AO CMF Facial Trauma Curriculum Courses
AO CMF’s Facial Trauma Curriculum offers a structured, competency-based pathway designed to support surgeons in developing expertise in facial trauma management across increasing levels of complexity.
Starting from Principles to Advanced and Masters level, participants build competencies step by step—from core diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical approaches, fixation principles, and complication management, to the management of complex craniomaxillofacial trauma, post-traumatic deformities, advanced reconstruction strategies, and the integration of emerging technologies into clinical practice.
Developed and delivered by leading international experts, the curriculum combines:
Interactive lectures
Case-based discussions
Digital planning workshops
Expert exchange formats
Hands-on practical exercises
With dry bone and/or human anatomical specimens
The course format ensures strong clinical relevance and immediate application to practice.
Whether at the beginning of surgical training or refining expert-level competencies, the pathway supports continuous professional development and helps surgeons elevate their expertise in the management of facial trauma patients.
The three course levels comparison
Management of Facial Trauma—Principles level course, with life-like dry-bones
This principles level focuses on building the core competencies required for the management of acute facial trauma. Participants develop fundamental skills in diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical approaches, fracture fixation principles, complication management, and patient follow-up.
Who is this for?
Residents and surgeons looking to build or reinforce core principles in facial trauma management.
What will you learn?
- Diagnose facial injury through history, physical examination, and investigations
- Formulate a treatment plan (operative and nonoperative)
- Perform the specific treatment for facial trauma
- Modify the treatment plan when necessary
- Manage patient follow-up and rehabilitation
- Identify and manage complications
- Apply new technologies in facial trauma treatment
Learning objectives are achieved through interactive lectures, small group discussions, with high focus on hands-on practical exercises under expert faculty guidance, supported by pre-course online learning.
Advanced Management of Facial Trauma—Advanced level course, with human anatomical specimens
This principles level focuses on building the core competencies required for the management of acute facial trauma. Participants develop fundamental skills in diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical approaches, fracture fixation principles, complication management, and patient follow-up.
Who is this for?
Surgeons with prior experience in facial trauma who are ready to manage more complex cases.
The Advanced level focuses on building competencies in the management of complex facial trauma and post-traumatic deformities. Participants further develop advanced decision-making, multidisciplinary treatment planning, soft-tissue and bony reconstruction techniques, complication management, and the integration of emerging technologies into clinical practice. Learning objectives are achieved through case-based discussions, digital planning workshops, and hands-on training with human anatomical specimens under expert faculty guidance.
What will you learn?
- Make a diagnosis based on multidisciplinary input and clinical as well as radiological findings
- Recognize which fractures need to be treated Select a complete treatment plan (including a plan B) for the patient, considering patient wishes and expectations, cost, and safety
- Perform the range of procedures for facial trauma (from access to technique and technology)
- Evaluate and introduce the latest literature (evidence and guidelines)
- Minimize potential complications during planning (learn from errors and outcomes)
- Document all aspects of the case (consent, preoperative and postoperative images) and identify areas to improve
- Communicate with the patient (and family), especially regarding postoperative complications
Management of Complex Craniomaxillofacial Trauma—Masters level course, with advanced life-like dry-bones
Introductory description
Who is this for?
Experienced surgeons managing highly complex craniomaxillofacial trauma and reconstruction cases.
The Masters Level focuses on building expert competencies in the contemporary management of complex craniomaxillofacial trauma and post-traumatic deformities.
Participants strengthen advanced surgical decision-making, management of highly complex cases, reconstruction strategies, complication management, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into clinical practice.
What will you learn?
Learning objectives are achieved through expert-led case discussions, SHARD sessions, fireside chats, interactive planning sessions, debates on controversial topics, and advanced hands-on practical exercises under expert faculty guidance.
Beyond the curriculum courses
From educational events to clinical tools, videos, blog posts, and research, AO and AO CMF support CMF surgeons, residents, and researchers in deepening their expertise and advancing excellence in facial trauma surgery.