The EFORT Invited Nation Programme aims at raising awareness and recognition towards the contribution made to the management of musculo-skeletal diseases worldwide and to strengthen ties with colleagues around the globe. In this sense EFORT honored two societies in 2013: The Latin American SLAOT (Federation of Latin American Societies) and the Brazilian SBOT (Brazilian Society of Traumatology and Orthopaedics). Both Societies hold their own sessions and presented themselves with a booth and during the Opening Ceremony.

LATIN-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ORTHOPEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY (LASOT /SLAOT)

The Latin-American Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (SLAOT) unites 43,000 orthopaedic surgeons in Latin America.

It strengthens the already close bonds between 21 sister nations, with the shared aim achieving constant growth and development in Latin-American orthopaedic practice.

SLAOT is an independent private-sector, non-profit, scientific and professional organisation. It is a federation of professional bodies for orthopaedic surgeons and practitioners in the musculo-skeletal and related fields. SLAOT seeks to develop service and business opportunities between Latin America, Europe, North America and Asia through international cooperation agreements. In pursuit of its aim, it organises continuing academic and professional development programmes. These offer top-quality training to member organisations, and encourage multi-centre research with a social and professional focus in areas such as promotion, prevention, healing, rehabilitation and palliative care in relation to the musculo-skeletal system.

The various regional organisations are represented by a vice-president, who attends regular and special general assembly meetings.

At present, SLAOT comprises four regional organisations, namely:

• Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: includes Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Cuba, El Salvador, Panama, Puerto Rico, Netherlands Antilles, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
• Andean Countries: includes Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
• Southern Cone: includes Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.
• Brazil.

Through its various scientific and entrepreneurial activities, SLAOT is well-placed to respond to the changing needs of orthopaedics in Latin America via inter-institutional agreements with the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Traumatologists, EFORT, and with the International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, SICOT. It also continues to
participate in lectures, international symposia, free papers and scientific posters within the framework of the various activities organised in Latin America.

BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF TRAUMATOLOGY AND ORTHOPAEDICS (SBOT)

Since its foundation 78 years ago SBOT carries the mission of congregate the Brazilian orthopedists, provides high quality of Continuing Education, supports professionally with ethical values towards the improvement of the orthopedic medical care in Brazil. Today SBOT has been consolidated as one of the most important professional association in the country with almost 12.000 members and in the world’s most respected scientific societies.

Its scientific activities are driven to continuous medical improvement, with a highlight to the ‘Exame para Obtenção do Título de Especialista – TEOT’ (Examination to obtain the Title of Specialist – our Board Exam), which is regarded as an international example to medical institutions thus it assesses around 600 resident physicians per year by means of written, oral, physical and skills tests.

The Brazilian Congress of Orthopaedics and Traumatology is responsible for providing high quality scientific update to 5.000 specialists annually, as well as presenting innovations and improvements in this specialty. And it is during the congress that SBOT is able to show all of its vigor, creativity and strength.