Our Department at Al Najaf Teaching Hospital recently successfully concluded an intensive practical workshop focused on the AO Basic Principles of Internal Fixation. This workshop was specifically designed to transition our junior residents from theoretical biomechanics to the precise technical execution required in the operating theater.
The course included high-fidelity sawbones workshops, providing participants with the "tactile feel" of bone surgery, a critical component of orthopedic residency.
Core Practical Modules
- The Lag Screw Technique
Residents mastered the "glide hole" and "thread hole" sequence to achieve interfragmentary compression. The workshop emphasized the biomechanical importance of placing screws perpendicular to the fracture line to maximize compression and stability. - Tension Band Wiring
Focusing on eccentric loading, participants practiced the tension band principle on olecranon fracture models. This module demonstrated how to convert distracting functional forces into compressive forces that promote primary bone healing. - DCP Application
A deep dive into modern plating, where residents explored the dual functionality of the Combi-hole. Discussion focused on principles of achieving fracture compression through the plate.