Orthopaedic Surgery – Trauma Basic Course

Name: Orthopaedic Surgery – Trauma Basic Course
Start: 2026-04-27T00:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-01T23:59:59+02:00
Location: Vienna, Austria

Waiting list open

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Program Director:

Univ. Prof. Dr. Eva Schnabl-Feichter , Dipl. ECVS (AT)

Principal Course Master(s):

Univ. Prof. Dr. Eva Schnabl-Feichter , Dipl. ECVS (AT)

Course Overview

Veterinary Orthopaedics – Introduction to Trauma and Fracture Management

This intensive, hands-on training course provides a comprehensive introduction to small-animal orthopaedics, with a strong focus on trauma management and fundamental fracture repair techniques. Across five days, participants gain a solid understanding of bone biology, biomechanics, implant selection, fracture assessment, and decision-making in orthopaedic trauma cases. The program combines lectures, case discussions, dry labs, and wet lab practical sessions, ensuring a balanced blend of theory and applied surgical skills.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand fracture healing principles
Differentiate between direct and indirect bone healing and understand how biology and mechanics influence fracture repair.
2. Analyse fractures and plan fixation
Systematically assess and classify fractures to develop appropriate stabilisation and surgical plans for simple and complex cases.
3. Select and apply implants correctly
Understand the indications, advantages, and limitations of screws, plates, nails, pins, cerclage wires, and external fixation systems.
4. Apply plate and screw techniques effectively
Use compression, neutralisation, and bridging techniques appropriately and perform correct screw application to achieve stable fixation.
5. Manage fractures of long bones and joints
Plan and perform fixation of common diaphyseal, articular, and physeal fractures using appropriate surgical approaches and techniques.
6. Recognise and manage complications
Identify common complications such as delayed healing, non-union, infection, and implant failure, and implement preventive and corrective strategies.
7. Plan aftercare and alternative stabilisation methods
Evaluate postoperative care, external coaptation, bone grafting, and external fixation options to support successful healing.

Topics

– Foundations of Bone Healing and Fracture Assessment
– Implants, Fracture Repair Techniques, and Healing Assessment
– Advanced Fracture Repair and Surgical Approaches
– Applied Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Rehabilitation
– Complications and Clinical Decision-Making

Course Program (Subject to change)

Monday, 27 April 2026 - Introduction to bone healing and fracture assessment

8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Introduction to course Eva Schnabl-Feichter Diane Meiler Kevin Parsons
9.15 – 9.45 Bone – Biomechanics and healing Lecture Diane Meiler
9.45 – 10.15 Approach to the trauma case – Initial approach / stabilisation etc Lecture Kevin Parsons
10.15 – 10.45 Soft Tissue Handling and fracture reduction techniques Lecture Eva Schnabl-Feichter
10.45 – 11.00 COFFEE BREAK
11.00 – 11.30 Fracture case assessment and fracture classification Lecture Eva Schnabl-Feichter
11.30 – 12.30 Case discussion FPAS Discussions Kevin Parsons
12.30 – 13.30 LUNCH
13.30 – 14.00 Cats are not small dogs Lecture Diane Meiler
14.00 – 14.30 Introduction to screws
• Types of screw
• Choosing screws
• Applying screws Lecture Kevin Parsons
14.30 – 14.45 COFFEE BREAK
14.45 – 15.15 Screw practical – Lag screw and positional screw Dry lab
15.15 – 16.00 Introduction to pins and wire and tension bands-
IM pins
Placement of IM pins
Pins and tension band Lecture Kevin Parsons
16.00 – 17.00 Pin and tension band and Cerclage techniques Dry lab
17:00-19:00 GET TOGETHER

Tuesday, 28 April 2026 - Introduction to management of open fractures and osteomyelitis

