Hands-on Specimen Course—Advanced Techniques & Surgical Skills (Salzburg)

Co-Chair: Prof. Heiko Koller, Germany
This course aims to train spine surgeons in advanced surgical techniques and in-depth knowledge required to tailor treatment strategies in the presence of patients suffering from complex cervical disorders resulting from progressive degeneration, trauma and infection or tumour, as well as congenital anomalies and cervical spine deformity.

The course will combine lectures and detailed hands-on surgical instructions. The Faculty - all highly experienced CSRS-Europe Board members and Guests- will present lectures on different topics cervical spine surgeons face when treating complex cases.

After a half-day of interesting lectures and peer-to-peer discussions on Thursday afternoon, there will be the chance to share experiences and meet old and new friends at the Course Dinner at the restaurant “Fideler Affe.”

Friday will be reserved for Hands-on training at the Institute for Anatomy of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg. In addition to the opportunity for all participants to practice the new theoretical knowledge gained, at several show stations, advanced techniques will be demonstrated by experts in their field—a great chance to observe valuable tricks and learn the do’s and Do n’ts from first hand.

Topics

• Laminectomy & laminoplasty
• Anterior and posterior exposure of the vertebral artery
• Sub-axial fractures
• A balanced approach to cervical myelopathy
• C5 Pals
• Cranio-cervical fractures
• Approach to cervical spine deformity
• Sagittal cervical spine balance and implications
• Transoral vs high anterolateral approach
• Cervical CSF leakage

Practicals

• Anterior cervical approach, vertebral artery exposure & corpectomy
• Anatomical C0-C1-C2 & related posterior techniques
• C3 - T4 Posterior techniques: Laminectomy & laminoplasty, lateral mass , lamina & pedicle screw fixation, osteotomies

Schedule

January 29, 2026
Registration 14:00
Course 14:30-19:00

January 29, 2026
Course 9:00-17:00