AO Surgery Reference-Pediatric Trauma (AOSR-PT)

The third anatomical regional module of the world’s first comprehensive online pediatric surgery reference goes live during the AO Foundation Davos Courses 2017, December 3–14. This new proximal femur module is part of the AO Surgery Reference-Pediatric Trauma (AOSR-PT), a dynamic educational resource made possible by a 2014 grant from the Strategy Fund.

More than a year in the making, the proximal femur module significantly expands the AOSR-PT, which also includes the distal forearm, distal humerus and Essential Concepts modules. The proximal femur content encompasses 40 surgical procedures and seven surgical approaches for 13 pediatric fracture types, as well as 600 illustrations.

“The proximal femur module is an important one because there is quite a variety of injury complexes, and special considerations such as the blood supply of the hip region and growth areas of the upper femur,” said Prof Chris Colton, AOSR-PT General Editor. He explained that improper treatment of proximal femur fractures in children can result in lifelong disability to the patient, so surgeons need the detailed information provided by the new module.

“We are not just providing a valuable resource for surgeons in the developing world, but also for surgeons in small- and medium-sized countries who may not have access to specialized pediatric fracture centers,” Colton said.

The new proximal femur content is presented in the same easy-to-use format that has proven popular with, and is familiar to, existing users of the AOSR-PT.

“You simply go into the diagnosis section and identify that fracture that is the object of your interest from the classification page. The AOSR-PT will then give you your options, from preparation to reduction and fixation, including all illustrations, approaches and after care,” said Colton.

Colton and AO Technical Commission Pediatric Expert Group (Trauma) Chairman James Hunter began work on the AOSR-PT in 2013, with a small grant from the AO Trauma Education Commission. In 2014 Colton and Lars Veum secured a three-year AO Strategy Fund grant to finance development of the first three regional modules. Contributing, along with Colton, to development of the proximal femur module were Executive Editor Fergal Monsell, authors Andrew Howard, James Hunter and Theddy Slongo, Project Manager Carolina Salenius, and medical illustrators Marcel Erismann, Ruth Angliker and Anja Giger. Colton retires from his position as AOSR-PT General Editor at the end of 2017 and will be succeeded by Monsell, with Hunter becoming Executive Editor.

With completion of the proximal femur module, the Strategy Fund grant expires.

“We do have one year of funding to support development of a forearm shaft module in 2018, but there is no guaranteed budget for the long-term pursuit of the AOSR-PT project beyond 2018,” Colton said. “Talks are in progress to secure funding for continued evolution of this valuable, living educational resource beyond 2018.”

Furthermore, the AOSR-PT has received funding from AO United Kingdom and Ireland to conduct a professional, global survey of AOSR-PT users in 2018. Colton expects that the survey results will be available in six to eight months, and could inform future development of the resource.

Colton added that the AOSR-PT perfectly supports the AO Foundation mission of achieving more effective patient care worldwide.

“I believe the AOSR-PT is superb educational content. There is a demonstrable worldwide need for a pediatric fracture-care resource and, outside the AOSR-PT, there is no other resource of this type in the public domain with this sort of structure and so finely attuned to what we believe trauma professionals worldwide want. It meets an educational need that previously was unmet,” he said. “Anecdotally and in terms of statistics, the content has been very well received and certainly is worthy of further support for its development and extension.”