9.00 – 9.15 Review of previous day
9:15- 09:45 Managing open fractures Lecture Diane Meiler
9:45- 10:15 Infection and osteomyelitis and the appropriate use of antibiotics Lecture Diane Meiler
Plate Osteosynthesis and Long Bone Fractures
10.15 – 10.45 Introduction to plates
• Non locking plates
• Selection of plates
• Benefits of plates Lecture Kevin Parsons
10.45 – 11.00 COFFEE BREAK
11:00 – 11.15 Compression plates Lecture Diane Meiler
11.15 – 11.30 Neutralisation plates Lecture Diane Meiler
11.30 – 11.45 Bridging plates Lecture Diane Meiler
11.45 – 12.00 Introduction to interlocking nail Lecture Diane Meiler
12.00 – 13.00 Transverse radial fracture Lecture Kevin Parsons
13.00 – 14.00 LUNCH
14.00 – 14.15 Femoral fractures Lecture Kevin Parsons
14.15– 15.25 Comminuted femoral fracture
• Intramedullary pin and plate Dry lab
15.25 – 15.40 COFFEE BREAK
15.40 – 15.55 Tibial fractures Lecture Kevin Parsons
15.55 – 17.00 Oblique tibial fracture
• Lag screw and neutralisation plate Dry lab

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 - Introduction to other osteosynthesis techniques and diagnostic imaging and radiographic planning of the trauma case

9.00 – 9.15 Review of previous day
9.15 – 9.35 Introduction to Juvenile fractures Lecture Diane Meiler
9.35 – 10.15 Introduction to External Skeletal Fixators Lecture Kevin Parsons
10.15 – 10.30 COFFEE BREAK
10.30 – 11.30 Diagnostic imaging of the trauma case Lecture Carina Strohmayer
11.30 – 12.30 Interactive fracture planning of radius/ulna, femoral and tibial fractures Discussion Diane Meiler / Kevin Parsons
12.30 – 13.30 LUNCH
Fracture stabilisation Wetlab Practical
13.30 – 15.00 Cranio-dorsal approach to the radius and stabilisation of a transverse radial fracture with a compression plate Wetlab
15.00 – 15.15 COFFEE BREAK
15.15 – 17.00 Lateral approach to femur and stabilisation of a comminuted femoral fracture with an intramedullary pin and a bridging plate Wetlab
18.00 – 21.00 FAIRWELL DINNER

Thursday, 30 April 2026 - Osteosynthesis techniques and introduction to postoperative radiographs assessment and management plans

9:00 – 9:15 Review of previous day
9:15 – 09:45 Bone graft Lecture Kevin Parsons
9:45 – 10:00 COFFEE BREAK
10:00 – 11:30 Medial approach to the tibia and stabilisation of an oblique fracture with lag screws and neutralisation plate Wet lab
11:30 – 11:50 Metacarpal and metatarsal fractures Lecture Diane Meiler
11:50 – 12:30 Dowel pinning metatarsal fracture Wet lab
12:30 – 13:30 LUNCH
13.30 – 13.50 The Four A’s of radiographic assessment Lecture Diane Meiler
13:50 – 14:20 Post operative rehabilitation and fracture disease Lecture Diane Meiler
14:20 – 14:35 Locking plates and their pitfalls Lecture Kevin Parsons
14:35 – 14:55 Introduction to articular fractures Lecture Kevin Parsons
14:55 – 15:15 COFFEE BREAK
15:15 – 16:15 Pre / Peri and postoperative analgesia options for longbone fracture management Lecture Eva Eberspächer-Schweda
Complications and Case Management
16:15 – 17:00 Delayed union, non-union and malunion Lecture Kevin Parsons

Friday, 1 May 2026 - Discussion of MIPO and conservative fracture management. Post operative complications and radiographic assessment

8:00 – 8:15 Review of previous day
8:15 – 9:40 Post operative radiograph reviews Case discussion
9:40 – 10:00 MIPO Lecture Kevin Parsons
10:00 – 10:15 COFFEE BREAK
10:15 – 10:40 Pathological fractures Lecture Diane Meiler
10:40 – 12:00 Management of post-operative complications – Fracture case discussion Case discussion Kevin Parsons / Diane Meiler
12:00 – 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 – 13:20 Conservative fracture management – when is it an option? Lecture Kevin Parsons
13:20 – 14:00 Why did my repair fail? Lecture Diane Meiler / Kevin Parsons
14:00 – 15:00 Evaluation and CASUS case management and Certification Eva Schnabl-Feichter