Spinal deformities

AO Spine deformity courses as well as the Global Spine Diploma modules are developed and taught by world-leading experts, based on latest evidence, and provide skills that spine surgeons need for the future.

AO is regarded as one of the world’s most trusted providers of surgeon education and innovative research. Our flexible, well-guided learning methods—hands-on, self-paced online, and hybrid—provide clarity on best practices in adult and pediatric spine deformities.

With AO Spine’s resources and courses on deformity, spine surgeons will learn to make accurate diagnosis, evaluate risks, and provide best available treatment for each patient.

Find the right course focus at the right time

	Knowledge focus	Hands-on skills focus AO Spine Curriculum-based courses
	Global Spine Diploma	Deformity: Key Concepts and Techniques	Deformity: Advanced Techniques for Complex Cases
Target audience	Recently graduated orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons	Surgeons who are getting started in the treatment of spinal deformity or desire an update on the general principles Spine fellows and residents Participants or alumni of Global Spine Diploma	Surgeons wanting to improve their skills in treating complex deformity cases. Also suitable for surgeons who have attended the “Deformity: Key Concepts and Techniques” course or Global Spine Diploma and want to increase their knowledge and skills
Format	Online, 12-month program, Deformity module: 8 weeks	2-day face-to-face course Access to online pre-learning material 2-4 weeks before the course	2-day face-to-face course Access to online pre-learning material 2-4 weeks before the course
Course modules	Adult deformity Surgical procedures—choosing the approach Surgical procedures—augmentation and proximal junctional fixation Paediatric deformity Surgical procedures—idiopathic scoliosis Spondylolisthesis Complications and outcomes	Assessing deformity of the spine Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) Selection of fusion levels in idiopathic scoliosis and kyphosis Degenerative scoliosis Scheuermann’s kyphosis*	AIS AdIS Adult spine deformity: sagittal and coronal balance High-grade spondylolisthesis Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) Anterior surgery in adult deformity* Scheuermann’s kyphosis* Navigation in deformity surgery* Sagittal deformities of the cervical spine*
Practical exercises		Correction of thoracic scoliosis in AIS Correction of the novo adult lumbar scoliosis	Posterior vertebral column resection for severe thoracic deformity Correction of coronal and sagittal imbalance in the fused lumbar spine. Anterior surgery*

*in selected courses—please check the final course program

AO Spine deformity courses and educational events

Enhance your surgical skills with AO Spine, on life-like bone models or human anatomical specimens, and benefit from the knowledge and expertise of world-leading masters in this field. Courses are based on the AO Spine curriculum framework. Training is delivered concise and ready to be applied into clinical practice on the level of your current experience.