A course in film-making is not part of the curriculum for budding orthopedists but that has not stopped a group of them from making three-minute videos that explain their work in layman’s terms. The Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) sponsored the Video Outreach Competition to document the significance of research into orthopedics and explain the work of scientists. The competition was open to a wide range of orthopedic investigators including clinicians, biologists and engineers—all who seek to improve patient care by studying fields as diverse as reducing low back pain to improving joint replacements; from osteoarthritis to ACL injuries.
According to PR Newswire, the video entries in the competition not only made the field of orthopedics understandable, several of them made it entertaining as well. Youssef Farhat, took first place in the competition with his video titled Who Cares About Orthopaedic Research? Calling the video “emotionally charged” reviewers reported that Farhat’s film uses simple images and narration to illustrate how everyone’s life will be touched by orthopedic research. Farhat’s own research is aimed at reducing or eliminating scar tissue in the hands.
Oran Kennedy took second place with his video titled The Cells in Our Bones. People who saw Kennedy’s animated film comment that it took a more light-hearted approach, following the adventures of Dr. Hugh Morris (as in humorous bone) as he learns how bones in the skeleton work.
Articular Cartilage and Regenerative Medicine, the third place video by Allan Dang, educates viewers about regenerative medicine. It provides viewers with information into research aimed at discovering ways to protect and regenerate cartilage.
The film-makers videos were shown at the Orthopaedic Research Society’s 2013 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, January 26 – 29. Founded in 1954, the ORS strives to be the world’s leading forum for the dissemination of new musculoskeletal research findings. The organization is made up of over 2, 800 clinicians, including orthopedic surgeons and veterinarians, engineers and biologists.
