AO Technical Commission Experts Symposia

The Experts Symposia of the AO Technical Commission (AO TC) are well-established events to foster exchange among surgeons and representatives of our industrial partners with the overall goal to improve patient treatment. It is essential to review the clinical performance of implants, instruments, and the surgical techniques. Open and straightforward discussions are fundamental for identifying potential device improvements and refinements of surgical procedures. Consequently, the symposium format is fundamental in fulfilling the AO TC quality assurance mandate for newly developed devices when they become available for surgeons. The symposia have proven to be invaluable for defining the remaining unmet clinical need that is not yet addressed by existing solutions. This type of information is imperative to justify the initiation of new development projects, which makes the Experts Symposia highly appealing to our industrial partners. The information exchange at the symposia is strictly confidential.

The experiences over the past few years have reinforced the benefits of inviting experienced surgeons of all age groups to the symposia. While the more senior surgeons are familiar with the development history of implants and instruments as they became available, younger surgeons may be more apt to think out of the box. Since the initiation of the AO TC Experts Symposia in 2006 about 920 surgeons have participated and consequently, this AO TC network is rapidly expanding.