ZIMMER INSTITUTE in Europe

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The purpose of the Zimmer Institute in Europe

Zimmer Institute The purpose of the Zimmer Institute is to educate Orthopaedic Surgeons in new and emerging techniques for Minimally Invasive Arthroplasty, Trauma and Spinal procedures This is focused upon surgeons who are already fully qualified, and interested in developing further their surgical skills.  Our objective is to provide World Class education in a stimulating learning environment that will rapidly lead to improved patient benefits.  We realise that these new techniques offer great potential advantages for the patient.  Zimmer has taken the responsibility to invest substantially in training, to support the surgeon in providing patients with the highest level of quality. All of us at the Zimmer Institute are highly motivated by the fact that what we do has a positive effect on patient’s quality of life around the World.

Techniques being instructed at the Zimmer Institute

Zimmer Institute Currently, we are teaching the MIS™ Anterolateral Hip Procedure, MIS™ Mini-Incision Hip Procedure, Durom hip resurfacing, and MIS™ Mini and MIS™ Quad-Sparing™ Total Knee Procedures.   We are also regularly conducting surgical skills courses dedicated to specialist spine, trauma and upper extremity techniques.

Typical format of a Zimmer Institute surgeon education course

Typically the group of 10-12 Surgeons arrive during the afternoon of day one.   From 5-8pm there are lectures followed by dinner.  In the first lecture, delegates hear about the development of the technique, the anatomy and the key steps of the procedure.  Next they will receive an illustrated presentation of the technique.  Finally we will run a video showing both live surgery and animation. Next the clinical results achieved so far are also covered. The idea is that the technique is presented in three different ways with plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

On day 2 the surgeons are grouped  in pairs, with one performing and the other assisting the procedure in a surgical skills workshop.  After a pause and discussion, the procedure is repeated with the assisting and operating surgeon roles reversed. Instruction is given by our network of Faculty surgeons – who are all already very familiar with the technique, with at least 12 months practical clinical experience.

Figure 1 Example course content

Zimmer Institute Course Content  

 

Valuable international exchange

Zimmer Institute Surgeons generally like the exchange with other surgeons, and we usually train groups from 2 or three countries together.  We have noted, however, that exchange can be more open and lively when we have a single language group. With this in mind, we are now running more local language courses.  This also helps with some of the technicalities, for example different terms for items of instrumentation. Clarity is all important.

Zimmer’s commitment to its education programme

Zimmer Institute A few years ago, surgeons around the world told us that they thought Orthopaedic Companies held a lot of knowledge, and it was the duty of the Company to disseminate their expertise and know-how to the surgical community.  At the same time, the advent of MIS techniques was such that they could no longer be explained at a distance by video or books.  For example, the MIS™ Anterolateral Supine Hip Procedure requires the patient to be laid on their back instead of their side. This can be a big change for surgeons who are used to operating in a lateral position, and requires comprehensive and practical training to master safely and successfully, particularly in terms of the soft tissue structures.

So hand in hand with surgeons the Zimmer Institute was created. The approach we have taken helps to cement our relationship with surgeons and opens up much more opportunity for dialogue and partnership about further technique improvements. 

Future plans for the Zimmer Institute in Europe

The Zimmer Institute in Europe will continue to expand its partnerships with different centres around Europe and expanding the opportunities for surgical skills education. 

The accessibility to Zimmer’s education resources has been enhanced by the establishment of the Zimmer Online Institute: go here for more information

Over the next couple of years we are expanding our local language courses and significantly increasing the number of surgeons we are training by a big increase in the number of courses on offer. 

As we have said we will be training on more new techniques, and you are likely to see much more of the Zimmer Institute brand in the future.