Davos: The Alpine town that changed fracture care forever
Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Davos is best known for its breathtaking landscapes and as the host of the World Economic Forum. Yet, for the global orthopedic community, Davos holds an equally prestigious distinction: It is the headquarters of the AO Foundation, a pioneering organization that transformed fracture care and musculoskeletal surgery worldwide.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, fracture treatment was often inadequate, leaving patients with severe disabilities. Swiss surgeon Maurice Müller, along with colleagues Martin Allgöwer, Walter Bandi, Robert Schneider, and Hans Willenegger, envisioned a new approach: internal fixation using plates and screws to stabilize fractures and promote early mobility. Their collaboration led to the founding of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO).
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, fracture treatment was often inadequate, leaving patients with severe disabilities. Swiss surgeon Maurice Müller, along with colleagues Martin Allgöwer, Walter Bandi, Robert Schneider, and Hans Willenegger, envisioned a new approach: internal fixation using plates and screws to stabilize fractures and promote early mobility. Their collaboration led to the founding of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO).
The AO was built on four guiding principles that remain central today:
- Anatomic reduction – restoring bone fragments to their original position.
- Stable fixation – ensuring mechanical stability for healing.
- Preservation of blood supply – minimizing tissue damage during surgery.
- Early mobilization – enabling patients to regain function quickly.
These principles revolutionized trauma care and became the foundation for modern orthopedic surgery.
Shortly after the AO’s founding, the group’s need for a dedicated research facility became clear. Martin Allgöwer, who worked at the cantonal hospital in nearby Chur, had heard about an abandoned tuberculosis research institute in Davos. With the onset of vaccination and antibiotic treatment, the once flourishing industry of sanatoriums and institutes for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Alpine town was in rapid decline, and many of the premises were now up for rent.
In 1959, the AO established its “Laboratory for Experimental Surgery” at Villa Fontana in Davos. The town not only provided a serene environment conducive to research and innovation, but also embraced the AO’s mission, fostering a lasting partnership between the community and the organization.
In 1959, the AO established its “Laboratory for Experimental Surgery” at Villa Fontana in Davos. The town not only provided a serene environment conducive to research and innovation, but also embraced the AO’s mission, fostering a lasting partnership between the community and the organization.
The AO Davos Courses: A tradition of surgical excellence
In 1960, the first AO course was held at the Laboratory for Experimental Surgery. 69 surgeons gathered in Davos for a four-day program to learn techniques that were considered experimental at the time—internal fixation using plates and screws. Only surgeons who had participated in the course were allowed to purchase the first set of AO instruments. The event marked the beginning of the AO’s flagship educational tradition.
Over the decades, the AO Davos Courses have grown into a world-class educational event, attracting over 1,500 healthcare professionals from around 80 countries each year. They have not only fostered the dissemination of the AO’s principles worldwide but also cemented Davos as the epicenter of orthopedic education. The AO Davos Courses embody the AO spirit of collegiality and collaboration like no other event, uniting a global community of surgeons committed to improving patient care.
The AO Davos courses today:
- Over 1,500 participants and faculty attending every year
- Hands-on training with dry bones and anatomical specimens.
- Live surgical demonstrations in cutting-edge facilities like the SHARD mobile operating theater.
- Networking opportunities with faculty members and peers from around the globe.
- Access to the AO’s headquarters and R&D facilities, reinforcing the link between education and innovation.
The AO Center: A hub for global collaboration
As the AO grew internationally, Davos became the natural choice for its headquarters. In 1992, the AO Foundation inaugurated the AO Center, a purpose-built facility bringing together all of the AO’s units and housing research, education, documentation, and administration under one roof.Today, the AO Center employs over 300 professionals and serves as the nerve center for the AO’s worldwide network of surgeons, scientists, and educators.
After more than 30 years at the AO Center, the organization has outgrown its building. With the ongoing construction of the “Science Circle”, featuring state-of-the-art research facilities and sustainable design, the AO is shaping its future towards the “AO Campus”, to be finished in 2028, and underscoring its dedication to remaining in Davos for decades to come.
From its modest beginnings in a repurposed building to its status as a global leader in musculoskeletal research and education, the AO Foundation’s choice of Davos has proven visionary. Today, Davos is home to a variety of scientific organizations and proudly calls itself a “Science City”, providing a thriving scientific ecosystem. Its alpine setting and high quality of life attract top talent from around the world, and the large scientific community offers exciting opportunities for collaboration.
As the AO continues to push boundaries in the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders all over the world, it remains firmly rooted in the small Alpine town that once became its home almost accidentally. And while the cameras of global broadcasters will all be directed at Davos next January for the World Economic Forum, only a small fraction of the viewers will be aware that this little mountain town profoundly changed how we treat and heal fractures and improved the lives of millions of patients worldwide.
As the AO continues to push boundaries in the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders all over the world, it remains firmly rooted in the small Alpine town that once became its home almost accidentally. And while the cameras of global broadcasters will all be directed at Davos next January for the World Economic Forum, only a small fraction of the viewers will be aware that this little mountain town profoundly changed how we treat and heal fractures and improved the lives of millions of patients worldwide.