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Scientific Program

14.00- 14:20Introduction to the Course and precourse survey
14:20-16:00SESSION I: INTRODUCTION TO THE CVJ
Chair: Carmine Mottolese, Dominic Thompson

14:20-14:50Martin Catala: Embryology of posterior fossa and foramen magnum
14:50-15:00Federico Di Rocco: Role of FGFR in the growth of the posterior fossa and foramen magnum
15:00-15:20Sudhakar Sniya: Radiological analysis of posterior fossa and foramen magnum and  growth changes 
15:20-15:40Martin Catala: Normal growth of CVJ in children and growth related modifications
15:40-16:00Jacquesson Timothee: Essential surgical landmarks of posterior fossa and foramen magnum
16:00-16:10Discussion
16:10-16:30Break
16:30-19:00SESSION 2: CHIARI
Chair: Martin Catala, Carmine Mottolese
16:30-16:45Concezio Di Rocco: Why we should stop to call it a malformation.
16:45-17:00Sudhakar Sniya: Radiology of Chiari type 1 malformation
17:00-17:15Federico Di Rocco: Chiari type 1:  The importance of associated anomalies
17:15-17:30Fabrice Parker: Chiari type 1: Surgical algorithm in adults
17:30-17:45Gianpiero Tamburrini: Chiari type 1: Spectrum of surgical techniques
17:45-18:00Federico Di Rocco: Complications after Chiari malformation type 1 surgery and their avoidance
18:00-18:15Gianpiero Tamburrini: Evaluation of the results in Chiari type 1 surgery
18:15-18:30Discussion
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2026
08:00-10:30

SESSION 3: DIAGNOSIS OF CVJ INSTABILITY IN CHILDREN
Chair: Federico Di Rocco, Nobuhito Morota

08:00-08:20Alexandru Szathmari: CVJ trauma : Mechanisms and indications for management
08:20-08:40Sara Cabet: Imaging in pediatric CVJ trauma (acute phase and follow-up)
08:40-09:00Timothee De Saint- denis: Introduction to the CVJ stability in children
09:00-09:20Alexandru Szathmari: Criteria for CVJ instability at the clinical examination: what to ask, what to search for
09:20-09:40Sudhakar Sniya: Criteria for CVJ instability at the radiological examination: what to ask, what to search for
9:40-10:00Dominic Thompson: Clinical cases discussion on CVJ instability / How I evaluate it
10:00-10:30Discussion
10:30-11:00Break
11:00-12:30

SESSION 4 : MANAGING CVJ INSTABILITY IN CHILDREN
Chair: Sara Cabet, Carmine Mottolese

11:00-11:20Massimiliano Visocchi:Principles of CVJ stabilization: indications, biomechanics, long term results
11:20-11:30Nobuhito Morota: Principles of non surgical stabilization: when, how and how long
11:30-11:45Ricardo Gepp: Occipito-cervical stabilisation – when and how
11:45-12:05Timothee De Saint- denis: Clinical cases of surgical stabilization
12:05-12:30Discussion
12:30-14:00Break
14:00-15:00

SESSION 5: CVJ CONGENITAL PATHOLOGIES
Chair: Alexandru Szathmari, Douglas Brockmeyer

14:00-14:15Federico Di Rocco: CVJ in ACH (indications for surgery and surgical principles)
14:15-14:30Nobuhito Morota: ACH case discussion
14:30-14:45Luca Massimi: CVJ in MPS (indications for surgery and surgical principles)
14:45-15:00Pierre-Aurelien Beuriat: MPS and other malformations case discussion
15:05-16:00

SESSION 6: CRANIO-VERTEBRAL JUNCTION TRAUMA
Chair: Ricardo Gepp, Carmine Mottolese

15:05-15:25Dominic Thompson: Evaluation and management of torticollis in children
15:25-15:40Massimiliano Visocchi: Fractures of the CVJ in children. Diagnosis, management and indications for surgery (anterior or posterior)
15:40-16:00Douglas Brockmeyer: CVJ trauma case discussion
16:00-17:20

