AO Technical Commission Experts Symposia
The Experts Symposia of the AO Technical Commission (AO TC) are well-established events to foster exchange among surgeons and representatives of our industrial partners with the overall goal to improve patient treatment. It is essential to review the clinical performance of implants, instruments, and the surgical techniques. Open and straightforward discussions are fundamental for identifying potential device improvements and refinements of surgical procedures. Consequently, the symposium format is fundamental in fulfilling the AO TC quality assurance mandate for newly developed devices when they become available for surgeons. The symposia have proven to be invaluable for defining the remaining unmet clinical need that is not yet addressed by existing solutions. This type of information is imperative to justify the initiation of new development projects, which makes the Experts Symposia highly appealing to our industrial partners. The information exchange at the symposia is strictly confidential.
The experiences over the past few years have reinforced the benefits of inviting experienced surgeons of all age groups to the symposia. While the more senior surgeons are familiar with the development history of implants and instruments as they became available, younger surgeons may be more apt to think out of the box. Since the initiation of the AO TC Experts Symposia in 2006 about 920 surgeons have participated and consequently, this AO TC network is rapidly expanding.
15th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Asia Pacific), Indonesia
The 15th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Asia Pacific) took place on May 15–16, 2026, in Denpasar, Indonesia.
Under the leadership of Chairs Theerachai Apivatthakakul and JK Oh, the symposium brought together 42 trauma experts from 19 countries across the Asia Pacific region to discuss challenging clinical cases, complications, and unmet needs in trauma care.
Through interactive case based discussions and expert exchange, participants shared real world experiences, explored current treatment challenges, and identified opportunities for future innovation. The insights generated during the symposium will contribute to the AO Technical Commission's ongoing efforts to develop solutions that address clinically relevant needs and ultimately improve patient care.
Key topics included: fracture nonunion, challenging humerus fractures, tips and troubleshooting for intrapelvic plating, treatment of bone defects, distal radius fractures, femoral neck fractures, plating of small fragment fractures, fracture-related infection, and tibial plateau fractures.
The symposium provided a unique platform for open dialogue among experienced trauma surgeons and facilitated the identification of clinical needs that may drive future developments in implants, instruments, techniques, and digital solutions.
The next AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Asia Pacific) is planned for 2028.
8th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (North America), San Diego
The 8th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (North America), took place in San Diego on September 5–6, 2025, chaired by expert surgeon Mark Lee.
Leading experts and emerging surgeons come together in interactive, solution-oriented forums to share real clinical cases, identify unmet clinical needs, and discuss better solutions for trauma surgery.
In San Diego, sessions focused on challenges and opportunities in several anatomical regions:
- Clavicle and scapula fractures
- Proximal humeral fractures
- Humeral shaft fractures
- Complex elbow injuries
- Complex wrist fractures
Grounded in real clinical problems, these sessions have a genuine impact and ultimately drive the development of better solutions for patient care. The openness, expertise, and engagement of participants directly shapes the future priorities and innovation direction of the AO Technical Commission.
The 1st AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (North & Latin America) will take place in 2027 in San José, Costa Rica, chaired by Mark Lee and Paulo Barbosa.
16th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Europe), Florence
From August 30–31, 2024, the 16th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Europe) took place in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy, chaired by Michael Raschke. The successful event brought together 52 surgeons from 22 countries for in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing on the latest advancements in trauma surgery.
The symposium featured five sessions, in collaboration with the AO's key industry partner, focusing on cutting-edge innovations in the field.
Key topics included Acetabular Fractures, Proximal and Distal Femur Fractures, Ankle Fusion, and an outlook into Intelligent Implants. A highlight of the symposium was the special session with the AO's key industry partner J&J MedTech, where all participants had the opportunity to gain insights into their nail portfolio.
The 17th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Europe) will be held in 2026.
14th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Asia Pacific), South Korea
After four years, the Asia Pacific Symposium took place in Seoul, South Korea. The 14th edition of the AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium, held on April 5-6, 2024, saw attendance from 66 surgeons representing 18 countries. The event was chaired by the local expert, JK Oh. The event featured six sessions, each highlighting a total of 39 case presentations.
The topics covered included diagnosis of fracture-related infection (FRI), FRI management with critical bone defects, knee joint preservation techniques, treatment of distal femur fractures (including peri-prosthetic fractures), management of distal tibia fractures, and experiences with TFNA (Trochanteric Femoral Nail Advanced).
Throughout the discussions, participants and faculty identified certain challenges for the AO Technical Commission.
Building on the importance of this event, the 15th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Asia Pacific) is scheduled for spring 2026 and will be chaired by JK Oh.
5th AO TC Spine Experts Symposium, Dallas
The 5th AO Technical Commission (TC) Spine Experts Symposium brought together 32 participants, primarily from North America, for one and a half days of focused scientific exchange in Dallas, Texas, on March 21–22, 2025.
Chaired by Rick Bransford and Jean Ouellet, the symposium explored the complexities and innovations in managing spinal deformities across a wide range of patient populations. The program featured 31 case presentations, sparking dynamic discussions on topics including:
- Adult thoracolumbar deformities
- Post-traumatic deformities
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Early onset scoliosis
- Oncologic aspects of spinal deformities
Each session concluded with the identification of clinical needs and potential areas for innovation. The interactive format and diverse case discussions fostered a highly engaging environment for knowledge sharing and expert dialogue.
Building on the success of this event, the 6th AO TC Spine Experts Symposium is planned for spring 2027 in Europe.
