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.
- Hospital Admissions and Surgical Treatment of Children With Lower-Limb Deficiency In Finland (2019)
- Scandinavian Journal of Surgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Lapsen selkäkipu (2019)
- Lääkärilehti
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Lapsuusiän idiopaattisen skolioosin korjaaminen kasvua hyödyntämällä ilman luudutusta (2019)
- Duodecim
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Os Odontoideum in Children: Treatment Outcomes and Neurological Risk Factors (2019)
- Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Volume
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures: the effect of the surgical specialty on the outcomes (2019)
- Journal of Children's Orthopaedics
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Posterior Spinal Fusion Extended to Stable Vertebra Provides Similar Outcome in Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Compared with Adolescents with Fusion to the Touched Vertebra (2019)
- Scandinavian Journal of Surgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Results of growth-friendly management of early-onset scoliosis in children with and without skeletal dysplasias A MATCHED COMPARISON (2019)
- Bone and Joint Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Surgical and Health-related Quality-of-Life Outcomes of Growing Rod "Graduates" With Severe versus Moderate Early-onset Scoliosis (2019)
- Spine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Varhaislapsuuden skolioon hoito: kipsi vai magneettitangot? (2019)
- Suomen ortopedia ja traumatologia
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Clinical Presentation and Physical Examination of Children with Cervical Spine Disorders (2018) The Management of Disorders of the Child’s Cervical Spine William C. Warner, Ilkka Helenius
(B2 Non-refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Ewingin sarkooman diagnostiikka ja hoito (2018)
- Duodecim
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Gastrointestinal Complications After Surgical Correction of Neuromuscular Scoliosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study (2018)
- Scandinavian Journal of Surgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Kirurgisen erikoisalan vaikutus lasten suprakondylaarimurtumien hoidon tuloksiin (2018)
- Suomen ortopedia ja traumatologia
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Outcomes of growing rod surgery for severe compared with moderate early-onset scoliosis: A matched comparative study (2018)
- Bone and Joint Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Postoperative urinary retention or difficulties to empty the bladder in young patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (2018)
- Journal of Pediatric Surgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Preoperative pregabalin has no effect on intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for spinal deformities: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (2018)
- European Spine Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Treatment of Aneurysmal Bone Cysts with Bioactive Glass in Children (2018)
- Scandinavian Journal of Surgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Treatment strategies for early-onset scoliosis (2018)
- EFORT Open Reviews
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Delayed Dural Leak Following Posterior Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis Using All Posterior Pedicle Screw Technique (2017)
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Implant Complications After Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods for Early Onset Scoliosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Review (2017)
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal )