The Bionics for Veterans (BIOVET) Advanced Surgical Training: A Bridge Between Nations
The USU Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research (CRSR) spearheaded the Bionics for Veterans (BIOVET) Advanced Surgical Training in Rome, uniting military and civilian medical professionals from Europe and the U.S. to advance limb restoration techniques, enhance care for wounded warriors, and strengthen international partnerships in military medicine.
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The USU Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research (CRSR) spearheaded the Bionics for Veterans (BIOVET) Advanced Surgical Training in Rome. (Photo courtesy of CRSR) |
March 5, 2025 by USU Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research
Military and civilian medical professionals from across Europe and the United States gathered for a pioneering surgical and rehabilitative training event in Rome recently, focused on advancing limb restoration techniques for wounded warriors. As part of the ongoing Bionics for Veterans (BIOVET) collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, the event represented a major step in enhancing care for service members with amputations, fostering innovation, and strengthening international partnerships in military medicine.
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research (CRSR), in conjunction with Italy’s Defence Veterans Center and Italy’s Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, spearheaded this three-day advanced surgical training program. The event, "Limb Restoration Techniques and Advancing the Care for War Casualties with Amputation," was hosted at the prestigious Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic and the Catholic University del Sacro Cuore (Unicatt).
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Dr. Kyle Potter, orthopedic surgeon and former professor and chair of the USU Department of Surgery, provides an engaging talk on general principles of amputation surgery. (Photo courtesy of CRSR) |
Dr. Paul Pasquina, chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at USU, chief of the Department of Rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), and director of the CRSR, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “In addition to supporting the BIOVET project with our Italian military collaborators, we saw this as a great opportunity to share valuable lessons learned with our European colleagues, including surgeons on the front lines in Ukraine. We are confident that this exchange of knowledge and skills will elevate the care of countless war casualties with amputation.”
Brigadier General Florigio Lista, MD, director of Italy’s Defense Institute for Biomedical Sciences, echoed the importance of the initiative, stating, “I am really glad for the outcomes of this educational course on amputations and look forward to future opportunities to replicate such initiatives. Events like this strengthen our partnership in the restoration of combat casualties and provide a platform to share expertise and introduce innovative technologies. Such initiatives are essential for enhancing the quality of life for war-related amputees and fostering long-term progress in care and rehabilitation practices.”
The first day of the conference focused on lectures that provided attendees with a comprehensive introduction to extremity trauma care. Experts in the field covered key topics such as advanced limb reconstruction techniques, amputation surgery considerations, rehabilitation strategies to optimize functional recovery, and prosthetic options to support return to duty. This technical foundation set the stage for the hands-on training that followed.
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| Dr. Paul Pasquina presents Lt. Col. Graham Lawton, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the British Army, with a challenge coin, signifying gratitude for his leadership and attendance at the conference. (Photo courtesy of CRSR) |
Over the next two days, the training moved to the state-of-the-art Anatomy Lab at Unicatt, where attendees practiced cutting-edge surgical techniques under the guidance of experienced surgeons. The program emphasized advanced procedures such as Targeted Muscle Reinnervation, Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces, Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface surgery, and Osseointegration.
Beyond training, the event fostered international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Military surgeons from the United States and various European nations worked side by side, strengthening partnerships and sharing expertise. The hands-on lab experience proved invaluable, allowing attendees to refine their surgical skills and gain confidence in performing advanced techniques.
The BIOVET Advanced Surgical Training program demonstrated the power of collaboration in advancing limb restoration. By bringing together military and civilian surgeons from multiple countries, the event built a strong sense of community and shared purpose. Attendees gained essential skills to enhance care for war casualties with amputation.
"This event was a great opportunity to educate the international community on both general amputation surgical techniques and more advanced procedures. Additionally, we were able to convey the message that a successful surgery includes appropriate and coordinated rehabilitation. Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, and we hope to host similar events in the future,” said Dr. Tawnee Sparling, assistant professor of PM&R at USU and WRNMMC medical director of Amputee Care.
Major (Dr.) Marco Libertini, orthopedic surgeon and head of the Rehabilitation Medicine Unit at the Defense Veterans Center in Rome, played a key role in facilitating local course planning and logistics. He expressed deep gratitude for “the opportunity to connect with a faculty of such exceptional caliber, from whom [he has] learned innovative techniques with highly promising results. Hosting this course at such a prestigious university, with which our Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences proudly collaborates, was a privilege. It brought together colleagues from across the globe, including those working in the conflict in Ukraine, who shared their best practices and the challenges they face in the field”
The success of this program paves the way for future knowledge-sharing initiatives and continued advancements in surgical techniques.
“I am proud of the course’s overall success and the invaluable learning experience it provided,” said Libertini. “I am confident that the knowledge and techniques acquired during this initiative will play a significant role in improving the quality of life for our injured military personnel and strengthening future international collaborations.”
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Dr. Jonathan Forsberg, orthopedic surgeon and former director of the DOD Osseointegration Program and Musculoskeletal Oncology in the USU Department of Surgery, and Dr. Kyle Potter demonstrate the OI procedure to participants at the BIOVET meeting. (Photo courtesy of CRSR) |
