On 20 February 2025, the scientific and practical conference with international participation “PAEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY IN WARTIME CONDITIONS” was held in a hybrid format, both offline and online, with around 200 participants.

The conference was opened by the Head of the Kharkiv Regional Branch of the All-Ukrainian Association of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons, Professor Volodymyr Filipenko. In his welcome speech, the Director of the Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, DMSc Stanislav Bondarenko, expressed pride in the institute’s achievements: developments of the paediatric clinic in various fields of paediatric orthopaedics and unique surgeries being performed, which would be presented during the event. He also introduced the invited guest, colleague, and friend from the University Clinic “Carl Gustav Carus” (Dresden, Germany), head of the department, Professor Günther Klaus-Peter, who delivered his lecture in English on the topic of “Periacetabular Pelvic Osteotomies”. Stanislav Bondarenko thanked all participants and wished them productive work.

The first speaker, Professor Serhii Khmyzov, stated that almost all presentations would come from the Department of Spine and Joint Pathology of Childhood at the Sytenko Institute, aiming to highlight available opportunities that are not limited to paediatric orthopaedics but have been implemented in several clinics, including the Military Hospital in Kharkiv since 2014, where a large number of devices had been provided. The speaker presented treatment methods using universal fixation AZF and skin grafting for paediatric patients with various mine-explosive injuries from Mykolaiv, Kramatorsk, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and other cities. The organisation of medical care for children at the Ternopil Regional Clinical Hospital was presented by the head of the orthopaedic and trauma department, Anatolii Korytskyi, who discussed indications for ESIN (Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing) – a minimally invasive technique for treating diaphyseal and certain metaphyseal fractures in children. The topic of guided growth and working with bone growth zones was covered by DMSc Stepan Marcyniak from P.L. Shupyk National University of Health Care, Kyiv.

Further presentations were given by Professor Günther Klaus-Peter, DMSc Viktor Filipchuk from the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Kyiv, PhD Hennadii Kykosh, PhD Oleksandr Barkov, postgraduate student Yevhen Yakushkin, PhD Vitalii Bayev, Anastasiia Hrytsenko, Professor Serhii Khmyzov, and Dmytro Hrechanik. They covered topics related to the surgical treatment of paediatric patients with various orthopaedic pathologies, including cerebral palsy, spinal deformities, congenital limb shortening, tumour-like bone diseases, congenital radial club hand, the use of AZF in limb bone deformities, congenital limb shortening in children, and the application of UPETER telescopic fixators.

The discussion involved Professor Volodymyr Tankut, Professor Ivan Zelenetskyi, and others. After the conference, a masterclass was held with trainer Professor Serhii Khmyzov, where participants could learn more about AZF and UPETER telescopic fixators used in unique surgeries at the Department of Spine and Joint Pathology of Childhood.