The winner of the British Trauma Society ASM Best Oral Presentation receives a prize of £250 and a generous bursary to present their work at ESTES (European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery), for the chance to win the accolade of being the ‘best’ in Europe, alongside nominees from other member countries! This year, this fell to Rebecca Stoner, who tells her story below…
As a Trauma & Orthopaedics registrar with a keen interest in major trauma, attending the British Trauma Society Annual Scientific Meeting and the European Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ECTES) this year provided me with valuable opportunities to present my work, connect with an international network of trauma clinicians, and reflect on the evolving landscape of trauma care and research.
The British Trauma Society ASM, held in Bristol in November, was a dynamic two-day event packed with high-quality talks covering the full breadth of trauma management, from prehospital care and initial resuscitation to rehabilitation and outcomes. The conference drew in an engaged multidisciplinary audience, creating a truly collaborative atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the expert lectures, such as Mr Paddy Foster’s thoughtful and practical insights into the management of mangled limb injuries, a topic of real clinical relevance and complexity. Equally compelling was Professor Caroline Hing’s presentation on the challenges of trauma in the pregnant patient, a thankfully rare but under-researched scenario.
One of the standout aspects of the BTS meeting was the opportunity to present submitted abstracts. The range of work presented was impressive, encompassing everything from literature reviews and retrospective audits to studies of novel diagnostic tools, and the audience and panel offered insightful and thought-provoking questions. Medical students made up a sizeable proportion of presenters, suggesting that there is a bright future for the next generation of trauma research. I was especially pleased that our research into traumatic amputation outcomes, presented by medical student Sam Merry, was recognised with a prize. I was also honoured to receive a presentation prize for my talk on the development of an AI-based predictive model for trauma-induced acute kidney injury, which was research I had conducted as part of PhD studies at Queen Mary University of London under the adept supervision of Prof Nigel Tai and Zane Perkins.
This prize also led to an unexpected but exciting invitation: to represent the British Trauma Society at the Euroscience Contest at ECTES in Aachen, Germany. This contest was a new feature of the Congress this year. Designed as a friendly yet competitive showcase of early-career research talent from across Europe, this ‘Eurovision of trauma research’ featured presenters from 14 national trauma societies, each putting forward cutting-edge studies from their respective countries. The breadth of topics was striking: from animal studies exploring immuno-modulatory therapies in polytrauma, to innovative 3D manufacturing techniques for fracture fixation plates, and projects evaluating quality-of-life outcomes after trauma. Being part of this diverse and intellectually stimulating environment was a real privilege, and it was an honour to represent BTS on the international stage.
Although clinical commitments limited my time in Germany, I was able to attend several other sessions across the main congress programme. I was particularly intrigued by talks on the role of microRNA as biomarkers in fracture healing, an area that may hold future promise for more personalised approaches to orthopaedic injury recovery. Sessions on missed injuries in polytrauma provided valuable reminders of the cognitive and systemic challenges inherent in trauma assessment and provided practical strategies to mitigate this risk. I also appreciated hearing about nutritional modulation of inflammation and socioeconomic strategies for trauma prevention, which broadened my perspective beyond the immediate clinical management of injury and into public health and politics. Perhaps most impactful was the exposure to different models of trauma care across Europe. It was eye-opening to compare how structural differences in funding, staffing, infrastructure, and prehospital care can influence both patient outcomes and professional experiences, and provided useful context for considering potential fellowship opportunities abroad in the future.
Participating in these events left a lasting impression on me, not only by expanding my knowledge but also by deepening my sense of connection to the wider trauma community. Presenting my own research, receiving feedback, and engaging in discussion with peers and experts has strengthened my confidence in my academic contributions and encouraged me to keep developing this aspect of my career. These experiences have also served to refresh my enthusiasm. It’s easy to become absorbed in the routine and pressures of day-to-day training and service provision, but attending these conferences reminded me of the bigger picture, of the rapid innovations occurring in trauma and the meaningful collaborations taking place across borders. These events have left me with a renewed commitment to evidence-based care, exciting new research questions to explore, and a clear goal of continuing my engagement in trauma and orthopaedics academia.
As part of our membership of ESTES, the winner of the British Trauma Society ASM 2024 Best Oral Presentation receives a prize of £250 and a generous bursary to present their work at ESTES (European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery), for the chance to win the accolade of being the ‘best’ in Europe, alongside nominees from other member countries! This year, this fell to Rebecca Stoner, who tells her story above
