tears
3. Loose shoulder: operative versus non-operative treatment
4. Shoulder arthroscopy open versus arthroscopy
5. Elbow fractures
6. Elbow replacement

 

1995 Stockholm

1. Etiology of shoulder instability
2. Acromio-clavicular problems
3. Hemi- or total shoulder replacement
4. Tumours around the shoulder
5. The clavicle

 

1994 Barcelona

1. Impingement syndrome
2. Elbow arthroplasty
3. Anatomy and Biomechanics
4. Shoulder arthroscopy
5. Shoulder Instability
6. Rotator cuff lesions
7. Shoulder Arthroplasty
8. Trauma
9. Imaging

 

1993 Aarhus

1. Late complications of arthroplasty of shoulder and elbow
2. Studies of rehabilitation after shoulder surgery
3. Neoplasms about the shoulder

 

1992 Paris ICSS

1. Results of surgical treatment of large rotator cuff ruptures (2 tendons disrupted)
2. The role of artroscopy in cuff disease (full thickness tear excluded)

 

1991 Würzburg

1. Shoulder and Sports
2. Nerve entrapment syndromes around the elbow

 

1990 Milan

1. Arthroscopy in anterior shoulder instabilities
2. Eipcondylalgia

 

1989 New York ICSS

1. Imaging and Radiology
2. Muscles, tendon and ligaments
3. Trauma prox. humeral fractures
4. Shoulder girdle (clavicle and scapula) fractures, AC joint
5. Glenohumeral instability
6. Impingement
7. Glenohumeral arthroplasty
8. Muscle and Nerve Problems
9. Neoplasms

 

1988 Bern

1. The glenoid component in shoulder arthroplasty
2. Fractures of the distal humerus

 

1987 Paris: International Shoulder Congress

1. Evaluation form
2. Diagnostic matters and therapeutic techniques in the management of rotator cuff pathology

 

Foundation of SECEC / ESSSE

Norbert Gschwend, Zurich

On the occasion of the International Shoulder Society Meeting at Fukuoka/Japan in 1986, the French and Swiss orthopaedic surgeons Didier Patte and Norbert Gschwend decided that there was a need for European Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Didier Patte, a trainee of Professor Debeyre at the "Hospital Mondor" in Paris, had developed a long-held interest in shoulder surgery dealing in particular with degenerative and post-traumatic problems. Norbert Gschwend had developed a special expertise in rheumatoid surgery and was therefore well versed in the treatment of destructive rheumatic disorders of the shoulder and elbow.

 

After having gathered a group of delegates of various European countries with a similar interest, the European Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery was officially inaugurated in 1987. Norbert Gschwend became its first president and Didier Patte became the first secretary general. 54 members from 12 different countries formed the initial nucleus of this society. Besides the executive committee and the general assembly, a 3rd institution was invested the board of directors. Here delegates of various countries would be part of any important decisions to be made. For the first meeting in Paris, a bilingual approach was chosen with English and French as the official languages of the congress and it was Charles Neer, the American pioneer of shoulder surgery, who gave the first guest lecture on the topic of "multidirectional shoulder instability".

 

From the very start it was obvious that quantity would not be the same as quality. Therefore the task became to present meetings with a high scientific standard, but at the same time develop the knowledge within the orthopaedic communities of the various countries. It was decided that one meeting should be given each year in different European countries and every 3rd year would be substituted through the participation in the International Shoulder Meeting (see Fig. 1 and Tables 1-2). The president of the society was to be selected from the various European countries as well, thereby reflecting the various European nationality backgrounds. This was met such an interest through the various national societies of orthopaedic surgery that the number of members increased rapidly, making it thereby necessary to adjust the infrastructure of the Shoulder and Elbow Society. Various subcommittees were brought into action such as the educational committee, the research and development committee, the member committee, and finally the patronage committee. An ethical committee has recently also been introduced, being a sub-committee of the executive council.

In order to maintain the once netted close contacts, the introduction of the SECEC/ESSSE Bulletin acted as a lifeline between the various members since 1989. This also made it possible to accept the shoulder and elbow score which was developed by a SECEC/ESSSE member, Chris Constant. Since 1992, SECEC/ESSSE is an active partner in the publication of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, which was initially started in North America. The 1st European editor has been Michel Mansat of Toulouse, the current editor being Ian Kelly from Glasgow. The 1st European members of the Board of Trustees were Otto Sneppen, who has currently been succeeded by Norbert Gschwend.

The number of ordinary and associate members grew in the first 10 years from 54 (12 countries) to 406 (23 countries) and so did the number of participants in the meetings (1987 Paris: 237, 1996 Nottingham: 436).

 

Didier Patte, one of the founders of the Society, unfortunately died only 2 years after the initial inauguration of the Society, and with him a very active and dynamic spirit was lost. In his honour, a scientific award was created, to be given for the best paper in the field of shoulder and elbow surgery through the society.

 

With the ever increasing number of active members and improved revenues from the annual meetings, it became possible to initiate travelling fellowships. They were meant to foster the exchange between European and other countries in the world in understanding shoulder and elbow surgery. At this point, fellow-ships are elected for Europe, the United States and Japan.

 

The founding of at this time 10 national societies within the various countries of Europe, are to a great extent the responsibilities of the respective members of the Shoulder and Elbow Society, reflecting the activities which have developed in various countries such as Austria, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Sweden and Spain. This is also reflected in the increasing numbers of scientific publications and books published out of this circle. Table 3 will list the main topics which were discussed at the various congresses.