SESSION 7:  CVJ TUMORAL LESIONS MANAGEMENT
Chair: Massimiliano Visocchi, Dominic Tompson

16:00-16:25Alexandre Vasiljevic: Spectrum of Cervical spine tumoral lesions
16:25-16:40Douglas Brockmeyer: Spinal tumor removal in children at the cervical level, pitfalls and tricks for reconstruction and stabilization
16:40-17:20Ricardo Gepp: CVJ tumors case discussion
17:20-17:45 Break
17:45-19:00

SESSION 8: MAMANGEMENT AND OUTCOME
Chair: Luca Massimi, Carmine Mottolese

17:45-18:00Francesco Sala: IOM monitoring in CVJ surgery: When and why
18:00-18:15Nobuhito Morota: Long-term results in terms of ossification, stability and clinical results
18:15-18:30Douglas Brockmeyer: Redo surgeries for CVJ pathologies, why and when.
18:30-19:00Timothee De Saint-denis: What happens after surgery: Spine evolution after CVJ fixation.
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2026
08:00-12:00

SESSION 9 : Surgical techniques – Part 1: Posterior approach to the CVJ

08:00-08:15Camilla de Laurentis : Surgical landmarks of the cervical spine
08:15-08:30Massimiliano Visocchi: How I do it: Posterior instrumentation in children
08:30-08:50Douglas Brockmeyer: Practical aspects: How I chose my plate and my screws and where I put it: occiput, C1 lateral mass, C2 pedicle, C2 lamina, C2 pars, C1-C2
08:50-09:00Discussion
09:00-12:00HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: C0-C2; C1-C2 fixation
12:00-13:00Break
13:00-18:30

SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 2: Approach to the subaxial spine

13:00-13:15Pierre Aurelien Beuriat:Anatomy for the transoral approach
13:15-13:30Szathmari Alexandru: How I do a transoral decompression: principles and indications
13:30-13:45Massimiliano Visocchi: Complications of transoral decompression and their avoidance
13:45-14:00Discussion
14:00-16:30HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Transoral decompression
16:45-17:00Massimiliano Visocchi: Anterior and anterolateral approach of the subaxial spine
17:00-17:15Douglas Brockmeyer: Complications of CVJ fixation and how to avoid them
17:15-17:30Timothee De Saint-Denis: Short-term risks of posterior instrumentation in children
17:30-17:45Dominic Thompson: Long-term risks of posterior instrumentation in children
17:45-18:30PANEL DISCUSSION: Indications for lateral mass screw, C2 pedicle screw, pars screw, lamina screw, C1-C2 transarticular screw, plates…How to choose
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026
08:30-09:30

SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 3: Approach to the subaxial spine

08:30-08:45Alexandru Szathmari:  Principles of Anterior approach of the subaxial spine (C3) and C3 posterior fixation
08:45-09:00Douglas Brockmeyer: When to approach to the cervical and subaxial spine anteriorly in children
09:00-09:30Discussion
 09:30-12:30 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Anterior approach of the subaxial spine (C3) and C3 posterior fixation
12:30-13:30Break
13:30-14:30

SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 4: Occipito-cervical decompression

13:30-13:45Federico Di Rocco: Posterior fossa decompression and posterior vault expansion principles and techniques
13:45-14:00Dominic Thompson: Chiari Type 1:  Surgical algorithm in children
14:00-14:15Camilla De Laurentis: All about duraplasty: when, why and how I perform it
14:15-14:30Carmine Mottolese: Tricks and tips of dural opening  and tonsils’ management
14:30-16:30HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Occipito-cervical decompression
16:30-17:00

SESSION 10: PER OPERATIVE SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS

16:30-16:40Dominic Thompson: Specific problems in managing the CVJ in very young children
16:40-16:50Douglas Brockmeyer: What can go wrong during CVJ surgery and how to anticipate?
16:50-17:00Ricardo Gepp: Lessons learned by complex cases
17:00-17:15Post course survey
17:15-17:30Evaluation of the course