Goal of the course

The AOA Course—Primary Trauma Care and Nonoperative Fracture Management is designed to provide fundamental knowledge and guidelines of the basic principles of management of common musculoskeletal injuries and fractures and to enable participants to provide effective primary trauma care to recognize those fractures that can be safely managed by nonoperative methods.

Target audience

This course is targeted to practicing paramedics, general practitioners and young trauma surgeons interested in developing their knowledge and skills in primary trauma care and nonoperative fracture management.

Course description

This course structure provides didactic presentations, demonstrations, hands on practicals and small group discussions between participants and faculty. This course will address:

• Primary trauma care
• Fracture healing
• Treatment of shaft fractures
• Treatment of articular fractures
• Case discussions
• Hands-on splints/ plaster/ traction/ techniques

Course objectives

By the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Outline the importance of nonoperative trauma care
• Describe and classify common fractures
• Outline the importance of preservation of the soft tissues integrity
• Apply reduction techniques: closed
• Apply nonoperative techniques: splints/ plaster/ traction.
• Anticipate potential pitfalls and complications in fracture care
• Identify fracture complications
• Formulate systems for maintaining safe standards of practice
• Use professional networks to share ideas, challenge poor practice and provide support