Rick Sasso, MD

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) held their annual continuing medical education meeting in New Orleans, in early March.  In addition to attending the annual continuing medical education meeting, I also had the honor of coordinating and hosting the spine specialty day. The spine specialty day presented a common forum by the Federation Societies, of which I am the president.  The Federation Societies is comprised of four spine-focused organizations, and includes the Cervical Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and the American Spinal Injury Association.  

A few of the educational objectives for the day included discussing the current concepts in the diagnosis and management of spinal disorders, and to review and update the clinical results and complications of the new technologies and concepts.  The information was presented in the form of instructional presentations, discussions, papers and debates. 

Highlighted topics were presented by each society within the Federation.  During the day in the North American Spine Societies section, I presented a talk on cervical disc replacement, and for the American Spinal Injury Association I discussed spinal cord injury and the appropriate time for decompression.