Faculty Details

2024 Meeting Faculty Details

Stefano Zaffagnini, MD

ISTITUTO ORTOPEDICO RIZZOLI
San Lazzaro (Bologna) ITALY

OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 10/2021 Approved Through 01/31/2026) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors. Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES. NAME: Zaffagnini, Stefano eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): POSITION TITLE: Full Professor & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.) INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE (if applicable) END DATE MM/YYYY FIELD OF STUDY ESSKA AOSSM travelling fellowship Fellow - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 06/1997 Orthopaedic Surgery Shoulder Surgery, Innsbruck, Austria Fellow - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 09/1995 Orthopaedic Surgery Hospital Center Sud de Lion, Lion, France Fellow - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 02/1995 Orthopaedic Surgery University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Fellow - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 04/1994 Orthopaedic Surgery University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy Postgraduate - Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 07/1992 Orthopaedic Surgery University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy Master Degree 10/1987 Medicine and Surgery A. Personal Statement As a senior surgeon with extensive experience in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery and research, I am confident in my background, leadership, and determination to successfully complete the R01 prospective multi-center observational research project. I graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna and specialized in Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, both with honors. Further, I enhanced my training with a six-month Fellowship in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Research in 1993 at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, under Professors F. Fu and S. Woo. In 1997, I served as an ESSKA AOSSM traveling Fellow in the USA, visiting sports medicine centers in New York, London (Ontario), Richmond, Memphis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and San Francisco. Over the years, I have performed numerous ACL surgeries, including those for first-division professional athletes, conducted patient recoveries, and engaged in extensive research to understand the factors influencing surgical outcomes. I have published over 500 articles in national and international orthopaedic journals, spoken at more than 300 international meetings and over 200 Italian national meetings, edited 14 books, and contributed as an associate author to 50 book chapters, 6 monograph chapters, and 9 videos. I have held several important positions, including Chairman of the Arthroscopy Committee of E.S.S.K.A from 2008 to 2010, Scientific Chairman of the 14th, 15th, and 16th E.S.S.K.A Congress, Chairman of the I.S.A.K.O.S Congress in 2015 and 2019, Chairman of The Meniscus conference in 2019, and member of the “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Study Group”, among others. My primary research areas include innovative orthopaedic treatments and the prevention of degenerative pathologies, with a focus on sports medicine and age-related diseases. These encompass knee biomechanics (native knee, after ligament/meniscal injuries, and prostheses), ACL tears, meniscal allograft transplantation, knee osteotomy, regenerative medicine, articular cartilage resurfacing procedures, and patellofemoral instability. In this context, I recognize the pivotal role of accurately identifying risk factors in improving outcomes. Achieving this goal is not only an academic exercise but a pragmatic imperative to reduce the incidence of ACL reconstruction failures. While traditional approaches have made significant strides in enhancing patient care, the introduction of machine learning, with its ability to analyze extensive datasets and provide personalized predictions, may represent the next logical step in our pursuit of precision and personalization. By harnessing machine learning algorithms and predictive models, we can factor in numerous variables, including patient-specific characteristics, surgical techniques, and historical data. This holistic approach allows for more accurate predictions regarding post-surgical outcomes, as well as personalized surgical planning and decision-making. I believe that my experience, both as a surgeon and a researcher, uniquely positions me to bridge the gap between these disciplines. I intend to collaborate with experts in machine learning, medical informatics, and data analysis to develop innovative models that seamlessly integrate into the clinical workflow, ultimately enhancing patient care. B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors Positions and Scientific Appointments 2022 - Adjunct professor at Pittsburgh University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2017 - Head of Orthopaedics and Traumatology II Clinic of Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy 2016 - Full Professor in “Orthopaedics and Traumatology” at Faculty of Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy 2016 - Head of Orthopaedics of Department Rizzoli Sicilia, Bagheria, Italy 2008 - Coordinator of the “Sports Traumatology Excellence Centre” of Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy 2008 - Researcher in “Diseases of Locomotor Apparatus” at Faculty of Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy Honors 2017 World Ambassador for the city of Florence 2017-2018-2019-2020 Top Senior Scientist at the Rizzoli Institute 2019 World Ambassador for the city of Bologna C. Contributions to Science From 1991 to the present, I have had the privilege of making substantial contributions to the fields of orthopedics and biomechanics authoring over 500 papers in international journals with significant impact factors (with more of 200 of these dedicated to the ACL) and more than 90 articles published in esteemed Italian national journals. I actively engaged with the global scientific community by participating as a speaker in more than 300 International Meetings and more than 290 Italian National Meetings, presenting more than 350 and 150 abstracts respectively. I also undertook the responsibilities of editing 14 books, contributing as an associate author to 66 book chapters, 6 monograph chapters, and 9 videos. This allowed me to share expertise in various formats, making information accessible to a wider audience. For more than three decades, I've been part of the esteemed Biomechanics Laboratory at the Codivilla-Putti Research Institute within the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna, Italy. Here, I had the privilege of engaging in numerous research projects, both within the institute, with the Italian Health Ministry, and as part of the European Community initiatives. These experiences enriched my understanding and broadened my horizons. I've also been a member of the Editorial Board and reviewer for the main international journals of orthopaedics and sports medicine, including the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Tissue Engineering, British Medical Bulletin, JOSPT, Musculoskeletal Surgery, Cartilage, Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica, and Clinical Anatomy. In 2012, I assumed the position of Associate Editor for the esteemed Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (ESSKA journal). In 2019, I was honored to take the reins as the Editor-in-Chief of the ESSKA Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics (JEO). In essence, my academic journey has been one of dedication, continuous learning, and active participation in the international scientific community. It is my firm belief that the pursuit of knowledge and the sharing of expertise are essential elements in the progress of our field and the development of society. My bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/stefano.zaffagnini.1/bibliography/public/

1/30/2024 10:30 - 12:00	Hokkaido Ballroom (3rd Floor)	Case Discussions Case Presentations ACL + MCL Injury - MCL Evaluation and Management Chair
1/31/2024 09:30 - 09:35	Hokkaido Ballroom (3rd Floor)	Periphery Presentation Prospective and Randomized Evaluation of Three Different Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction Techniques Including a Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis (LET): A Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation at Minimum 20 Years Follow-Up Presenter