On the 24-27 May 2002, the International Research Society of Spinal Deformities (IRSSD) held its fourth biannual scientific meeting at the Astir Palace Resort, Vouliagmenis, in Athens, by the beautiful and serene setting of the Aegean Sea.

The extended essays of the papers and posters presented at the meeting are included in this book unmodified. Presentations where the authors failed to submit the extended texts have not been included.

The scientific seeds planted at the previous meetings of the IRSSD gave this 4^th Meeting a wide variety and a rich collection of 132 papers on research and related clinical practice, which were presented by delegates from 23 countries, from all the continents.

Information about the history of the IRSSD, the previous forms of the society and its transformation, which led to the foundation of the IRSSD in Pescara in 1994 can be found in the previous books of “Research into Spinal Deformities, Volume 1-3”, and will not be repeated here.

The meeting comprised 17 Scientific Sessions on Spinal Deformities: Aetiology, Incidence, Natural History and Prognosis, Genetics and Growth, Anatomy, Pathology and Basic Science, Assessment, Biomechanics, Gait, Surface Topography, Imaging, Morphological Aspects (3-D) of Spinal Deformity, Technology, Cervical Spine, Spondylolisthesis – Low Back Pain, Conservative Treatment – (Physiotherapy – Brace), Surgical Treatment and Outcome. The programme was completed with three keynote lectures, the presidential address and three round table discussions.

Particular emphasis was given to the scientific programme, in order to have a well-balanced amount of research and clinical papers on Spinal Deformities. The scope of this policy was not only to disseminate the latest trends of research in spinal deformities to the clinical environment, but also for researchers to have analogous input from the problems of recent clinical practice, so that the consequent interaction could be productive in a collegial, international atmosphere, with approximately 200 registered delegates.

The objectives of the Society, to fuse together different trends of research in spine deformities, was thus fulfilled during the meeting, as Prof. Sevastik also highlighted in a previous meeting of the IRSSD.

As chairman of the 2002 Athens meeting I wish to express sincere thanks to the members of the International Scientific Committee:

Mark Asher (USA), Carl-Eric Aubin (Canada), Alexandras Chatzipavlos (Greece), Peter Dangerfield (England), Panagiotis Korovesis (Greece), Hubert Labelle (Canada), Morey Moreland (USA), George Sapkas (Greece), John Sevastik (Sweden), Panagiotis Soucacos (Greece), Ian Stokes (USA), Nobumasa Suzuki (Japan), Dirk Uyttendaele (Belgium), who during their busy schedule took the time to evaluate the number of abstracts that were submitted. To our great satisfaction this meeting exceeded our common expectations. This was indeed very satisfying, as more colleagues are starting to take an interest in the research field of spinal deformities.

I would like to thank the President of the IRSSD, Professor Nobumasa Suzuki, for raising the sum of $10,000, in order to contribute to the meeting. Also the sponsoring companies, Biomet Merck Hellas, Depuy Medec, Ebedent, Iamex, Mathys Medical, Medical Plus, Ortholand, Plus Endoprothetic Hellas, Unimed, who supported this meeting with their generous contributions. The Congress Organisers and Secretariat “Aktina – City Congress SA” for their faultless organization at the meeting, and last but not least, I would like to thank all the participants, without whom the Meeting would not have been possible. I hope that all participants found this meeting rewarding. Athens, May 2002 Dr. Theodoros B. GRIVAS, MD