Updated AO CMF curriculum integrates emerging technologies: Virtual Surgical Planning, intraoperative navigation and imaging, 3D models and AR
The AO CMF Management of Facial Trauma (MFT) course curriculum has been updated reflecting major technological advances and evolving educational needs in craniomaxillofacial trauma care. The revised curriculum builds on a competence-based educational framework while introducing structured training in modern technologies.
In this article, Marcelo Figari, who was involved in the curriculum development, shares insights into why the update was necessary, what’s new and how it is expected to impact CMF surgeons’ learning journey.
AO CMF Management of Facial Trauma curriculum is built on strong educational foundations
“The first version of the MFT curriculum was conceived and agreed on between 2017 and 2019,” Figari explains. “At that time, there was no Education Commission within the AO CMF clinical specialty.” To address this gap, AO CMF established a Global Education Taskforce (GETAF), supported by Warren Schubert. The first GETAF was composed by TC Lim, Ian Mc Vicar, Damir Matic, Irfan Shah, Gorman Louie and Marcelo Figari—represented all regions and subspecialties.
“This group paved the way for a comprehensive approach to facial trauma management,” Figari says. “We introduced a new educational concept based on short, preformed lectures as topic introductions, highly interactive small group discussions, and renewed hands-on exercises. The curriculum was backward planned and competence-based.”
Responding to technological development
Although the curriculum was updated once in 2022, Figari notes that the pace of technological development soon made a more comprehensive revision necessary.
“The original MFT and the first update were conceived while many of today’s technologies were still evolving,” he says. “Only preliminary details were included in some cases. Now, there is a clear need to integrate education and training in new technologies—such as virtual preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, and customized implants and prostheses—in a structured way.”
Prioritizing technologies that improve care
When selecting which technologies to include, the taskforce carefully considered global and regional accessibility as well as clinical relevance.
“New technologies are not yet equally available worldwide,” Figari notes. “That is why the updated MFT curriculum prioritizes those technologies that really facilitate our work as CMF surgeons, enhancing predictability and accuracy in our surgical procedures and ensuring patient safety.”
The updated curriculum now covers virtual preoperative planning, customized implants and prostheses, intraoperative navigation, and intraoperative imaging. “These technologies represent a modern conception of facial trauma management,” Figari says, “and their worldwide availability is increasing day by day.”
Hands-on training remains a cornerstone of the course. “The practical exercises are essentially the same, supported by updated training videos,” he adds. “However, depending on the country and venue, additional hands-on activities—such as virtual planning or navigation—may be included.”
What do participants learn in the course?
Participants will learn to diagnose facial injuries through systematic assessment and investigations, formulate and perform appropriate operative and nonoperative treatments, and adapt management plans as clinical situations evolve. The course also equips them to manage follow-up, rehabilitation, and complications, while applying new technologies to optimize facial trauma care.
Featured lectures:
Mid and upper facial trauma:
- Surgical approaches to the midface
- Reestablishing pre-traumatic occlusion
- Maxillary fractures (Buttresses, Le Fort, Palatal fractures)
- Zygomatic fractures (incl. orbitozygomatic fractures)
- Orbital wall fractures
- Nasoorbitoethmoid (NOE) fractures (incl. nasal fractures)
- Frontal sinus fractures
- Orbital floor fracture repaired with PSI
- Applications of technology in facial trauma
Mandibular trauma:
- Surgical approaches to the mandible
- Mandibular fractures: load sharing and load bearing
- Condylar fractures
Small group discussions:
- Cases: zygomatic, orbit, zygoma and orbit, and Le Fort
- NOE, nasal, frontal sinus
- Load sharing, condyle, load bearing
Practical exercises:
Mid and upper facial trauma:
- Power drill
- Complex midface fractures
- Maxillomandibular fixation techniques
- Some courses will also include practical exercises using new technology (e.g. visualization headsets, planning tools, or 3-D printing)
Load-sharing mandibular fractures:
- Angle
- Symphysis with miniplates
- Symphysis with lag screw technique
- Complex fractures of the mandible
Read more about the course
A surgeon-led revision
The latest update was developed under the leadership of the AO CMF Education Commission, which has been in place since 2019 and is currently chaired by Stefano Fusetti, with Mike Cunningham serving as Education Advisor. Given the importance of the MFT curriculum as an entry-level course for CMF surgeons, the dedicated Management of Facial Trauma Taskforce—chaired by Carlos Gaete and including Marta Redondo Alamillos, David Shaye, Mohamed Amin, and Yeshaswini Thelekkat—led the curriculum revision. As a former member of the MFT Taskforce, Marcelo Figari acted as an advisor throughout the process.
“The taskforce reviewed the overall curriculum format, introduced changes to existing lectures, and created new lectures oriented toward emerging technologies. Small group discussions were also refreshed with the contribution of several members of our community (Brad Strong, Florian Thieringer, among them),” Figari explains.
Management of Facial Trauma Taskforce
Carlos Gaete
LAT
Marta Redondo
ESA
Mohamed Amin
MENA
David Shaye
NA
Yeshaswini Thelekkat
AP
Marcelo Figari
TF Advisor, LA
The importance of structured education
Figari strongly emphasizes the need for formal training rather than informal, self-directed learning:
“It is crucial that surgeons are formally trained in all new technologies. Industry support is vital for innovation, but the surgeon—who is ultimately responsible for patient outcomes—must lead the process, apply these tools appropriately, and help guide future improvements.”
He also highlights the strength of the AO CMF community: “We are fortunate to have outstanding surgeon innovators within AO CMF, and they should be the ones leading education and training in these areas.”
Looking to the future
According to Figari, the updated curriculum is expected to have a meaningful impact on both surgical skills and patient outcomes;
“By formally integrating VSP, customized implants and prostheses, intraoperative navigation and imaging, the updated curriculum ensures CMF surgeons are prepared for the most advanced and safe approaches to facial trauma management. Ultimately, it should lead to improved patient outcomes, particularly in complex and secondary facial trauma cases.”
Looking ahead, Figari sees the curriculum as a living framework. “We cannot yet predict exactly which developments will become available next,” he concludes. “But there will certainly be many, and the MFT Taskforce will continue to accompany this technological progress by adapting and evolving the course format.”
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