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Neurology: Advanced Neurosurgery

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Principal Course Master(s):

Prof. Dr. Franck Forterre, Dipl. ECVS (CH)

Course Master(s):

Arianna Maiolini (CH)
Guillaume Dutil (FR)
Enrice Huenerfauth (CH)
Massimo Baroni (IT)

Instructor(s):

Nicole Wolf (CH)
Koral Baud (CH)
Ulrike van der Pol (CH)
Aurelia Gasser (CH)
Lise Hourriez (CH)

Course Overview

This intensive five-day course is designed for veterinary professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in advanced neurosurgical techniques. The program combines comprehensive lectures, case discussions, and hands-on wet labs, providing participants with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to manage complex neurosurgical cases.

Participants will explore a range of advanced procedures, including cervical facettectomy, thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy, spinal stabilization techniques, and brain and peripheral nerve surgery. Each day begins with a structured review of key concepts and learning objectives, followed by in-depth discussions on indications, techniques, and potential complications. The afternoons are dedicated to guided wet lab sessions, ensuring hands-on practice under expert supervision.

Key highlights of the course include:

  • Surgical techniques for cervical, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral procedures
  • Spinal stabilization methods and their clinical applications
  • Brain and peripheral nerve surgery, including common challenges
  • Case-based discussions on surgical vs. non-surgical approaches
  • Networking opportunities, including a welcome apéro and social dinner

On the final day, participants will engage in case-based clinical reasoning exercises, discussing real-world scenarios to refine their decision-making skills. The course concludes with an outlook on further training opportunities, including certification and master’s programs.

This program is ideal for veterinarians with prior experience in neurology (ESAVS Neurology courses), surgery (ESAVS STS and Orthopaedics courses), or equivalent, who wish to enhance their practical skills in advanced neurosurgical interventions.

Course Program (Subject to change)

Monday, 1 Sep 2025

08.45 – 09.00 Registration and welcome Forterre
09.00 – 09.30 Introduction and goals of the course, prep. BYOC Forterre
09.30 – 11.00 Dorsal cervical access: just the backdoor version of a ventral slot? Huenerfauth
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 12.15 Understand well and treating accurately dorsal/dorsolateral cervical compressions: Facetectomy vs dorsal laminectomy Forterre
12.15 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.00 Wet lab: Cervical facetectomy and cervical dorsal laminectomy Forterre, Huenerfauth, Wolf, Hourriez
15.00 – 15.30 Coffee Break
15.30 – 17.00 Wet lab and closing discussions. Forterre, Huenerfauth, Wolf, Hourriez
Starting 17.30 Welcome Apéro

Tuesday, 2 Sep 2025
09.00 – 09.15 Summary of day 1 – Learning objectives for day 2 Forterre
09.15 – 10.00 Surgical Management of Spinal Diverticula in Dogs: Indications Maiolini for Durotomy, Durectomy, and Beyond
10.00-11.00 Understand well and performing accurately thoracolumbar Forterre lateral corpectomy
Understand well and treating accurately thoracolumbar spinal neoplasia
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 12.15 Understand well and treating accurately lumbosacral foraminal stenosis Forterre
12.15 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.00 Wet Lab: Thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy, modified dorsal approaches and lumbosacral foraminotomy Forterre, Maiolini, Baud, vdPol
15.00 – 15.30 Coffee Break
15.30 – 17.00 Wet lab and closing discussions. Forterre, Maiolini, Baud, vdPol
Wednesday, 3 Sep 2025

09.00 – 09.15 Summary of day 2 – Learning objectives for day 3 Forterre
09.15 – 10.30 Thoracolumbar and cervical stabilization Forterre
10.30 – 11.00 Pedicle screw system considerations Mandelli*
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 12.15 Clinical use of pedicle screws Baroni
12.15 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.00 Wet Lab: cervical and thoracolumbar stabilization techniques Forterre, Baroni, Wolf, vdPol
15.00 – 15.30 Coffee Break
15.30 – 17.00 Wet lab and closing discussions. Forterre, Baroni, Wolf, vdPol
19.00 Social Dinner

Thursday, 4 Sep 2025
09.00 – 09.15 Summary of day 3 – Learning objectives for day 4 Forterre
09.15 – 11.00 Brain surgery – indications and procedures for brain surgery and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement Dutil
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break
11.30 – 12.15 Short overview about peripheral nerve surgery Forterre
12.15 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.00 Wet Lab: Surgical approaches to the brain Forterre, Dutil, Baud, Gasser
15.00 – 15.30 Coffee Break
15.30 – 17.00 Wet lab and closing discussions. Forterre, Dutil, Baud, Gasser
Friday, 5 Sep 2025

09.00 – 09.15 Summary of day 4 – Learning objectives for day 5 Forterre
09.15 – 10.30 Case-based clinical reasoning – surgical vs. non-surgical approaches Huenerfauth, Dutil, Forterre
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee Break
11.00 – 12.15 Outlook to Neurology courses, Certificate and Master Programs & CASUS Stein
12.15 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.00 BYOC + Final discussion Huenerfauth, Dutil, Forterre

Tuition fee*:

3.990.-

Early registration fee*:

3.890.-

Early registration deadline:

01/04/2025

Total hours:

40

ATF hours (AU, DE, LU, CH):

TBA

ECTS credits (Master & Certificate):

5
* eLibrary access is included in the course fee

We thank the following companies for their support

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