In partnership with:
Italian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology
Description
The course was developed in response to the need to train specialists capable of adopting a modern, integrated “therapeutic approach,” overcoming the traditional division between orthopedics and plastic surgery. The primary objective is the simultaneous and synergistic treatment of skeletal and soft tissue injuries (skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels), ensuring not only morphological recovery but also the patient’s full functional rehabilitation, shorter hospital stays, and the prevention of disability.
Target Students
The course is intended for doctors and surgeons specializing in:
- Orthopedics and Traumatology
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Neurosurgery
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the candidates will be able to:
- Stabilize the skeletal anatomy using internal and external osteosynthesis.
- Perform complex tissue transplants (pedicled or free myofascial-cutaneous flaps, propeller flaps).
- Manage work within a multidisciplinary team, coordinating orthopedic and plastic surgery expertise to optimize clinical pathways and reduce hospital stays.
Didactics
The course is structured as follows:
- Theoretical lessons and discussion of clinical cases: delivered via distance learning.
- Practical exercises (Cadaver Lab): 2-day intensive session dedicated to microsurgery and dissection for flap harvesting (at the Cadaver Lab in Padua).
- Format: 8 sessions spread out over weekends between October and JANUARY 2028.
- Attendance requirement: Full attendance at all online lectures and practical sessions, followed by a final exam to assess the skills acquired.
- Language of the course: Italiano.
Tuition Fee
The annual tuition for the registration to the Course is € 3.500
Registration
Students who wish to enrol may request an appointment with the Orientation Office by calling +39 06 3400 6000.
It is also possible to request information directly from the Postgraduate Office at the following email: segreteriapostgraduate@unilink.it.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the course is open to candidates who meet the following requirements:
- Degree in Medicine and Surgery
- Specialization Qualification in:
- Orthopedics and Traumatology
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Neurosurgery
Direction and Scientific Board
- Scientific Director: Dr. Maurilio Bruno
An Italian physician specializing in orthopedics, traumatology, and reconstructive microsurgery, with a particular focus on hand surgery. Formerly the chief of hand surgery and reconstructive microsurgery at the IRCCS Galeazzi in Milan, he currently practices clinical surgery in Milan at the Columbus Medical Center and in Rome at the Villa Stuart Clinic.
Dr. Maurilio Bruno's surgical and research work focuses primarily on the clinical and surgical fields of orthopedics, reconstructive microsurgery, hand surgery, and disorders of the peripheral nerves and brachial plexus.
- Didactic Director: Prof. Francesco Franceschi
Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Link Campus University and orthopedic surgeon at Villa Stuart. A distinguished Italian orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist. He is widely recognized for his expertise in sports medicine and arthroscopic and prosthetic surgery, particularly with regard to the knee, shoulder, and hip.
- Scientific Board: Franco Bassetto, Dr. Cesare Tiengo, Dr.ssa Erica Maria Viola, Dr. Federico Amadei
Teaching Staff
The teaching staff is comprised of nationally renowned professionals and experts:
- Dr. Federico Amadei
A highly experienced Italian plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in hand surgery and microsurgery.
He currently serves as Head of Hand Surgery in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Policlinico di Monza.
- Dr. Giuseppe Basile
A renowned Italian medical specialist in orthopedics, traumatology, and forensic medicine. He specializes in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, as well as forensic medicine (damage assessment, forensic toxicology, and insurance medicine). He authored over 180 scientific publications in these fields.
He is currently an Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Polytechnic University of Marche.
- Prof. Franco Bassetto
A highly renowned Italian surgeon specializing in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery, as well as hand surgery. He is a leading figure in both academic and clinical circles, based in Padua.
He is a Full Professor and Director of the Residency Program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Padua.
He is deeply involved in national medical leadership and was recently elected President of SICPRE (Italian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery).
- Dr. Laura De Martini
An Italian physician and academic specializing in Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Management.
She is recognized as one of Italy’s leading experts in the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain. She is currently the Chief of the Pain Management Center at the Maugeri IRCCS Institute in Pavia.
- Dr. Pasquale Farina
An Italian physician specializing in hospital administration, public health, and preventive medicine.
He currently serves as Medical Director of the Villa Aprica Clinical Institute in Como, part of the San Donato Healthcare Group.
He also serves as Medical Director of the Smart Clinic, which is part of the same group.
- Dr. Alexander Kirienko
An internationally renowned orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist practicing in Italy. He is recognized worldwide as one of the leading experts in the Ilizarov method, a highly specialized surgical technique that uses external circular fixation devices to lengthen or reshape the bones of the limbs and treat complex fractures.
Furthermore, he is associate professor at Clinica dello Sport Villa Stuart (Rome) where he applies his techniques to the treatment of complex sports injuries.
- Dr. Stefano Pirrelli
A highly experienced Italian surgeon specializing in vascular surgery, endovascular surgery, and microsurgery.
Since January 2021, he has served as Director of the Complex Unit of Vascular Surgery at ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII (Bergamo).
He is an adjunct professor and tutor at the School of Specialization in Vascular Surgery at the University of Milan. Previously, he taught at the University of Pavia.
