AO Trauma Course—Foot and Ankle Reconstruction

 

AO Trauma’s foot and ankle curriculum offers a wide range of competency-based activities and resources that support your educational needs. The Masters-level course is aimed at traumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons and other surgeons actively engaged in the treatment of foot and ankle fractures, who want to increase their level of specialization in lower limb treatment.

The courses are taught in a modular format. A limited number of evidence-based lectures cover the key information required. In practical exercises and cadaver workshops, participants are trained in the application of different techniques and approaches. Discussing cases in small groups helps participants to develop decision-making and management skills.

Why you should choose this course

Top national, regional, and international faculty

2-4 days in duration

For surgeons who already treat foot and ankle reconstruction

Network with colleagues from all over the world

CME credits

Course content

  • Course modules
    • Module 1: Ankle arthritis
    • Module 2:Hindfoot arthritis
    • Module 3: Acquired flatfoot deformity
    • Module 4: Cavus
    • Special Module 5: Anatomical specimen workshops (full day workshops)*
    • Recon Module 6: Tendon transfers/neuromuscular*
    • Recon Module 7: Charcot*
    • Recon Module 8: Midfoot reconstruction*
    • Recon Module 9: The great toe*
    • Recon Module 10: The lesser toes*
    • Sports Module 11: Sports injuries*

    *Up to 3 of these modules are taught per course, which varies by region. Check your chosen date and location for the full program.

  • Practical exercises
    • Ankle fusion anterior: Perform an anterior approach to the ankle joint, prepare the ankle joint surfaces to a fusion, correct malalignment, place cannulated screws, discuss indications and contraindications to ankle fusion
    • Ankle fusion transfibular: Discuss indications and contraindications to ankle fusion, perform a transfibular approach to the ankle joint, explain the fibula osteotomy technique, prepare the ankle joint surfaces to a fusion, correct malalignment, place cannulated screws, fix the fibular onlay strut graft
    • Ankle fusion with SCOPE for anatomical specimen workshop: Discuss indications and contraindications to arthroscopic ankle fusion, explain patient positioning and preparation, prepare the anteromedial and anterolateral portals to the ankle joint, prepare the ankle joint surfaces using arthroscopy, correct malalignment, place cannulated screws, perform wound closure and dressing
    • Subtalar bone block arthrodesis (reorientating distraction fusion): Perform a posterolateral approach to the subtalar joint, understand the indications of a subtalar distraction bone block arthrodesis, apply a large distractor to allow joint access, prepare the subtalar joint surfaces to a fusion, prepare a structural bone graft to correct deformity, correct malalignment, place screws to fix a subtalar fusion, discuss the effects of a subtalar distraction arthrodesis in the foot
    • Hindfoot Arthrodesis Nail: Review the lateral transfibular approach to the tibiotalar and subtalar joints, understand the indications of a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis, list Hindfoot Arthrodesis Nail features, prepare the tibiotalar and subtalar joints surfaces to a fusion, prepare the fibula to be used as an onlay graft, correct malalignment, choose the correct entry point to the nail, drill the distal and proximal tunnels, insert and block the nail with spiral blade/screws, fix the fibula, discuss the correct fusion alignment, remove the implant
    • Calcaneal tuberosity: Perform a sliding calcaneal tuberosity osteotomy, place screws to fix a calcaneal osteotomy, list HCS features
    • Midfoot fusion bolt*: List clinical indications to midfoot fusion, describe the surgical approach to a medial column fusion, correct midfoot malalignment, prepare joints to fusion and insertion of the bolt, list Midfoot Fusion Bolt features, fix the medial column using the Midfoot Fusion Bolt, achieve rotational stability with a plate, specify additional soft-tissue procedures, outline postoperative management
    • Midfoot Charcot deformity correction*
    • 1st MTPJ fusion*: Review clinical indications and contraindications for first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion, describe the dorsomedial approach to the first metatarsophalangeal joint, prepare the joint surfaces to fusion, define the optimal position of the arthrodesis, perform the arthrodesis fixation with a lag screw and a dorsal neutralization plate
    • Scarf osteotomy*: Review clinical indications and contraindications for scarf and Akin osteotomies, describe lateral soft-tissue release of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, describe the medial approach to the first metatarsal and first metatarsophalangeal joint, perform resection of the medial eminence, perform the scarf osteotomy and correct the deformity, fix the scarf osteotomy with screws, perform an Akin osteotomy and fix it with a screw, describe the postoperative care
    • Lapidus*: Review clinical indications and contraindications to a Lapidus procedure, describe the dorsal and medial approaches used to a Lapidus procedure, describe lateral soft-tissue release of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, make a pocket hole for insertion of the lag screw, perform resection of the medial eminence, prepare the joint surfaces to fusion correcting the deformity, fix the fusion with lag screws and a neutralization plate, describe the postoperative care
    • Brostrom/lateral ligament reconstruction +/- graft*

