The Continuing Medical Education (CME) mission of AO North America is to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary education relative to fracture care and reconstructive surgery for surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel.

Expected Results:

Expected results of AONA’s CME activities are for surgeons, fellows, residents, and operating room personnel to:

•  Increase their knowledge base and surgical skill level

• Apply advances in knowledge of fracture fixation and reconstructive surgical techniques into patient care resulting in improved competence, personal performance, and/or patient outcomes

• Address practice performance gaps by improving management of all aspects of musculoskeletal injuries (i.e., pre-operative planning to post-operative care)

 The Content for the CME Program Will Focus On:

Teaching of AO Principles as well as best practices for the care of patients with musculoskeletal injuries and reconstructive surgical techniques related to their care of patients including craniomaxillofacial, spine and fractures of the upper and lower extremities. Content will also include fractures of the pelvis, nonunions, polytrauma, salvage of failed fixations and indications for osteotomy in managing difficult fracture patterns and failed healing problems of the axial and appendicular skeleton.

 Characteristics Of Participants Include:

• practicing surgeons with an interest in fracture fixation and reconstructive techniques;

• surgical residents and fellows;

• surgeons specializing in specific anatomic areas within the orthopaedic, neurosurgery, craniomaxillofacial, spine and veterinary specialties;

• operating room personnel including nurses, physician assistants and surgical technicians.

Types Of Activities Include:

• multiday courses and symposia focusing on orthopaedic, craniomaxillofacial and spine fracture fixation, and reconstruction techniques;

• Basic Principles Courses that focus on fundamental fracture fixation principles and techniques;

• Advanced Courses and Symposia that address the application of fracture fixation principles for treatment of complex fractures;

• Courses and Symposia that focus on complex concepts and solutions for fracture fixation problems

• Specialty courses that address specific problems of  the musculoskeletal system (i.e., Hand and Wrist Fractures, Geriatric or Pediatric Fracture Management, The Aging Spine,  Computer Assisted Navigation,  and Minimally Invasive Surgery)

APPROVED AND ACCEPTED BY AO NORTH AMERICA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, October 17, 2008.

 John H. Wilber, MD

President, AO North America