Ilkka Helenius
MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
Chief of Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology ilkka.helenius@utu.fi ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5200-3279 |
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery; Scoliosis; Spine Surgery; Musculoskeletal tumors; Trauma surgery
Professor Ilkka Helenius, MD, is the chief of pediatric orthopaedics and traumatology at Turku University Hospital in Turku. He is the first professor of pediatric orthopedics and traumatology in Finland. He leads the multicenter studies of the Finnish Pediatric Orthopedic Study Group which focuses on scoliosis surgery, musculoskeletal tumors, and treatment of pediatric fractures. Professor Helenius has pioneered new techniques for scoliosis surgery in Finland and Nordic Countries such as pedicle screw technique, magnetically controlled growing rods, and tethering for idiopathic scoliosis. His research has lead to improved practices in blood loss control during in scoliosis surgery. Professor Helenius has frequently been invited speaker and to perform early onset scoliosis surgery in the Northern Europe. In 2017, he worked as a visiting professor and consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon at the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Professor Helenius started his orthopaedic research career at Orton Orthopaedic Hospital, in Helsinki, Finland in 1999. He worked as a research fellow at the Pediatric Spine Study Group lead by Professor Dietrich Schlenzka. His clinical and research career continued at the Helsinki Children's Hospital in the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Orthopedics between 2002 and 2009. During this time Professor Helenius focused on e.g. orthopedic complications in children receiving solid organ transplantation. His research showed that risk of fractures in this patient population is significant and this resulted into systematic medical treatment. In 2007 he established the Finnish Paediatric Orthopaedic Study Group and has been the Leader since then. Currently, the study group is investigating blood saving protocols and postoperative pain management in scoliosis surgery (randomized clinical trials). The scientific activity of Professor Helenius has resulted into over 100 original scientific articles, several supervised PhDs, and improved care practices in pediatric orthopaedic surgery.
Professor Helenius is the academic chairman of Pediatric Surgery and and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Turku. His is responsible for teaching of pediatric surgery and pediatric orthopedics for medical and specialist training of pediatric surgery at University of Turku.
- Marked initial displacement predicts complications in physeal fractures of the distal radius - An analysis of fracture characteristics, primary treatment and complications in 109 patients (2005)
- Acta Orthopaedica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Oral and salivary parameters in patients with rheumatic diseases (2005)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Scoliosis Research Society outcome instrument in evaluation of long-term surgical results in spondylolysis and low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis in young patients (2005)
- Spine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthrosis in younger patients in the Finnish arthroplasty register - 4661 primary replacements followed for 0-22 years (2005)
- Acta Orthopaedica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Asthma medication in Finnish Olympic athletes: No signs of inhaled beta(2)-agonist overuse (2004)
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) or Universal Spine System (USS) instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) - Comparison of midterm clinical, functional, and radiologic outcomes (2004)
- Spine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Harrington and cotrel-dubousset instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis - I. Helenius and M. Poussa reply (2004) Helenius I, Poussa M
(Other publication) - HLA-DRB1*alleles and temporomandibular joint erosion in patients with various rheumatic diseases (2004)
- Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - No effect of montelukast on asthma-like symptoms in elite ice hockey players (2004)
- Allergy
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Walking ability in patients with diastrophic dysplasia: A clinical, electroneurophysiological, treadmill, and MRI analysis (2004)
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)