- Dr. Carlo Romanò
A highly respected Italian orthopedic surgeon, internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in reconstructive orthopedics and the treatment of bone and joint infections.
For over a decade (2008–2019), he served as Chief of the Center for Reconstructive Surgery and Osteoarticular Infections (CRIO) at the prestigious IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute in Milan.
He is the co-founder and Secretary General of WAIOT (World Association for Infections in Orthopedics and Traumatology). In the past, he also served as president of the European Society for Bone and Joint Infections (EBJIS).
- Dr. Cesare Tiengo
He is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery. He is active in both clinical and academic settings, specializing in particular in microsurgery and reconstructive techniques.
As a professor and researcher, he teaches Human Anatomy and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the residency program at the University of Padua.
He is the Medical Director of the Plastic Surgery Unit at the Padua Hospital System. Specifically, he directs the Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit (UOS), an accredited regional center that manages a team specializing in reimplantation and microsurgery. He has particular expertise in reconstructive techniques following oncological surgery of the skeleton and soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system.
- Dr. Erika Maria Viola
A prominent Italian orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist who currently holds a key leadership role within the Lombardy public health system.
She is the Director (Chief) of the Complex Unit (UOC) of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Cremona Hospital (ASST of Cremona). She has held this position since September 2019.
Dr. Viola is very active in the national orthopedic society SIOT (Italian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology). She serves as a member of the executive board and is the coordinator of SIOT’s Equal Opportunity Commission.
While managing a large traumatology unit, her specific clinical specialization focuses on shoulder disorders and joint replacement surgery for large joints.
Programme
The course is divided into 6 instructional modules:
15-16 October 2027
Module 1 — Fundamentals and History of Orthoplastics (Resp. Dr. Federico Amadei) (Coordinator: Dr. Federico Amadei)
- Historical Development
- Synergy Between Orthopedics and Plastic Surgery
- Definition and Orthoplastic Approach According to Levin
- Organization of Orthoplastic Centers
- Evaluation of Clinical and Functional Outcomes
- Bioethics, Social Impact, and Cost-Benefit Analysis (Dr. P. Farina)
- General and Specialized Medical-Legal Aspects (Dr. G. Basile)
29–30 October 2027
Module 2 — Skeletal Reconstruction and Damage Control (Coordinator: Dr. Erica Maria Viola)
- Bone grafting techniques and reconstruction of complex defects (autologous, cadaveric, and neogenerated grafts; bone transport; and advanced circular fixation (Dr. A. Kirienko)
- Masquelet’s induced membrane technique
- Damage Control Orthopedics (DCO) and Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR)
- Internal and external fixation devices, materials, and biocompatibility
12–13 November 2027
Module 3 — Reconstructive Microsurgery, Soft Tissue Management, and New Technologies (Coordinator: Prof. Franco Bassetto)
- Basic microsurgical techniques and history of anastomoses;
- types of flaps (vascularized bone, muscle, perforator, fasciocutaneous, and propeller)
- complex composite allografts
- integrated wound management (hyperbaric oxygen therapy, NPWT)
- 3D planning and customized cutting guides
- principles of applied regenerative medicine
26-27 November 2027
Module 4 — Peripheral Nerve and Brachial Plexus Surgery (Director: Dr. Maurilio Bruno) (Coordinator: Dr. Maurilio Bruno)
- Historical Context and Advances in Microsurgery
- suture techniques, neurolysis, grafts, neuroguides, and neurowrapping
- homologous and allogeneic nerve transfers (Oberlin technique for the biceps brachii)
- emergency vs. elective management and palliative functional transpositions
10-11 Dicember 2027
Module 5 — Clinical Applications in Acute Care, Elective Surgery, and Complex Treatment Pathways (Coordinator: Dr. Cesare Tiengo)
- Open fractures and coverage flaps
- Decision algorithms for (limb salvage) vs amputation
- Vascular injuries associated with major trauma (Dr. S. Pirrelli)
- Reconstructive timing and Godina’s principles
- Oncological orthoplasty and post-demolition reconstructions
- Stump management
- Treatment of complex osteoarticular and periprosthetic infections (Dr. C. Romanò, Dr. M. Bruno)
- Overview of war traumatology (military medical specialists)
21-22 January 2028
Module 6 — The New Frontier: Pain Surgery and Rehabilitation Programs (Coordinator: Dr. Maurilio Bruno)
- Treatment of chronic neuropathy and neuropathic pain (Dr. L. De Martini);
- microsurgical approach to painful traumatic neuromas using muscle/fasciocutaneous flaps and grafts (Dr. M. Bruno)
- use of adipose grafts and lipofilling (Dr. F. Amadei)
- integrated post-reconstructive rehabilitation protocols
4-5 February 2028
Applied Workshops and Practical Sessions
- Cadaver Lab (Padua): A 2-day course on anatomical dissection and hands-on surgery focused on microsurgical techniques, flap preparation and harvesting, and nerve repair.
- Final exam: A concluding assessment to verify and certify the theoretical and practical skills acquired.