Words of Welcome

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Dutch Society for Surgery of the Hand you are cordially invited to Amsterdam to attend the VIIIth Congress of the Federation for European Societies for Surgery of the Hand and the VIIth Congress of the European Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy.
The meeting will take place at the Amsterdam RAI Congress and Exhibition Centre from Wednesday May 22 until Saturday May 25, 2002. The scientific work will be selected by an International Committee chaired by Professor Gus McGrouther. Topics as nerve regeneration, wound healing and hand transplantation will be emphasised. Every free paper session will be introduced by an expert in the field with ample discussion time following the presentations.
Also master classes will be organised, chaired by well-known hand surgeons. Furthermore workshops can be attended. The Instructional Course will be devoted to the Paediatric Upper Extremity under guidance of Dr. Per Luigi Raimondi, Dr. Guy Foucher and myself. At the Instructional Course an outstanding Faculty not only will present lectures, but will also chair panels for case discussions.
As has been proven in the past, the combined FESSH and EFSHT Congress presents a perfect opportunity to meet hand surgeons and hand therapists and to exchange ideas and experiences.
The front-page is characteristic for the old houses alongside the canals in the historic centre of Amsterdam, which blossomed in the Golden Age of The Netherlands in the 17th century.

Take a walk, a boat or a bicycle and experience the city. Nobody will hesitate to help you around.
We look forward to bringing you a memorable conference in 2002, on behalf of FESSH and the Dutch Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Steven Hovius
Chairman of the VIII FESSH Conference

Words of Welcome

Dear Friends,

It is an honour to invite you to come to the seventh EFSHT congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from May 22 till 25, 2002.
To organise a congress like this is a great challenge for the Dutch Society for Hand Therapy. Not only because of the size of it, but also because it reflects the strong link that exists between hand therapists and surgeons in the Netherlands. The best results in hand therapy and surgery are achieved by working closely together. Therefore all participants will have access to all congress activities. We would like to invite you to submit your abstract linked to the themed topics - as mentioned in the programme - or any free paper or poster presentation you would like to share on this European Get Together.
It is also a great opportunity for you and your partner to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands in what we like to call the most flourishing time of the year. Meet the friendliness of the Dutch people, their Golden Age and Modern arts. Sense the historic values mingled with the open mind of the Dutch to every aspect of life.

We will do our very best, with your help, to create an event you will always remember.

On behalf of the president of the EFSHT (European Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy),
Margreet ter Schegget,

Greetings,
Thieu Berkhout, President NGHT (Dutch Society for Hand Therapy)