The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Chicago campus will host an SOP Locking Plate System and Pancarpal Arthrodesis Workshop on Saturday, May 15th, 2010.

The course will provide registrants with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with two new implants: the String-of-Pearls (SOP) locking plate and the castless PanCarpal Arthrodesis (PCA) plate. The course will include lectures and biomechanical data to help participants understand the rationale and properties of the SOP, a locking plate using traditional screws. Case presentations will illustrate the clinical applications of this plate prior to a laboratory on sawbones.

The afternoon will focus on the PCA plate, a new implant allowing arthrodesis of the radio-carpal joint without the disadvantages of post-operative external coaptation. Lectures will be followed by a laboratory on sawbones.

Registrants for this course should have a basic understanding of plating techniques. As a result of this course, participants are expected to understand the rationale and principles of application of the SOP and PCA plates, their clinical indications, and advantages over current techniques. Participants should also feel comfortable applying these implants on clinical patients. 

For more information please contact http://vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/surgery/soppca.html