AO North America Maxillofacial
by Paul Manson, M.D.AO ASIF Foundation Forms Board of Specialties
1997 was an exciting year for AO North America Maxillofacial. We have been able to become well organized and to fulfill our obligations as a capable partner of our orthopaedic and veterinarian colleagues in AO North America. This year, in response to requests made in the spring, the AO ASIF Foundation formed the Board of AO Specialties, which consists of representatives of the Foundation's maxillofacial, spine and veterinary groups. Working together, the Foundation has been able to identify the needs of these growing specialty societies and provide for allocation of funds and assigned responsibility for completion of projects which are necessary for development within these specialties. This process is in line with a recent study by the Academic Council and the AOVA, re identifying theirfunctions, responsibility and planning for a more capable partnership with the producer representatives.
During the Trustee meeting in Thailand, maxillofacial trustees to the Foundation met to discuss how the AONA concept can be applied in other parts of the world. Joining the North Americans for the meeting was Dr. Michael Ehrenfeld, AO Trustee from Munich, Germany.
European Maxillofacial Education Committee Formed
Recently, the European Maxillofacial Education Group was formulated. This has provided an avenue for the European Maxillofacial practitioners to meet periodically, to identify representatives for their TK and Trustee responsibilities and to coordinate their activities similar to efforts that have been made within the North American Maxillofacial Groups. Joachim Prein will serve as the International Course Chairman and Michael Ehrenfeld will be the first chair of the European Maxillofacial Education Committee and will be the representative to the AO ASIF Board of Trustees of the AO ASIF Foundation. A special meeting of the European Maxillofacial Education Committee and Maxillofacial Trustees for North America was held on January 16, 1998, in Tucson to help coordinate International Maxillofacial activities. In particular, it is the desire of both of these groups to provide options representatives from Asia, Central and South America, from the maxillofacial disciplines, to be able to participate in the process. One of the principal goals is to set up research and development links with the Foundation Research and Development groups in Davos.
AO MF-TK Refined
The representatives to the AO Maxillofacial Technical Commission continue to evolve recommendations for refined product development and evaluation. The group met in Boston in the fall and generated further recommendations which were discussed in Tuscon, in January. It is the desire of this group to develop a plan for responsive, rapid evaluation of new ideas, to test these individually and identify those which are suitable for further development. They will then be tested, TK approved and assigned manufacturing priority. The group was very concerned about product availability and marketing in Asia, Central and South America, and is in the process of studying the issues to develop recommendations for the AO Foundation.
AONA Maxillofacial Retreat-Tucson, Arizona
The maxillofacial groups from North America, including representatives from Canada and Mexico met in Tucson, January 17, 18, and 19, for their Biannual Retreat. Product evaluation, presentation of challenging and problem cases, discussion of successes and failures, new product evaluation, discussion of new product needs, and discussions of maxillofacial organization and faculty development highlighted the events at this year's retreat. The academic activity was combined with appropriate social functions to stimulate faculty interaction. Maxillofacial educational programs were discussd and plans made for the future.
The AO North America Maxillofacial Education Committee has identified needs for additional instruction in its basic courses to teach the application of miniplates in mandibular fractures, the use of distraction techniques, the use of orbital plates and the use of the new "locking" reconstruction plate. The locking reconstruction plate, for instance, is a "user friendly" device that compensates for inadequate plate bending by locking the screw into the plate.
New developments occurring in maxillofacial products include two systems designed by the ADI in Davos: The Midface Locking System, similar to the locking reconstruction mandibular plate, and The Resorbable System. Developments from North America include a refined line of orbital plates for orbital reconstruction, distraction devices, a zydaption plate for zygomatic arch reconstruction, which is thin and strong, and the application of self-drilling screw concepts to midface and mandibular fractures.
AO Manual Published
Springer Verlag has published the Manual of Maxillofacial Internal Fixation edited by Joachim Prein, M.D., D.D.S. The manual includes contributions from many North American Maxillofacial Education Committee members and will serve as the basis for instruction in Basic and Intermediate level plating techniques as applied to the craniofacial skeleton. The manual is profusely illustrated and the diagrams are outstanding in our opinion. This is a much-awaited publication which brings us in line with the other specialties.
We look forward this year to the institution of a maxillofacial research position in Davos, which will be available on a competitive basis to residents and fellows internationally. Areas for evaluation include bone growth, bone substitutes and the application and consequences of plate and screw fixation.
The AONA Maxillofacial group is also funding Sentinal Research projects which will study questions of acute clinical interest. Suggestions for projects should be directed to Edward Ellis, D.D.S.