I chose Tirol Kliniken for its excellent hand surgery team, recognized by FESSH. My goal was to further develop my skills in trauma surgery, and this center offered the opportunity to see the discipline applied to all anatomical regions.
During my fellowship, I was able to deepen my knowledge in areas I was already familiar with and gain new insights into fields that were previously less known to me. Professor Arora is an outstanding professional - highly competent, as well as welcoming and inclusive on a personal level.
Finally, Innsbruck is a beautiful city and provided a very pleasant environment during my stay.
Alberto Rinaldi
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I had the privilege of participating in the AO Trauma Short-Term Fellowship at the Medical University of Innsbruck under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rohit Arora. I specifically chose Innsbruck for this program because it is recognized as one of the leading trauma centers in Europe and operates as a Level 1 Trauma Center, providing comprehensive and advanced care for complex trauma cases. This environment offered a unique opportunity to observe and learn from highly specialized teams managing the most challenging orthopedic trauma scenarios.
I first had the opportunity to become acquainted with Prof. Arora through his excellent presentations at the FESSH congresses. His depth of knowledge, clarity in teaching, and innovative approaches to upper extremity trauma left a lasting impression on me, which further motivated me to apply for this fellowship under his supervision.
Throughout the fellowship, all learning opportunities were guided by the four core principles of AO Trauma: Anatomical Reduction, Stable Fixation (absolute or relative stability), Preservation of Blood Supply, and Early & Safe Mobilization. Every surgical procedure, practical discussion, and outpatient department (OPD) case I encountered reinforced the importance of applying these principles.
Prior to this fellowship, my exposure to elbow arthroplasty was limited, and I had never encountered a constrained revision elbow arthroplasty. Here, I gained substantial hands-on experience in this complex procedure, which has strengthened my surgical competence in this area.
I observed the orthopedic team working seamlessly in the shock room, particularly in cases involving polytrauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 18. This experience deepened my appreciation for structured teamwork in high-acuity trauma care. Upon returning to my clinic, I plan to implement similar workload-sharing strategies to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes.
My pre-fellowhip exposure to iliolumbar fixation and building a stabile iliolumbar triangle was limited. In Innsbruck, I observed and assisted in multiple cases, gaining both technical insight and confidence. I now feel prepared to perform these surgeries independently and train my residents in these techniques.
This fellowship has exceeded my expectations in every aspect. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Dr. Rohit Arora for his guidance, to the entire orthopedic team for their dedication to teaching, and to Viktoria Perkhofer for her invaluable administrative assistance. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to AO Trauma Turkey, AO Global, and the esteemed selection committee for granting me this opportunity.
This program has enriched my professional knowledge, surgical skills, and collaborative approach to patient care. I look forward to applying these learnings in my clinical practice and sharing them with my colleagues and residents.
I look forward to returning to Innsbruck next year.
Thank you for everything.
Furkan Yapici
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I am a fifh-year chief resident at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, focused on upper-extremity surgery. I completed a mini-upper extremity fellowship at Innsbruck Hospital, where I trained with internationally renowned surgeons including Professor Rohit Arora. Innsbruck's proximity to numerous outdoor sporting activities produces a unique and high volume of complex upper-extremity trauma, which I thought would complement my training in NYC. While in Innsbruck, I learned several advanced surgical technique from vising Professor Dr. Franz Langer. Working with Professor Arora was also truly special, expanding my skills in advanced fracture fixation and elbow instability.
Overall, my time in Innsbruck was some of the most memorable of my entire orthopaedic training. The staff were incredibly welcoming and technically excellent in the operating room.
For trainees seeking to expand their operative skills in upper-extremity trauma, Innsbruck offers unparalleled clinical volume and mentorship.
Troy Amen
