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:

increased knowledge base and surgical skill levels of surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel; 

surgeons, fellows, residents, and operating room personnel will have received recent advances in fracture fixation and reconstructive surgery techniques; 

surgeons, fellows, residents, and operating room personnel will have exchanged clinical experiences and information relative to the management of musculoskeletal injuries. 

The Content for this CME Effort Will Focus On:

teaching musculoskeletal surgical techniques related to the care of fractures and reconstructive surgery patients including craniomaxillofacial, spine, fractures of the upper and lower extremities, 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; needs determined through past course participant evaluations;  post-course surveys;  Faculty perceptions; requests from surgeons, residents or operating room personnel; quality assessments within a cross-section of medical institutions and hospitals; results of surveys of orthopaedic, neurosurgery, craniomaxillofacial, and spine directors and residency program chairmen. 

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, and spine specialties;

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

Types Of Activities Include:

·         multiday courses and symposia occurring on a monthly, annual or biennial basis focusing on orthopaedic, craniomaxillofacial and spine fracture fixation, and reconstruction techniques; 

·         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; 

·         lecture presentations by Faculty, surgical video instruction, small group instruction and discussions that include case presentations, pre-operative planning assessments and techniques and hands-on laboratory sessions to experience practicing surgical techniques. Most also include sessions utilizing simulated anatomically correct bone models and applicable instruments and implants.

 APPROVED AND ACCEPTED BY AO NORTH AMERICA STEERING COMMITTEE, JUNE 23, 2005:  

                                                                                   John H. Wilber, MD

                                                                  President, AO North America