IFSSH Preview with Guests Jeff Yao and Jeff Friedrich

Chuck and Chris welcome Jeff Yao and Jeff Friedrich to preview the IFSSH.  We have a fantastic, wide ranging discussion about this leading, triannual meeting of surgeons and therapists.  We follow up that with a discussion of Jeff and Jeff's preferences for treatment of CMC arthritis.

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Transcript

 Meeting summary for Upper Hand Podcast Promo for IFSSH (02/16/2025)

Quick recap
The meeting focused on the upcoming International Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) conference in Washington, D.C., with discussions about its organization, program structure, and international participation. Various hand surgery topics were explored, including CMC arthritis treatment approaches and the integration of clinical and non-clinical sessions. The hosts and guests shared their excitement about the event and its potential impact on the field of hand surgery.
 
Next steps
 
  • Charles and Christopher to preview each day's activities at the IFSSH meeting in Washington, DC from March 24-28.
  • Jim Chang to provide details on the social events planned for the IFSSH meeting.
  • Jeff Friedrich and Jeff Yao to potentially join Charles for a podcast during the IFSSH meeting to discuss daily activities.
• Attendees to make decisions on which concurrent sessions to attend due to the density of the program.
• Charles to order a Battery Daddy organizer.
 
 
Summary
 
Introducing Zoom AI Companion Guests
Charles and Christopher introduce their guests, Jeff Friedrich from the University of Washington and Jeff Yao from Stanford, for a discussion. They also mention the Zoom AI companion, which they have recently used and found both impressive and imperfect. The hosts express their excitement about having the guests join them and briefly touch on their professional backgrounds, with Jeff Friedrich practicing at Harborview Medical Center and Seattle Children's Hospital, and Jeff Yao known for his arthroscopy expertise.
 
IFSSH Meeting Planning and Hosting
Charles, Jeffrey, and Christopher discussed the International Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) meeting, which is held every three years. The meeting is being hosted in Washington, DC, from March 24th to 28th. Jeffrey mentioned that the idea of their chairing the meeting came from Jim Chang, who is known for his persuasiveness. The planning process was compared to planning a wedding, with a lot of work going into it but ultimately leading to a rewarding experience. Christopher asked for a brief explanation of what IFSSH is and why it's being held in DC this year, to which Jeffrey responded that IFSSH is an international organization for hand surgeons and therapists, and the meeting is held every three years.
 
Excitement for Washington D.C. Event
Jeff and Jeffrey discussed the upcoming event in Washington D.C., expressing excitement about showcasing the nation's capital. They mentioned that it might be the last time such an event takes place in the United States. Jeffrey highlighted the historic nature of the event and the planning process, which involved working closely with the planners from the previous London event. He also noted the high density of topics and speakers from around the globe, except Antarctica. However, he expressed a regret about the overwhelming amount of information in the program, which might make it difficult for attendees to choose which sessions to attend. Jeff added that they had to be selective in choosing speakers, despite the desire to include more talented hand surgeons.
 
Singapore Meeting and International Quiz
Charles expressed excitement about the next meeting in Singapore, mentioning that Wee Lam had organized the previous meetings in London. Wee Lam was praised for his organization skills. Christopher brought up the idea of an international quiz or "stump the professors" event, but Jeff and Jeff decided to keep the meeting focused on scientific content. The podcast is sponsored by PracticeLink.com, a widely used physician job search and career advancement resource.
 
Conference Program and Keynote Speakers
The program for the conference is outlined, featuring two keynote speakers arranged by Jim: Fu Chen Wei delivering the Swanson lecture and James Swanson presenting the Presidential lecture. Jeffrey highlights the pre-courses on Monday, covering topics like nerve repair, carpal instability, and ulnar-sided wrist pain, with faculty described as "Who's Who" in their respective fields. The main conference days (Tuesday to Thursday) are structured with paired symposia and paper sessions on related topics, followed by instructional course lectures at the end of each day. Jeffrey emphasizes that the schedule is designed to be more humane, avoiding early morning starts and late evening sessions to accommodate social functions.
 
International Meeting Format and Speakers
Jeff and Jeff discussed the upcoming international meeting, emphasizing its engaging format and the involvement of international speakers. They noted that the meeting would not start at 6 AM, unlike previous international meetings, and that there would be coffee breaks in a different manner. Charles highlighted the importance of learning from international colleagues, and Jeffrey agreed, stating that the meeting aimed to showcase the impressive work being done globally. They also mentioned that 50% of the speakers would be international, a decision made by Jim. Charles expressed his anticipation for the sessions he was involved in, and Jeffrey agreed, noting that the meeting was designed to be inclusive and showcase global contributions.
 
Diverse Topics and International Collaboration
We discussed the upcoming meeting, focusing on the diverse range of topics and the integration of clinical and non-clinical sessions. They highlighted the inclusion of sessions on technology, AI, education, research, and art in hand surgery. The importance of the concurrent International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) meeting was emphasized, with a focus on the collaboration between surgeons and therapists. The team also discussed the potential for future collaborations and the excitement around the meeting's international nature. The conversation ended with a brief discussion on the topic of CMC, with both Jeffrey and Christopher sharing their current approaches to it.
 
Severe CMC Arthritis Treatment Approaches
In the meeting, Jeff and Jeff discussed their approaches to treating severe CMC arthritis in patients. Jeff emphasized his preference for conservative measures first, followed by de-innervation and open surgical procedures. He shared his experience with arthroscopic hemitrapeziectomy for Stage 2 arthritis and full trapeziectomy for Stage 3 and 4. Jeff also mentioned his use of a suture button suspension technique, which he found to be effective with over 90% survivorship in his 10-year follow-up data. Jeffrey, on the other hand, shared his experience with trapeziectomy and tendon suspension, as well as his incorporation of de-innervation into his practice. Both agreed on the importance of considering patient activity levels and demands when choosing a treatment approach. Christopher asked about the role of thumb CMC arthrodesis, to which Jeff and Jeffrey responded positively, noting its effectiveness for younger, more active patients.
 
Podcast Discussion and Upcoming Meeting
Charles and Christopher thank Jeff and Jeffrey for joining their podcast and discussing the upcoming meeting in DC. They express excitement about the event and its importance for hand surgeons. The conversation ends with a lighthearted discussion about a "Battery Daddy" organizer that Jeffrey has, which Chris enthusiastically recommends.