AO Trauma Masterclass — Experts Strategies for Complex Cases (Dec 06 - 11, 2026)

AO Trauma Masterclass — Experts Strategies for Complex Cases is organized by AO Foundation and will be held from Dec 06 - 11, 2026 at Davos, Canton, Switzerland.

Goal

The event will demonstrate how senior AO surgeons plan and operationalize complex clinical trauma cases. This will be shown in multiple ways in different anatomical scenarios so participants can learn how to plan and organize their next difficult trauma case.

Description
This masterclass is delivered as four case-based modules per day, thereby covering 18 difficult trauma related topics in depth over 4 days. Each module is delivered by one very experienced AO Trauma faculty member who will present two challenging trauma scenarios that require in-depth investigation, planning, operative intervention, and rehabilitation. Participants work through every step of the cases along with the faculty member. The faculty member then presents their plan, outcomes, best available evidence, and their philosophy on the management of the problem. During each module, participants will form small groups to make a preoperative plan—one or more groups will be invited to present their plan, and the solutions will be discussed with all participants. At the end of each session the expert faculty member will present their personal tips on the topic – the “Tips from the Masters”.

Objectives

Upon completion of this masterclass, participants will be able to: 

• Develop and implement a preoperative plan for all stages of difficult trauma cases 
• Recognize and manage unusual and rare clinical problems 
• Implement operative treatment decisions with planned clinical outcomes 
• Identify performance gaps in practice and implement strategies to fill these gaps 
• Apply biomechanical principles to decision making in difficult and complex trauma cases 
• Apply evidence-based medicine to decision making in difficult and complex trauma cases