AO Spine Course—Deformity: Advanced Techniques and Complex Cases

Course Deformity Advanced Techniques

This two-day, interactive course covers advanced techniques for managing complex spinal deformity in adult and pediatric patients. It provides advanced training to apply knowledge and technical skills, focusing on complex cases in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult IS, de novo scoliosis, sagittal and combined deformities, revision in adults, and high grade spondylolisthesis.

This course provides advanced training through interactive format:

  • Online pre-learning modules, which deliver state-of-the-art knowledge by world leading experts in spinal deformity management
  • Interactive classroom learning is delivered through case-based learning and reflection with expert faculty
  • Hands-on practical exercises using real implants and 3D bone models with real deformities. In selected courses, also human anatomical specimens will be used for some workstations.

Why you should choose this course

World-class curriculum

Expert regional faculty

For surgeons in various stage of their career

NEW format: case-based exercises

Skills lab with real deformities

Course content

  • Online pre-learning

    Topics covered:

    • Clinical evaluation of patients with adult deformity
    • Principles of sagittal alignment and compensatory mechanisms
    • PCO technique
    • Determination of instrumentation levels in AIS
    • The Lenke AdIS classification and its application to surgical planning
    • PSO technique in the lumbar spine
    • The Roussouly classification and its application to treatment of patients with deformity
    • Imaging evaluation in adult deformity
    • PSO technique in the thoracic spine
    • Iliosacral fixation
    • Guide for surgical planning
    • Frailty and surgical risk and outcomes in adult deformity
    • PVCR technique
  • Course modules
    • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – advanced skills
    • Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM)
    • Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis
    • Adult Spine Deformity: Sagittal and Coronal Balance
    • High-Grade Spondylolisthesis
    • Anterior surgery in adult deformity*
    • Scheuermann’s kyphosis*
    • Navigation in deformity surgery*
    • Sagittal deformities of the cervical spine*

    *only in selected courses-please check the final course program

  • Case-based discussions

    *Analyse real-world clinical cases to enhance clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills. These discussions foster collaboration among participants and faculty and provide expert guidance while connecting theoretical insights with practical, hands-on applications.

    • Severe kyphoscoliotic scoliosis (PVCR case)
    • Revision problems in sagittal imbalance in patients with a fused spine
    • High grade isthmic spondylolisthesis
  • Case-based exercises

    *Activity where participants are given specific tasks or clinical challenges to solve. It promotes active learning by requiring applying theoretical knowledge and practical experience to real-world cases, with expert feedback guiding their approach.

    • Selective Thoracic Fusion in Lenke 3C pattern
    • Distal instrumented level in Lenke 3 patterns
    • Neuromonitoring game “Losing the signals”
    • Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in a young adult (>35) patient
    • Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in elderly adult
    • Use of electronic tools and “flight plan” template to prepare and predict surgical outcomes

    *Only in selected courses-please check the final course program

  • Lectures
    • Criteria for successful selective thoracic fusion in Lenke 3C pattern
    • Criteria to select L4 vs L3 in Lenke 3 patterns
    • PVCR: When it is needed, what are the alternatives, and how to perform it safely
    • IONM: Intraoperative alerts: What is an alert, how to address it.
    • Application of the AdIS classification: Selection of fusion levels based on standing and supine full-spine radiographs
    • Lower lumbar versus sacropelvic distal fixation in AdIS
    • Alignment drivers of outcomes in ASD with imbalance
    • Surgical options in operated deformity with residual imbalance
    • Indications for reduction in high grade isthmic spondylolisthesis
  • Practical exercises - Spine Skills Lab

    Skills Lab 1: Posterior vertebral column resection for severe thoracic deformity

    • Posterior fixation with pedicle screws T2 to T8 using anatomical references,
    • Step by step posterior vertebrectomy,
    • correction of the deformity with temporary rods and
    • vertebral body replacement cage

    Skills Lab 2: Correction of coronal and sagittal imbalance in the fused lumbar spine.

    • Posterior fixation with pedicle screws T11 to S1 using anatomical references,
    • Iliac fixation (Iliac and S2I screws),
    • Pedicle subtraction osteotomy in the lumbar spine,
    • Fine tuning of correction in the coronal and sagittal planes using rod contouring, domino technique and kickstand rods.

    Skills lab 3 – Anterior surgery*

    Skills lab 4 – Scheuermann’s kyphosis*

    Skills lab 5 – Navigation in deformity surgery*

    Skills lab 6 – Sagittal deformities of the cervical spine*

    *Only in selected courses, please check your program

Target audience

  • Spine surgeons who treat deformity cases and who face more complex cases
  • Surgeons who want to update their treatment of complex idiopathic and adult deformity.
  • It is also suitable for surgeons who have attended the “Deformity: Key Concepts and Techniques” course and/or Global Spine Diploma and want to increase their knowledge and skills.
Pedro Berjano

“The course curriculum is designed to deliver the learning through an active experience: active discussions based on real cases, interactive exercises that apply the knowledge from those cases, and step-by-step hands-on practical sessions. This way, we ensure that learners not only acquire the information but also know how to apply it. The experience of the faculty, the professionalism of the support team, and the peer-to-peer, friendly training tradition of AO make all the difference. It is an experience that will leave a lasting impression.”


Pedro Berjano
Chairperson AO Spine Europe and Southern Africa
Chair of Deformity Curriculum Taskforce


Competencies

  • Perform a history, clinical, and physical examination in complex cases in adults and pediatric patients with deformity
  • Order and interpret imaging and investigations to classify complex pathologies and deformities
  • Plan surgical correction appropriate for complex and revision cases, and recognize the benefit of preoperative medical optimization
  • Perform correction maneuvers for severe curves, sagittal imbalance, and revision surgery (multirod constructs, sacropelvic fixation, osteotomies, etc)
  • Avoid and manage complications, including PJK prevention strategies and managing late rod complications
  • Recognize the role of emerging technologies such as augmentation and biologics and latest research findings and evidence in clinical practice

What does competency-based curriculum development mean?

Learn more

Course impressions

AO Spine Deformity Curriculum Task Force

The Deformity Curriculum taskforce is a group of experts who build and continuously improve our educational program.

Pedro Berjano

Pedro Berjano

Italy

Chair of the Taskforce
Representing Europe and Southern Africa

 
Luis Eduardo Carelli

Luis Eduardo Carelli

Brazil

Representing Latin America

Eric KLineberg

Eric Klineberg

US

Representing North America 

Omar Alnori

Omar Alnori

Qatar

Representing Middle East and Northern Africa

Yong Hai

China

Representing Asia Pacific

Alpaslan Senkoylu

Representing
AO In-Hospital

AO Spine Evan Davis

Evan Davies

Representing
Global Spine Diploma

Michael Kelly

Representing
Knowledge Forum Deformity

Richard Bransford

Richard Bransford

AO Spine Education Commission Chairperson

Bryan Ashman

AO Spine Curriculum Advisor