AO Spine Competency-Based Curriculum Courses

Evidence-based learning for different stages of practice.

Build the knowledge and practical skills that support your clinical practice. Developed by international experts, AO Spine Curriculum Courses offer evidence-based learning across spinal trauma, deformity, minimally invasive spine surgery and degeneration.

Choose the specialty and course that match your experience and learning goals. Each course can be taken independently, with online and hands-on formats available across the portfolio.

Explore the curriculum and find the right course for you.

Your lifelong learning journey

Choose any specialty or individual course. All courses can be taken independently.

Global Spine Diploma

Content Card Trauma Main

01
Global Spine Diploma

Fundamental knowledge for recently graduated orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.

5 modules • 12 months.

Online

Key concepts and techniques

Content Card Trauma Main

02
Key concepts and techniques

Build specialty knowledge and core practical skills. Audience and format depend on the course.

Hands-on courses

Advanced techniques and complex cases

Content Card

03
Advanced techniques and complex cases

Develop techniques for more complex clinical cases. Each course has its own target audience.

Hands-on courses

Explore the curriculum by specialty

Explore the specialty and compare its course options.

AOSP_AOTrauma_kf_900x506_2024-04-18

Content Card Trauma Main

Trauma

Assessment, treatment planning, and surgical management of spinal injuries.

AOSP_aospine_KF_deformity_900x506_2022-02-09

Content Card Deformity Main

Deformity

Assessment and management of spinal deformity across different levels of complexity.

MISS_icon_900x506

Content Card MISS Main

MISS

Minimally invasive approaches, from core knowledge to advanced procedures.

AOSP_aospine_KF_degeneration_900x506_2022-02-09

Content Card Degeneration Main

Degeneration

Evidence-based decisions and techniques for degenerative spinal conditions.

How you will learn

AO Spine Curriculum-Based Courses are designed to help participants move beyond receiving information to applying knowledge in clinical practice. Each course brings together three connected learning components.

01 Online pre-learning
Prepare with evidence-based lectures and surgical technique videos.

02 Case-based discussions and exercises
Explore clinical decisions through structured cases and guided discussion.

03 Hands-on practical exercises
Apply techniques through structured practical exercises.

Already know what you need?

Browse all hands-on curriculum courses below.

  • Trauma

    Trauma

    Key Concepts and Techniques

    Audience
    Residents in orthopedic and neurosurgical programs, Fellows, Surgeons seeking to refine core spinal trauma techniques, Surgeons transitioning into spine trauma care, Global Spine Diploma participants and alumni.

    Format
    Dry bone

    Content Card Trauma 2

    Trauma

    Advanced Techniques and Complex Cases

    Audience
    Experienced spine surgeons managing complex trauma cases This course is also suitable for surgeons who have attended the “Spinal Trauma: Key Concepts and Techniques” course and/or the Global Spine Diploma, and want to increase their knowledge and skills.

    Format
    Dry bone

  • Deformity

    Deformity

    Key Concepts and Techniques

    Audience
    Spine surgeons interested in the treatment of spinal deformity, Neurosurgical and orthopedic spine fellows and residents at the end of their training, Global Spine Diploma participants and alumni, Experienced surgeons who want an update on general principles of deformity management.

    Format
    Dry bone

    Content Card Deformity 2

    Deformity

    Advanced Techniques and Complex Cases

    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.

    Format
    Dry bone or wet lab

  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

    MISS

    MISS Spectrum Series

    Audience
    Practicing surgeons who have limited skills in MISS, Fellows in orthopedic or neurosurgery spine programs, Residents in their final years who will specialize in spine surgery.

    Format
    Dry bone or wet lab

    Content Card MISS 2

    MISS

    Advanced MISS Techniques

    Audience
    Spine surgeons (orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons) with at least three years of experience in spine surgery, Surgeons with some experience in MISS techniques, but not in complex MISS procedures, and spine surgeons who have completed the AO Spine Online Course—MISS Spectrum Series.

    Format
    Wet lab

Looking for foundational knowledge?

The Global Spine Diploma (GSD) Program is the first globally developed, systematic spine surgery training program for recently graduated orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, and those in their final year of residency. It includes five 8-week modules covering all major areas of modern spine care: trauma, cervical degeneration, lumbar degeneration, adult and pediatric deformity, tumor and infection.

Global Spine Diploma

AO Spine Davos Courses

Explore additional AO Spine learning opportunities at the annual AO Davos Courses. Enrich your knowledge, expand your professional network, and immerse youreself in the AO’s pioneering spirit at our organization’s home in Davos, Switzerland.