AO Recon education
From AO Recon's beginning, many of the most respected and sought-after key opinion leaders in arthroplasty have contributed to the clinical unit's success. In March 2021, the AO Foundation Board unanimously elected Carsten Perka, professor and medical director at the Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany, as the next chairperson of the AO Recon Steering Board. Bas Masri, professor of orthopedics at the University of British Columbia and head of orthopedics at Vancouver Acute Health Services, Vancouver, Canada, was elected as the next chairperson of the AO Recon Education Forum.
Powering through the pandemic
Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, AO Recon powered on, keeping surgeons' skills and knowledge in arthroplasty up to the latest standards by organizing successful and highly impactful face-to-face courses wherever and whenever possible. The clinical unit also expanded its reach to such new countries as Lithuania, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain. In addition, AO Recon contributed to the success of the first-ever Rimasys World Surgery Tour.
Scientific newsletter among the most viewed content
In 2021, AO Recon published three new issues of its scientific newsletter, Surgical Insights, with each issue reaching around 30,000 subscribers. The articles continued to be extremely well received, providing a blend of clinical tips and a literature digest to help surgeons keep pace with the current best practice and research landscape. The newsletter has some of the best opening and click-through rates in the field, and the articles are among the most accessed editorial content on the AO's website.
Events
8,324 participants/49 events
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International
1,821 participants/13 events
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North America
0 participants/0 events
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Latin America
1,398 participants/10 events
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Europe and Southern Africa
2,596 participants/18 events
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Middle East and Northern Africa
0 participants/0 events
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Asia Pacific
2,509 participants/8 events
Faculty involvement
388 faculties/786 faculty days
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International
56 faculties/98 faculty days
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North America
0 faculties/0 faculty days
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Latin America
102 faculties/244 faculty days
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Europe and Southern Africa
178 faculties/361 faculty days
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Middle East and Northern Africa
0 faculties/0 faculty days
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Asia Pacific
52 faculties/103 faculty days
Enhanced, broadened curricula
AO Recon's curricula were further enhanced, and educational offerings broadened in 2021. Among the highlights were first-ever hospital-based introductory courses on hip and knee arthroplasty for residents. New online courses and webinars were created and delivered for hip and knee joint preservation, and programs for face-to-face, on-site courses were finalized for these new curricula. Several online courses were enhanced through the addition of digital planning.