1st International WOW Meeting with the Fifth National Congress of WOW Italia

Scientific Rationale

The intersection of orthopaedic surgery and maternity represents a complex, rapidly evolving, and historically underserved frontier in healthcare. While the physical and physiological shifts of pregnancy are known to drastically alter the human body, their specific impacts on musculoskeletal health remain critically under-explored — both for the female patient who requires orthopaedic care during pregnancy, and for the practicing female surgeon who must navigate the demands of a surgical career alongside motherhood.

Orthopaedic surgery presents a uniquely challenging context in this regard. As one of the most physically demanding surgical specialties — characterized by prolonged operative times, routine intraoperative fluoroscopic radiation exposure, heavy instrument handling, and a historically male-dominated culture — it poses specific risks and barriers that are distinct from those encountered in other fields of medicine. For the pregnant patient, this translates into severely limited therapeutic options, as many standard orthopaedic interventions must be modified or deferred. For the pregnant surgeon, it means navigating occupational hazards, structural career penalties, and a professional environment that has been slow to adapt to the realities of a growing female workforce.

The WOW 2027 Congress is organized to bridge this gap, uniting a global faculty of international experts to deconstruct the dual realities of maternity in orthopaedics. The congress is structured over two consecutive days, each dedicated to one of the two core thematic areas: Day 1 focuses on clinical excellence for the pregnant orthopaedic patient, exploring the musculoskeletal consequences of pregnancy and the therapeutic challenges they pose; Day 2 shifts the focus to advocacy and systemic change for the pregnant orthopaedic surgeon, examining the occupational, reproductive, and professional barriers that female surgeons face when choosing to become mothers.

CONGRESS GOAL

The pregnant orthopaedic surgeon is not an edge case — she is a growing proportion of the surgical workforce, and her experience is a bellwether for the profession's broader inclusivity. By convening international expertise around four pillars — radiation safety, reproductive health, leave policy, and cultural change — the WOW 2027 Congress commits to translating individual lived experience into collective professional transformation. By establishing clear clinical workflows for pregnant patients and advocating for safer, more equitable workplace standards for female surgeons, this congress aims to build a sustainable, inclusive future for orthopaedics worldwide. The goal is not accommodation of women within an unchanged system, but the construction of a system in which surgical excellence and maternity are mutually, structurally compatible.

This international scientific meeting combines the First International WOW Meeting with the Fifth National Congress of WOW Italia

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REGISTRATION FEE

EARLY BIRDS - before February 1st, 2027

• SPEAKER REGISTRATION 30€*

• RESIDENTS 30€*

• WOW MEMBERS 50€*

• NON-WOW MEMBERS  150€*
  

LATE - after February 1st, 2027

• Speaker registration 30€*

• ALL REGISTRATIONS for RESIDENTS, WOW and NON-WOW MEMBERS 200€*

*The registration fee are VAT included

Registration includes access to all sessions, exhibit, lunches as well as coffee during official breaks, certificate of attendance.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The following cancellation fees will apply:

• before January 6th, 2027: full refund (excluding administration fee of € 20,00)

• from January 6th, 2027, to February 17th, 2027: 50% refund

• As of February 17th, 2027, or if the participant fails to attend: no refund

Name substitutions are possible at an extra charge of € 50.00

All refunds will be processed and issued within 30 days after the meeting

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONGRESS VENUE:
Aula Magna – Università di Verona
Piazzale L.A.Scuro 10 policlinico borgo roma Verona (37134)

BADGES AND CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE

Participants and exhibitors should collect their badge from the registration desk.

Your personal badge is your entry ticket to all sessions, meeting and Exhibit Hall.

Please remember to wear your badge at all times.

Certificate of attendance will be sent by e-mail the day after the congress

HOTEL BOOKINGS

Plan your stay in Verona! Book your accommodation online through our official booking platform and enjoy exclusive rates for WOW Meeting 2027 attendees.

🇮🇹 Italian: Online Booking (Italian)

🇬🇧 English: Online Booking (English)

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

The WOW Scientific Committee invites all participants wishing to contribute to the scientific program to submit abstracts for presentation. This is an opportunity to share your research with international colleagues – we welcome abstracts whether the work is empirical or theoretical in nature.

Abstracts will be graded by several reviewers on the following criteria: clinical or basic science significance, methodology and as an overall submission.

Acceptance will be based on content, available space and overall programme balance.

The committee is not obligated to provide feedback to abstract authors regarding final decisions.

NOTE: Every presenting author MUST register and pay the registration fee to be included in the final programme.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is JANUARY, 31^st 2027

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT ON THE WEBSITE: www.lcfcongress.com

TOPICS:

• Main Topics for Abstract Submission:

• Orthopedic pathologies and maternity

• Traumatology and maternity

• Sports and maternity

• Pain management in maternity and thrombo-prophylaxis risk

• Radiation risk for female surgeons

• Return to work after maternity

• Work-life balance

• Physiologic & Biomechanical Changes in Pregnancy

The abstract text must not exceed 500 words, excluding references (title and authors not included).

Submissions not selected for oral presentation may be presented as electronic posters, viewable on touch screen monitors at the Congress.

Further details will be provided closer to the event date.

SPONSOR
For information and to receive the sponsor offer, send an email to: sponsor@lcfcongress.com
ETHICAL MEDTECH: under evaluation