CourseThe AO Trauma Masters Course: Orthoplastics in Extremity Trauma takes place on 14 and 15 September 2026 at the University of Bern Institute of Anatomy. This advanced two-day course focuses on the orthoplastic management of complex extremity trauma, bringing orthopaedic trauma and reconstructive plastic surgery together around the treatment of open fractures, soft-tissue defects and complex limb injuries.
Severe open fractures often require more than fracture fixation alone. The condition of the surrounding soft tissues, the quality and timing of debridement, skeletal stabilisation and the strategy for definitive coverage can all influence whether an injured limb can be successfully reconstructed. The orthoplastic approach considers bone and soft-tissue reconstruction as part of the same treatment strategy, allowing trauma and plastic surgeons to coordinate decisions from the early stages of care.
The Bern Masters Course combines expert teaching and case-based discussion with hands-on training using human anatomical specimens, allowing participants to explore relevant surgical anatomy and orthoplastic techniques in a practical setting. The course addresses complex open fractures, soft-tissue breakdown and defects, infection and the coordinated management of bone and soft-tissue reconstruction.
The course is chaired by Philipp Stillhard, Head of Trauma Surgery at Kantonsspital Graubünden in Chur, and Yves Harder, Professor and Head of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery at CHUV in Lausanne. Their respective expertise in trauma surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery reflects the multidisciplinary approach at the centre of modern orthoplastic care.
Designed for surgeons with experience in trauma, the course is particularly relevant to the management of high-energy open fractures and complex lower-extremity injuries, where debridement, fracture fixation, soft-tissue coverage and management of complications need to be considered together. The combination of specialist discussion and anatomical training provides an advanced practical setting for developing strategies for limb preservation and reconstruction after severe extremity trauma.