AO ASIF Comprehensive Spine Course

The Comprehensive Spine Course is addressed to and designed for surgeons who want to specialize in stabilizing spine surgery using instrumentation for the entire spine (occipital cervical junction to the sacrum), in spinal trauma, degenerative diseases, deformities, tumors and other spinal disorders.

This course has structured formal lectures, which expose the concept of stabilizing spine surgery developed by the AO Spine Group over many years. The techniques are taught in practical exercises every day. Panel discussions as well as "fireside" case presentations will make the link to the clinical day-to-day reality.

,i> Enrollment is open to surgeons who have attended an AO ASIF Principles (Previously titled Basic) Course.

Please bring x-rays and/or slides of problem cases for the group discussions, and be willing to actively participate.

Long island Jewish Medical Center designates this CME activityfor a manimum of 33 credit hours.

OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this Course, the participant should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the functional anatomy, biology and biomechanics of the spine;

2. Discuss the AO principles of the spine and illustrate their application in traumatic, degenerative and inflammatory processes affecting the spine;

3. Illustrate relevant psychomotor skills in the practical application of spinal implants to artificial bones; 4. Describe potential complications and intraoperative difficulties and emphasi: the importance of preoperative plannin and outcome analysis.

Preliminary Program

MONDAY

Degenerative Spine I

  • AO
  • Clinical presentation
  • Disc pathoanatomy and biomechanics
  • Non invasive and invasive radiological techniques
  • Lumbar disc herniation
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative scoliosis
  • Discussion
  • Practical Exercise I--Pedicle screw insertion/
    lumbosacral pedicle screw fixation

    Degenerative Spine II--Low back pain surgery

  • Overview of treatment options in low back pain
  • Posterolateral fusion; technique and results
  • PLIF; technique and results
  • ALIF and 360" fusion; technique and results
  • Minimally invasive techniques
  • The failed back
  • Discussion
  • Practical Exercise 2--Translaminar screws/
    Various cages/Contact Fusion Cage, SynCage

    TUESDAY

    Degenerative Cervical Spine

  • Case presentation
  • Clinical presentation and assessment
  • Anteriortechniques
  • Posteriortechniques
  • Laminoplasty
  • Rheumatoid disease of cervical spine
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Practical Exercise 3--CSLP/Cervifix (C3-C7)
    Miscellaneous Spinal Problems
  • Spinal infection
  • Spinal metastases
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Spondylolysis and low-grade spondylolisthesis
  • High-grade spondylolisthesis
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Fireside discussion-degenerative spine

    WEDNESDAY

    Deformities

  • Idiopathic scoliosis; classification, etiology, assessment
  • Idiopathicscoliosis; posterior techniques
  • Idiopathic scoliosis; anterior techniques
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Surgical strategy in scoliosis
  • Practical Exercise 4-USS basic concept/
    USS posterior correction and stabilization in idiopathic curve/
    USS anterior application
  • Neuromuscular scoliosis
  • Congenital deformity
  • Scheuermann's kyphosis
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Fritz Magerl Lecture

    THURSDAY

    Trauma: Thoracolumbar Fracture

  • Assessment and classification of thoracolumbar fractures
  • Pathomorphology of fractures
  • Posterior approach
  • Anterior approach
  • Anterior vs. posterior
  • Alternatives for anterior column reconstruction
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Practical Exercise 5-USS internal fixator/
    two fracture types: TLLPNentrofix
  • Thoracic fractures
  • The role of neurological decompression in thoracolumbar burst fractures
  • Rehabilitation of the paraplegic patient
  • Posttraumatic kyphosis
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Ray Jacobs Memorial Lecture
  • Fireside discussion deformity/miscellaneous

    FRIDAY

    Cervical Spine Trauma

  • Classification of upper cervical spine injuries
  • Classification of subaxial cervical spine injuries
  • General principles of management of cervical spine fractures
  • Management of spinal cord injuries
  • Odontoid screw techniques
  • C1/C2 screw fixation
  • Case presentation and discussion
  • Practical Exercise 6-Anterior dens fixation/
    C1/C2 screw fixation
  • Anterior approach for subaxial trauma
  • Posterior approach for subaxial trauma
  • Anterior vs. posterior approach
  • Posttraumatic deformities
  • Case presentation and discussion

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