The AO Foundation is a Swiss-based non-profit organization based on a network of surgeons who are committed to the study, practice, and teaching of AO principles and their advancement in the field of trauma and musculoskeletal surgery.
History
The AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen) was founded in 1958 by a group of Swiss surgeons—Maurice E Müller, Robert Schneider, Hans Willenegger, and Martin Allgöwer who were conducting research into bone healing, with particular reference to the influence of the mechanical environment of the fracture upon its healing pattern.
From around 1960, the AO promoted and organized the treatment of fractures with its own industrially produced and marketed plates, screws, and instruments. This early work laid the foundation for the current knowledge of the direct and indirect healing of fractures, as well as the influence of rigid fixation upon the healing of non-unions. The AO’s classical landmark experiments are known to fracture surgeons throughout the world.
The aims of the AO pioneers were not to popularize the indiscriminate use of surgical fixation, but rather to evaluate scientifically its place in the care of the injured and, where appropriate, to refine surgical practice so that the outcome for the victim of injury could be optimized. In 1984 the AO Foundation was formerly constituted to take responsibility for the various commissions of: research, development, education, documentation, and international affairs. 1992 the entire Foundation moved to a custom built AO Center on the outskirts of Davos, where it remains till today.
Nowadays the AO represents a “Gold Standard”, delivering a win-win merger of surgical practitioners, researchers, and industry to the benefit of patients today, and represents the world's leading knowledge organization in osteosynthesis.
The AO organization works together with industry in the areas of research, development, education, and quality assurance in fracture treatment for the benefit of fracture patients, with more than 5,000 surgeons, including an international faculty of over 3,000 in more than 100 countries.
For more information visit the AO Foundation website. |
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