AO Spine Knowledge Forums: leading global innovation in spine care
The AO Spine Research Commission at the fall 2024 meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The AO Spine Knowledge Forums (KFs) are expert-driven global clinical study groups central to AO Spine. They embody the AO Foundation’s commitment to excellence in patient care and outcomes.
Over the past decade, these forums have established themselves as an exemplary model for international collaborative clinical research. Bringing together diverse multidisciplinary experts to discuss research, they identify global clinical needs, formulate and execute clinically relevant studies. “What makes the KFs so unique is that they are made up of spine surgeons from all over the world who contribute their different perspectives. The commitment of the KF members is extraordinary, considering that these top scientists give up some of their free time,” said Klaus Schnake, Chairperson of the AO Spine Research Commission (AO SRC).
“The Knowledge Forums provide a unique platform where people passionate about spine research collaborate toward improving the lives of patients with spinal disorders.”
Ilya Laufer, Chairperson AO Spine KF Tumor
The AO Spine KF’s groundbreaking research is published in influential journals and presented at major conferences worldwide, having garnered a host of prestigious international awards. The results are transformed into clinical tools and integrated into AO courses, ensuring AO Spine's reputation as the premier innovator and knowledge provider in spine care.
“The KFs provide a unique platform where people passionate about spine research collaborate toward improving the lives of patients with spinal disorders”, said Ilya Laufer, Chairperson of the AO Spine KF Tumor and a member of the AO SRC. “The breadth of international representation, practice settings, clinical experience and viewpoints, and the culture of mutual respect allow us to reach broadly applicable consensus about optimal treatment decisions and to conduct impactful and practice-altering research.”
The AO Spine KFs conduct multicenter studies on a global level, leveraging their strength in gathering high-quality generalizable data, supported by the AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC). Invitation to these groups is based on a proven track record of research, a passion for collaboration, and recognition within the community as key opinion leaders. Currently, more than 250 expert spine clinicians and researchers from 38 countries contribute as members of the AO Spine KFs.
“What motivates me to stand up for the Knowledge Forums is the opportunity to contribute to a platform that transcends individual interests and strives toward meaningful, global impact in spine care.”
Alfredo Guiroy, Regional Research Officer for Latin America
Alfredo Guiroy, the Regional Research Officer for Latin America and an associate member of the AO Spine KF Trauma & Infection, emphasized how the KFs foster collaboration within and between regions: “As the Latin America representative, I view my role as a bridge between the region and the global community—helping to bring regional diversity and perspective to the table, strengthening the connection with the AO Spine LatAm Trauma Study Group, supporting knowledge translation efforts, and identifying and mentoring future leaders from Latin America for active participation in the KFs.”
“Over the years, the AO Spine KFs have gained the undisputed position as the world leaders in spine research and exchange of ideas. Our recently conducted bibliometric analysis of the published work by members of all five KFs demonstrated that over the years the international and inter-institutional collaboration has flourished, leading to increased impact factor of the published work,” said Laufer. “I’m excited about the ongoing and upcoming prospective studies, the integration of novel technology to improve the quality of research, and the external collaborations with likeminded organizations.”
AO Spine KFs have secured competitive funding from and partnered with various esteemed organizations, including the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, the Scoliosis Research Society, the United States Department of Defense, myelopathy.org, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, James Lind Alliance and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They have become the premier knowledge brokers within the spine community and have raised awareness of their findings through extensive knowledge exchange and dissemination, as Schnake is keen to emphasize: “The KF's publications are highly regarded in the spine community. Many spine surgeons use them as guides in their daily work. They have the power to continue to set the standard in the treatment of spinal patients.”
"The commitment of the KF members is extraordinary, considering that these top scientists give up some of their free time.”
Klaus Schnake, Chairperson of the AO Spine Research Commission
“What motivates me to stand up for the KFs is the opportunity to contribute to a platform that transcends individual interests and strives toward meaningful, global impact in spine care,“ said Guiroy. “Looking ahead, I believe the KFs are well-positioned to further integrate regional data, expand collaborative studies, and develop more agile methods for addressing rapidly evolving clinical questions—especially with the incorporation of artificial intelligence and real-world evidence.”