    *Up to 3 of these practical exercises are carried out per course, which varies by region. Check your chosen date and location for the full program.

  • Anatomical Specimen Workshops*

    Specimen 1

    • Talar neck fracture approaches
    • Talar dome exposure; fibular and medial malleolar osteotomies
    • Gastroc slide (ensure long enough specimens)
    • Lapidus
    • Plantar plate repair
    • Minimally invasive approach for calcaneal fractures
    • Sustentacular approach for calcaneal fractures
    • Pilon approaches

    Specimen 2

    • Posterior ankle scope
    • Subtalar arthroscopy
    • SPLATT
    • Interosseous tibialis posterior tendon transfer
    • Extensile lateral approach for calcaneal fractures
    • Posterior bone block arthrodesis
    • Compartment syndrome release (foot/leg)
    • 1st metatarsal osteotomy for the correction of hallux valgus
    • 1st MTPJ fusion
    • FHL tendon transfer for Achilles or peroneal insufficiency
    • FDL tendon transfer for flatfoot

    *Some "Foot and Ankle reconstruction" course dates do not offer an Anatomical Specimen workshop, which will be made evident in the name of the course, and the description. Check your chosen place and date course for the full program.

Course details may be subject to change. Please check your chosen date and location for the detailed program.

Target audience

  • Foot and ankle specialists early in their careers
  • Generalists (orthopedics) spending about 20 percent of their time on trauma (including community surgeons)
  • Foot and ankle experts
  • Trauma surgeons

Course impressions

Competencies

The curriculum is based upon 8 competencies:

  •  Perform adequate clinical evaluation and workup
  • Recognize the potential for higher complication rates in patients with comorbidities, and plan appropriately
  • Apply appropriate timing and staging in the treatment of fractures and dislocations, including polytrauma
  • Recognize the indications and goals for reconstruction and perform procedures or refer, subject to expertise
  • Select and perform appropriate surgical procedures, including handling of soft tissue
  • Apply the principles of internal fixation and bone healing, including minimally invasive surgery
  • Educate the patient regarding rehabilitation and prescribe an appropriate program
  • Recognize and manage early and late complications

What does competency-based curriculum development mean?

Learn more

Resources

Book

Manual of Fracture Management—Foot and Ankle

Foot and ankle education task force

The foot and ankle education taskforce is a group of experts who build and continuously improve our educational program. It consists of three international program editors (IPEs).

Keen-Wai Chong (SG)

Term: 2021–2023

Lori Reed (US)

Term: 2022–2024

Igors Terjajevs (LV)

Term: 2023–2025

See a full list of all regional program contributors and past international program editors.

“This curriculum redesign promotes interactive learning and offers a robust and flexible framework to build education that improves health care delivery. I'm sure it will equip our surgeon learners with better tools for improving their patients' outcomes.”

Stefan Rammelt (DE), former member of the foot and ankle education taskforce

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