OVERVIEW

AO Trauma Masters Course—Current Concepts—Upper Extremity II (Elbow to Wrist) (With Human Anatomical Specimens) is organized by AO Foundation and will be held from Dec 06 - 11, 2026 at Davos, Canton, Switzerland.

Goal
The goal of this course is to enhance decision-making and analytical skills in managing complex and sometimes uncommon injuries of the elbow, forearm, and wrist—injuries that can often be misdiagnosed or mistreated. With a team of highly specialized elbow and hand surgeons as faculty, participants will be guided through advanced techniques, best practices for treatment, and strategies for managing complications in upper extremity trauma.

Description
Current concepts courses and modules address the latest techniques and best practices in operative fracture management to deal with complex orthopedic trauma problems of the upper extremity. The course includes many case presentations and open group discussions moderated by experts in the field. Best evidence is presented through summary lectures and practical exercises in the anatomical specimen laboratory.

This 5-day, masters-level course covers the elbow and wrist, plus four Universal Learning Modules (ULMs). These half-day modules add to the learning experience and give participants even more insight into very important interdisciplinary topics: infection, nonunion and malunion, fragility fractures, and external fixation.

Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Discuss, apply, and integrate principles of assessment and surgical management used by specialists for complex and sometimes uncommon elbow, forearm, and wrist injuries (both bone and soft tissue) that can be missed or misdiagnosed
Recognize key associated soft tissue and ligamentous injuries, prioritize their management, and understand how these injuries impact treatment planning for complex upper extremity trauma
Explain preoperative decision-making, including understanding the indications and contraindications for advanced surgical interventions for these injuries
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical approaches and fixation techniques based on the specific needs of each injury
Identify and safely perform complex reconstructive procedures for upper extremity injuries, grounded in the principles of current best practices and surgical techniques
List common complications associated with complex upper extremity injuries and their surgical treatment, and discuss strategies for both prevention and management of these complications when they arise
Integrate new and emerging technologies and procedures, where appropriate, into the management of upper extremity trauma to improve patient outcomes
Incorporate postoperative care and rehabilitation protocols, specifically tailored to the conditions discussed, ensuring a comprehensive approach to recovery and long-term function