AO Technical Commission Meet the Experts
Excellence in innovation on display.
This popular format offers the opportunity to learn about the AO Technical Commission's most recently approved medical devices and to explore hot topics in trauma and orthopedic surgery. The sessions showcase clinical benefits of innovative devices and surgical techniques which are so new that they have not yet been included in AO course programs.
In an engaging series of stage shows featuring practical demonstrations, expert surgeons who are directly involved in the development of new implants and instruments present clinical cases and explain the benefits of new solutions for patient care. The sessions are streamed live and available thereafter on our website.
Meet the Experts 2024
Explore latest innovations in orthopedic surgery with our experts.
Next-generation plating technology for orthopedic surgery, Variable Angle Optimized Locking Technology (VOLT™)
Presented by experts Christoph Sommer and Karl Stoffel, the session introduced advancements in plating systems including the new plate and screw designs available in stainless steel and titanium across all sizes. The session emphasized standardization for improved operational efficiency, enhanced soft-tissue preservation, and innovative features like adaptive plate profiles, high-polish surfaces, and advanced locking mechanisms. The demonstration included enhanced implants and instruments including the threaded drill sleeve, depth gauge, and new screw types, showcasing improved handling, strength, and compatibility. Procedures for complex fractures were shown, such as the use of hook plates for medial malleolus fixation, with live demonstrations of reduction, fixation, and plating techniques.
VOLT™ Wrist Treatment System
Expert surgeons Martin Langer and Alejandro Lluch demonstrated the VOLT™ Wrist Treatment System, a comprehensive plating solution designed to address the entire spectrum of wrist fractures. The session highlighted features of the new technology, including standard volar and dorsal fixation for basic fractures, specialized plating options for more complex fractures, dedicated implants for elective procedures, and wrist-specialized instrumentation. The practical application demonstrated how the new technology allows fixation of very distal wrist fractures without invading articular space or causing postoperative soft-tissue concerns. The presenters emphasized how the new system allows low-profile plating with exceptional stability, and how the enhanced design facilitates the entire surgical procedure, offering easier fracture reduction, plate placement, and screw insertion.
VOLT™ Proximal Humerus Plating System
Expert surgeons Simon Lambert and Joyce Koh highlighted design innovations in the VOLT™ Proximal Humerus Plating System, including the incorporation of Variable Angle Optimized Locking Technology (VOLT™) and self-locking screws, features which enable precise placement and enhanced outcomes for proximal humerus fractures, particularly in small-statured patients. The session included a live demonstration of a deltopectoral approach, showcasing surgical techniques for exposure, plate positioning, and screw placement. Enhanced features such as low-profile screw heads, improved suture placement options, and variable angle screw trajectories were emphasized for reducing complications like acromial impingement.
MatrixSTERNUM™ Sternal Fixation System
Featuring a live demonstration of the MatrixSTERNUM™ Sternal Fixation System, led by expert cardiothoracic surgeons Mario Gasparri and Stefan Schulz-Drost. The session began with an overview of the clinical challenges associated with traditional sternal closure methods, such as the use of wires, which carry risks of failure and complications like sternal dehiscence and wound infections. The presenters emphasized the benefits of rigid plate fixation, which include increased stability, reduced postoperative pain, and improved healing. The demonstration showcased the system’s innovative design, featuring low-profile titanium plates, locking screws, and specialized instruments for precise application and contouring. The discussion also addressed concerns about adoption, such as procedural safety, time efficiency, and compatibility with patient anatomy, alongside strategies for rapid reentry in emergencies. The session concluded by highlighting the system’s potential to improve surgical outcomes and reduce complications in high-risk cardiothoracic patients.
video here"
Distal Radius Intramedullary Nail (DRIM-Nail)
Schweizer, Martin Langer, and Alejandro Lluch demonstrated the Distal Radius Intramedullary Nail (DRIM-Nail), an intramedullary implant indicated for unstable A3 and A2 extraarticular fractures of the distal radius. The presenters highlighted how the design features of the new nail address various clinical complications which may follow fracture fixation using current state-of-the art techniques, including closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) techniques. The session included a practical demonstration of nail insertion using both a bone model and a prefractured anatomical specimen. The presenters concluded by highlighting a range of clinical cases successfully treated with the DRIM-Nail.
Find all Meet the Experts sessions here.
(register here and watch all videos for free)