4th AO TC Spine Experts Symposium, Chile
The fourth AO TC Spine Experts Symposium took place in 2024 in Santiago de Chile and was led by Maarten Spruit and Peter Derman. The event brought together 11 faculty members from nine countries and 25 participants from 10 countries, mainly in Latin America. The event was organized into five sessions, showcasing a total of 28 case presentations.
The symposium covered topics including surgical approaches to lumbar spondylolisthesis, infections at surgical sites in lumbar spine surgery, impact of lordosis in lumbosacral fusion L4-5-S1, evidence-based surgical treatment for neurologically intact A3-A4 TL fractures, and key points in minimally invasive surgery for lumbar spine pathology.
During the discussions, participants and faculty highlighted several development opportunities for the AO Technical Commission.
3rd AO TC Spine Experts Symposium, Singapore
The 3rd AO TC Spine Experts Symposium was held in Singapore and led by AO TC Spine Chairperson Maarten Spruit. The symposia brought together 25 participants from 13 countries, and the event featured five diverse sessions:
- Arthroplasty versus ACDF for Radiculopathy
- Laminoplasty versus Laminectomy (+/- fusion) versus ACDF for Myelopathy
- Upper Cervical Pathology Requiring Fusion: C1-2 or C0-2
- Cervical Deformity: Anterior versus Posterior versus Combined
- Robotics/Navigation/AR/VR: Gateway to Next Level Cervical Surgery and Results?
Each session consisted of an introduction of the subject by the faculty, followed by a case discussion using cases submitted by the participants, ending with a conclusion and clinical needs definition by the moderator.
This year's case winner was Torphong Bunmaprasert from Chiang Mai, Thailand, who presented a case about an acute traumatic lateral atlantoaxial dislocation associated with locked atlas lateral mass and odontoid process fracture.
2nd Spine AOTK Experts Symposium, Netherlands
Chaired by Maarten Spruit, the program - held in Amsterdam on September 20 and 21, 2019 - was divided into five sessions:
- Surgical site infection in spine surgery
- Degenerative lumbar discs and back pain
- Lumbar spine revision surgery
- Lumbar stenosis and spondylolithesis
- Instrumentation of the osteoporotic spine
Each session consisted of an introduction to the subject by one of the faculty, followed by a case discussion using cases submitted by participants, and finished with a conclusion and clinical needs definition by the moderator.
The case winner was Chung Chek Wong with his case about instrumentation of the osteoporotic spine.
3rd AO TC CMF Experts Symposium, US
Leading experts and emerging talents in CMF surgery convened in Washington DC on September 21–22, 2025, for the 3rd AO TC CMF Experts Symposium, expertly chaired by Nils-Claudius Gellrich and Michael Grant.
Through highly interactive sessions, participants presented thought-provoking clinical cases and identified important clinical needs in the following areas:
- CAD/CAM 3D-printed subperiosteal implants
- Immediate implant-supported dental rehabilitation
- Total mandibular joint replacement (TMJR)
Through their inspiring contributions, moderators, speakers, and participants showed their dedication to improving CMF surgery.
The AO Technical Commission (AO TC) is proud to support this unique expert forum in which science, clinical practice, and innovation intersect to drive the development of better solutions for CMF patients worldwide.
2nd AO TC CMF Experts Symposium, Denmark
The 2nd AO TC CMF Experts Symposium convened in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2023 and was led by Daniel Buchbinder and Michael Grant. This one-and-a-half-day event drew nine experts from five countries and attracted 23 participants from seven different countries. The symposium was structured into three distinct sessions, comprising a total of 18 case presentations. Session topics included:
- Computer Assisted Planning and Patient Specific Solutions in Orthognathic Surgery
- CAS and PSS in Orbital and Midface Trauma Surgery
- CAS and PSS in Post Ablative Maxillofacial Reconstruction
Throughout the sessions, both the participants and faculty engaged in discussions that brought to light several challenges for the AO TC and the AO's key industry partner. The AO TC CMF community has pledged to collaborate in order to effectively address these clinical needs.
1st CMF AOTK Experts Symposium, Florida, US
The first AOTK CMF Experts Symposium was held on November 13–14, 2019, in Tampa, Florida, US. Daniel Buchbinder chaired the symposium which was attended by 14 surgeons and 9 representatives from the industry.
Three symposium sessions focused on:
- Patient specific orthognathic solutions
- Patient specific solutions for orbit and midface reconstruction
- Patient specific solutions for CMF reconstruction following ablative surgery
The participants exchanged their case experiences to discuss and to identify opportunities for improvement. Recent advances in digital planning and innovative approaches to design and to manufacture patient-specific surgical guides and implants allow that complex surgical procedures can be performed in a highly reproducible manner independent of the surgical experience. Although the costs that are currently associated with the use of patient-specific implants and cutting guides are high, there is a clear trend toward their increased use because of the high predictability and accuracy that can be achieved and the potential to reduce operating room time.
The case winner was Ruediger Zimmerer, with his case about bilateral TJR with counter-clockwise rotation in mandibular hypoplasia.
“The AO ITC, like no other association, enables international dialogue amongst key opinion leaders in their field. It has been an exceptional experience being part of this community.”
Sebastian Baumbach, participant of the 15th AO TC Trauma Experts Symposium (Europe)
Challenging cases - clinical need - robust examination
Since the first AO Technical Commission Experts Symposium was held in 2006, these events have come to be recognized as a critical component of the innovation development process.