AO North America
CME Mission Statement

Our Goals Are To:

• provide comprehensive multi-disciplinary education relative to fracture care and reconstructive surgery for surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel;
• increase the knowledge base and surgical skill levels of surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel;
• disseminate recent advances in fracture fixation and reconstructive surgery techniques to surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel;
• facilitate the exchange of clinical experiences and information among surgeons, fellows, residents and operating room personnel relative to the management of musculoskeletal injuries.

The Scope Of This CME Effort Will Be Directed To:

• teaching musculoskeletal surgical techniques related to the care of trauma fractures and reconstructive surgeries including craniomaxillofacial, spine, fractures of the upper and lower extremeties, 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; 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;
• each activity may incorporate lecture presentations by Faculty, surgical video instruction, small group instruction and discussions that include case presentations, preoperative 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 THE AO NORTH AMERICA STEERING COMMITTEE, JUNE 14, 2002:

Eric E. Johnson, M.D.
President, AO North America