My projects
I have been and am currently involved in various national and international projects. Here I present a selection of my projects.
FinSpine
The goal of the FinSpine - the Finnish National Spine Registry - is to promote high-quality and equitable services for spine surgery patients, as well as increase the effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency of care.
One of the main objectives of Finnish Society of Spine Surgery has always been the establishment of a national spine registry. At the 2014 annual meeting, the society decided to build the registry, and in June 2015, the registry task force was established. The content of the registry was developed in collaboration with all major hospitals, as well as with orthopaedic and neurosurgeons. A year later, consensus was reached on the registry´s minimum data set, and the registry was implemented for widespread use in 2017.
FinSpine is now in use in all public and the largest private hospitals operating spine. Over 90 percent of all spine surgeries performed in Finland are recorded in FinSpine. Since its implementation, the registry task force has continued to develop and maintain the system.
As of the beginning of 2023, FinSpine is one of the statutory registries under the responsibility of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). It publishes an annual public registry report. Currently, FinSpine includes more than 60000 entries.
"Ortopedia" - orthopedics text book in Finnish
"Ortopedia" has been written as a textbook and reference guide for basic medical education as well as for doctors specializing in orthopaedics, traumatology, and physiatry. It is also suitable as a reference work for general practitioners, specialists, physiotherapists, or nurses.
Jarkko Halme authored the thoracolumbar spine section, with contributions from Jyrki Kankare and Ilkka Helenius from Helsinki University Hospital.
Eurospine EuSSAB Award Winning Lectures of National Societies
The European Spine Societies Advisory Board (EuSSAB) was established in 2014. Since its inception, EuSSAB has aimed to unite European spine societies under a single umbrella and act as a bridge for sharing ideas, initiatives, and solutions across the continent. The Award Winning Lectures at the Eurospine Annual Meetings embody this mission by showcasing the top scientific spine abstracts from across Europe. Audience experience outstanding research from various countries and have the opportunity to vote for the best presentation. It's a powerful example of European collaboration at its best - working together for a common good.