Fifth edition · December 2027
Prepare for the critical moments in spine and trauma surgery. One day of interdisciplinary learning, hands-on practice and realistic scenarios.
From the cervical spine
to the spinopelvic region.
The Spinal Trauma Major Complications Course
A multidisciplinary educational programme dedicated to the major complications encountered in spine and trauma surgery.
Previously organised in Vienna and Zurich, STMC returns for its fifth edition in December 2027. The course covers the entire spine, from the cervical spine to the spinopelvic region, connecting complications of spinal injuries with the wider needs of patients with polytrauma.
Alongside injury-related challenges, the programme addresses iatrogenic and implant-related complications during surgery. Its purpose is to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical application, strengthening surgical preparedness, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient safety.
The one-day programme
Three complementary settings connect expert discussion, technical practice and teamwork.
Morning / Symposium
Expert lectures and interactive case discussions bring different specialties around the same clinical challenges. The focus is on prevention, early recognition and the management of major complications.
Afternoon / Wet laboratory
Participants rotate through practical stations combining surgical skills training, perfused-organ models, and 3D and augmented reality visualisation. The laboratory connects anatomical understanding with hands-on preparation.
Closing / Scenario training
Realistic scenarios bring the course themes together. Teams practise decision-making, interdisciplinary communication and crisis management when a complication changes the course of an operation.
Programme outline · Detailed timetable and faculty to be announced.
Across the entire spine
Clinical and surgical challenges are explored through lectures, cases, practical stations and scenarios.
Complications involving major vessels and bleeding, and the interdisciplinary response they require.
Dural lesions and the challenges of recognising and managing complications around vulnerable spinal structures.
Injuries to adjacent organs and the importance of bringing the appropriate surgical expertise into the response.
Problems arising during surgery or in relation to implants, from recognising a complication to discussing management options.
Concurrent injuries, competing priorities and coordination across teams caring for the multiply injured patient.
Decision-making and team communication when a patient becomes unstable during a complex procedure.
Who the course is for
For surgeons and multidisciplinary teams involved in spine and trauma surgery who want to strengthen their preparation for major complications.
What the course aims to develop
Course organisation
STMC Course organiser
Senior physician, Department of Traumatology
University Hospital Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Plan your participation
One day bringing together a multidisciplinary symposium, an interactive wet laboratory and scenario-based training.
Part of Trauma Academy
