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Scientific Program

Subject to change

14.00- 14:20Introduction to the Course and precourse survey
14:20-16:00

SESSION I: INTRODUCTION TO THE CVJ

14:20-14:50Embryology of posterior fossa and foramen magnum
14:50-15:00Role of FGFR in the growth of the posterior fossa and foramen magnum
15:00-15:20Radiological analysis of posterior fossa and foramen magnum and  growth changes
15:20-15:40Normal growth of CVJ in children and growth related modifications
15:40-16:00Essential surgical landmarks of posterior fossa and foramen magnum
16:00-16:30Break
16:30-19:00

SESSION 2: CHIARI

16:30-16:45Why we should stop to call it a malformation.
16:45-17:00Radiology of Chiari type 1 malformation
17:00-17:15Chiari type 1:  the importance of associated anomalies
17:15-17:30Chiari type 1, spectrum of surgical techniques
17:30-17:45Complications after Chiari malformation type 1 surgery and their avoidance
17:45-18:00Chiari type 1: surgical algorithm in adults
18:00-18:15Evaluation 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

08:00-08:20Mechanisms of CVJ trauma and indications for management
08:20-08:40Imaging in pediatric CVJ trauma (acute phase and follow-up)
08:40-09:00Introduction to the CVJ stability in children
09:00-09:20Criteria for CVJ instability at the clinical examination: what to ask, what to search for
09:20-09:40 Criteria for CVJ instability at the radiological examination: what to ask, what to search for
9:40-10:00Clinical 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

11:00-11:20Principles of CVJ stabilization: indications, biomechanics, long term results
11:20-11:30Principles of non surgical stabilization: when, how and how long
11:30-11:45Occipito-cervical stabilisation – when and how
11:45-12:05Clinical cases of surgical stabilization
12:05-12:30Discussion
12:30-14:00Break
14:00-15:00

SESSION 5: CVJ CONGENITAL PATHOLOGIES

14:00-14:15CVJ in ACH (indications for surgery and surgical principles)
14:15-14:30ACH case discussion
14:30-14:45CVJ in MPS (indications for surgery and surgical principles)
14:45-15:00MPS and other malformations case discussion
15:05-16:20

SESSION 6: CRANIO-VERTEBRAL JUNCTION TRAUMA

15:05-15:25Atlanto-Axial Dislocations
15:25-15:40Fractures of the CVJ in children. Diagnosis, management and indications for surgery (anterior or posterior)
15:40-16:00CVJ trauma case discussion
16:20-17:20

SESSION 7:  CVJ TUMORAL LESIONS MANAGEMENT

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

SESSION 8: MAMANGEMENT AND OUTCOME

17:45-18:00IOM monitoring in CVJ surgery: When and why
18:00-18:15Long-term results in terms of ossification, stability and clinical results
18:15-18:30Redo surgeries for CVJ pathologies, why and when.
18:30-19:00What 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
08:00-08:15 How I do it: posterior instrumentation in children
08:15-08:30 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…
08:30-09:00 Discussion
09:00-12:00 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: C0-C2; C1-C2 fixation
12:00-13:00 Break
13:00-18:30 SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 2: Approach to the subaxial spine
13:00-13:15 Surgical landmarks of the anterior cervical spine
13:15-13:45 When to approach to the cervical and subaxial spine anteriorly in children
13:45-14:00 Anterior and anterolateral approach of the subaxial spine
14:00-14:10 Discussion
14:15-17:00 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Anterior approach of the subaxial spine (C3) and C3 posterior fixation
17:20-17:35 Complications of CVJ fixation and how to avoid them
17:35-17.50 Short-term risks of posterior instrumentation in children
17:50-18.05 Long-term risks of posterior instrumentation in children
18:05-18:30 PANEL 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
08:00-09:00 SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 3: transoral approach
08:00-08:15 Anatomy for the transoral approach
08:15-08:30 How I do a transoral decompression: principles and indications
08:30-08:45 Complications of transoral decompression and their avoidance
08:45-09:00 Discussion
 09:00-12:30  HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Transoral decompression
12:30-13:30 Break
13:30-14:30 SESSION 9: Surgical techniques – Part 4: Occipito-cervical decompression
13:30-13:45 Posterior fossa decompression and posterior vault expansion principles and techniques
13:45-14:00 Chiari Type 1:  Surgical algorithm in children
14:00-14:15 All about duraplasty: when, why and how I perform it
14:15-14:30 Tricks and tips of dural opening  and tonsils’ management
14:30-16:30 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Occipito-cervical decompression
16:30-17:00 SESSION 10: PER OPERATIVE SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS
16:30-16:40 Specific problems in managing the CVJ in very young children
16:40-16:50 What can go wrong during CVJ surgery and how to anticipate?
16:50-17:00 Lessons learned by complex cases
17:00-17:15 Post course survey
17:15-17:30 Evaluation of the course