History
Article by Prof Nando de Sanctis and Prof Henri Bensahel

Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery became a recognised specialty in the second half of the XX century. Despite such relative youth, it has great potential for growth. 

Due to its nature, Henri Bensahel thought, during the 1970s, that paediatric orthopaedists from across the world should be able to get together. He took the initiative to create the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS) in 1981. After rapid growth, it became equivalent to the North American society (POSNA). More recently, the paediatric section of the Asia-Pacific Orthopaedic Association (APOA) and the Latin American societies (SLAOTI) were created. In the nineties, the idea came to both of us to create IFPOS. After some difficulties we founded it in Prague, in April 1996. The world society of children’s orthopaedics was born. 

Its members are national societies or study groups. The majority of paediatric orthopaedic societies in the world are affiliated to it. Together with them, the four international societies mentioned above became affiliated to IFPOS. 
This synergy will enhance the worldwide reputation of orthopaedic surgery, of which paediatric orthopaedics is a major component, for the improvement of our clinical community in the future.