WebinarHow can surgeons judge whether a healing fracture is ready for increased weight bearing when conventional follow-up relies mainly on intermittent radiographs, clinical examination and professional judgement? This RCSEd webinar examines two emerging AO approaches designed to provide more information about the mechanical environment of a fracture and its progress during recovery.
The first part introduces the biphasic plate concept, a fixation approach designed to provide controlled interfragmentary motion through the mechanical behaviour of the implant. Because the amount and type of movement at a fracture site can influence callus formation and bone healing, the session will explore how fixation design may be used to create more favourable healing conditions rather than simply maximising construct stiffness.
The webinar will also present the AO Fracture Monitor, an implant-based technology that measures deformation of a bone plate during functional loading. Changes in plate deformation can act as an indirect marker of increasing load transfer through the healing bone. This could provide objective information alongside radiographs and clinical assessment, helping surgeons make more individualised decisions about rehabilitation, progression of weight bearing and fracture follow-up.
Participants can expect an explanation of the underlying biomechanical principles, selected preclinical evidence and early first-in-human experience. The session is particularly relevant to orthopaedic trauma surgeons, fracture researchers, engineers and clinicians interested in fracture fixation, implant biomechanics, delayed healing, postoperative rehabilitation and technologies for monitoring bone healing.
Speakers include Professor Boyko Gueorguiev, Emeritus R&D Advisor and Deputy Programme Leader for Biomedical Development at the AO Research Institute Davos, and Manuela Ernst, Senior Project Leader in Technology Development at the AO Research Institute Davos. The webinar is chaired by trauma and orthopaedic surgeon Simon Johnson.
The live online session provides one hour of continuing professional development. Participants must attend the full webinar and complete the feedback survey to qualify for the CPD hour. RCSEd states that a recording will be added to the event page after the live broadcast.