From September 13 – 18, The Orthopaedic Summit Evolving Techniques (OSET) 2024 brought together the brightest minds in the world of orthopedics at the iconic FontaineBleau Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. This highly anticipated annual event serves as a premier destination for those in the field of arthroplasty, sports medicine and trauma, as well as elbow surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, athletic trainers, and physical and occupational therapists that are eager to explore groundbreaking techniques and emerging technologies.
With a global audience and a focus on cutting-edge advancements, the summit is a must-attend for forward-thinking professionals shaping the future of orthopedics.
This year’s conference was particularly thrilling for Coastal Orthopedics, as Dr. R. Stephen Otte, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow, was selected to showcase his expertise and perform a live surgery.
With an extensive background in shoulder replacement surgery and his adoption of the robotic-assisted shoulder replacement surgery, Dr. Otte was just the candidate summit organizers were looking for.
“This is a large conference for physicians and advanced practice providers of all subspecialities,” said Dr. Otte. “I first attended this conference during my residency and found it to be an exceptional learning experience. I really enjoy the educational component of my profession, so when I’m given an opportunity to share some of my knowledge and experience with others, I find that very fulfilling.”
For this year’s event, OSET wanted to highlight a particular patient specific guide that could be made for patients with significant arthritis or deformities, allowing for greater accuracy and positioning of the components. As the reverse total shoulder is becoming increasingly popular, there are significant advancements in the procedure to continue to improve it.
Once Dr. Otte found out what procedure needed to be performed, he reached out to Randy LeGrande, one of his patients, to discuss the opportunity with them. Randy eagerly agreed to partake.
“I have been a patient of Coastal Orthopedics since 2019, including a successful knee replacement surgery in 2020,” said Randy. “When I knew I would need shoulder surgery, there was no hesitation about choosing Coastal.”
On Saturday, Sept. 14, Dr. Otte performed the live-streamed shoulder surgery from Coastal’s new state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center, giving summit attendees in Las Vegas an exclusive, real-time view of advanced surgical techniques in action.
“There is only so much that you can learn by reading it in a book or hearing someone else talk about something,” said Dr. Otte. “The live surgery offers the ability to ask questions in real-time and also see firsthand techniques that other surgeons use that might make your own surgeries go smoother. Live surgery definitely comes with some level of stress, however, it provides such a great educational opportunity, and it’s really an honor to be able to do it.”
For those watching in the audience, attendees were offered a new perspective on how to approach surgeries, as well as different strategies that can streamline the process or make the surgical technique easier.
Holly Stump, a physician assistant at Coastal Orthopedics, was part of the audience at this year’s conference and was excited to watch her colleague in action.
“I was sitting in a huge double ballroom surrounded by people watching my colleague and team members and had a lot of pride,” said Holly. “You are watching these surgeries from the outside in instead of being in a procedure, so it’s interesting to see how other surgeons approach their surgical cases. Dr. Otte did an amazing job explaining the steps of the surgery in real-time, and I was very proud that Coastal Orthopedics was highlighted as one of the best practices in the nation to teach other orthopedic surgeons new or different techniques.”
With medical professionals like Dr. Otte showcasing groundbreaking procedures and Coastal Orthopedics’ cutting-edge facility taking center stage, the event highlighted the power of education and shared expertise to elevate patient care.
“I was pleased to be a part of his efforts and those of others to showcase this remarkable surgical process,” said Randy. “I highly recommend it and Dr. Otte’s professional team to perform it.”
As the field continues to evolve, it’s opportunities like OSET that ensure professionals continue to improve outcomes for patients around the world.
