Small Animal Orthopaedic Surgery
General Practitioner Advanced Certificate
The General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) in Small Animal Orthopaedic Surgery is an advanced level ‘next-step’ programme for veterinary professionals who may have already completed their General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) or Postgraduate Certificate (PgC), accredited by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) and validated by Harper Adams University (HAU) or equivalent qualifications from other providers.
You can also attend this programme even if you do not hold a postgraduate qualification, however, the GPAdvCert award route is only available to those delegates who hold or intend to obtain the appropriate GPCert/PgC award or equivalent.
Practical and condensed learning
Interactive and engaging lectures, demonstrations and practical application
World class clinicians providing you with the very latest information in small animal orthopaedics
Perform new surgical techniques and more advanced procedures under close supervision in a wet-lab environment
The programme
This 15 module programme, spread over 3x5 day blocks, has been designed for veterinary surgeons who want to progress their orthopaedic skills to the next level.
- Each module will be presented by two orthopaedic specialists (ECVS or ACVS diplomates) allowing you plenty of opportunity to ask questions and receive practical instruction.
- A step-by-step decision-making process will help you make the best choice in treating orthopaedic conditions and numerous case studies will be used to place theoretical concepts into practice.
- The sessions will be complemented by an online learning platform providing access to notes, case discussions via a closed forum and further resources such as videos and reading references.
- Practical hands-on experience will be gained on every module in excellent wet-lab facilities at three different European venues. The latest equipment will be provided to accelerate your learning.
- You will also be able to observe demonstrations of more complex procedures such as CUE, PAUL and THR. The availability of radiography will allow you to critically assess your practical work.
- A dedicated Programme Tutor will support you during your programme.
- A subscription to Harper Adam’s online e-library providing access to 1,000s of scientific articles and abstracts.*
- Access to one year’s subscription of our Online Bitesize CPD platform, providing you with the latest updates in clinical subjects, worth £349 + VAT.
*only for those registered with HAU to progress to PgD.
Modules at a glance
Cremona, Italy
1 Pelvic Surgery I – Coxofemoral & Hip Dysplasia
2 Pelvic Surgery II – Total Hip Replacement
3 Stifle Surgery I – TPLO & CCWO
4 Stifle surgery II – TTA & CBLO
5 General Hindlimb Surgery – Patella Alta; Tibial and Femoral Procedures
Madrid, Spain
6 Shoulder Surgery
7 Elbow Surgery I
8 Elbow Surgery II
9 Neurosurgery I
10 Neurosurgery II
Sheffield, UK
11 Arthroscopic Procedures I
12 Arthroscopic Procedures II
13 Achilles Tendon and Tarsal Surgery
14 Limb Fractures I – Internal Fixation
15 Limb Fractures II – External Fixation
Find out about our state-of-the-art training facilities by clicking on the images below:
Sheffield, UK
Cremona, Italy
Madrid, Spain
Delivered in association with:
This programme is kindly sponsored by:
Learn more about our Advanced Certificates from our speakers and delegates
Pelvic Surgery I - Coxofemoral Luxation & Hip Dysplasia
Module Information
By the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Diagnosis and treatment of coxofemoral luxations
- Diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia
- How to treat a luxated hip using a toggle pin or an ileofemoral sling
- How to perform a juvenile symphysiodesis
- How to perform a triple pelvic osteotomy
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment. Delegates will also have the chance to practice TPOs on plastic bones.
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 2 Mar 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Cremona | Bruno Peirone|Lisa Piras |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Pelvic Surgery II -Total Hip Replacement
Module Information
By the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Indications of Total Hip Replacement
- Complications of Total Hip Replacement
- How to perform Total Hip Replacement using the Biomedtrix system (CFX, BFX and hybrid)
- How to perform Total Hip Replacement using the PorteVet system (cemented and cementedless)
Demonstrations of total hip replacement procedures using the Biomedtrix and PorteVet system will be performed in a wet lab environment.
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 3 Mar 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Cremona | Eva Schnabl-Feichter|Philippe Haudiquet |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Stifle Surgery I - TPLO & CCWO
Module Information
By the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Advantages and disadvantages of performing a TPLO or CCWO
- Complications of TPLOs and CCWOs
- How to perform a TPLO
- How to perform a CCWO
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 4 Mar 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Cremona | Ditte Skytte|Hugo Schmökel |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Stifle Surgery II - TTA & CBLO
Module Information
By the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Advantages and disadvantages of performing a TTA or CBLO
- Complications of TTAs and CBLOs
- How to perform a TTA
- How to perform a CBLO
Delegates will practise a TTA and a CBLO in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 5 Mar 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Cremona | Fabrice Bernard|Pierre Moissonnier |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
General Hindlimb Surgery - Patella Alta; Tibial and Femoral Procedures
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- How to correct a patella alta
- How perform a tibial crest transposition in combination with a TTA / TPLO / CBLO
- How to perform femoral osteotomies to correct femoral deformities predisposing patellar luxation
- How to perform tibial osteotomies to correct tibial deformities predisposing patellar luxation
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 6 Mar 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Cremona | Alan Danielski|Miguel Solano |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Neurosurgery I
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of interverterbral disc disease
- How to perform a hemilaminectomy/corpectomy to decompress the thoraco-lumbar spine
- How to perform a dorsal laminectomy to decompress the lumbo-sacral spine
Delegates will practise hemilaminectomies, corpectomies and dorsal laminectomy in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 13 Jul 2020 (9:00-18:00) | Madrid | Bill Oxley|Sebastien Behr |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Neurosurgery II
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Cervical disc disease
- Cervical spondylomyelopathy
- How to perform a ventral slot
- How to stabilise vertebral fractures
Delegates will perform a ventral slot and stabilise vertebral fractures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 14 Jul 2020 (9:00-18:00) | Madrid | Bill Oxley|Sebastien Behr |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Shoulder Surgery
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- Indications for salvage procedures of the shoulder joint
- How to perform an excision arthroplasty of the shoulder joint
- How to perform an arthrodesis of the shoulder joint
- How to apply a velpeau sling or spica splint
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment.
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 15 Jul 2020 (9:00-18:00) | Madrid | Alessandro Andreoni|Pilar Lafuente |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Elbow Surgery I
Module Information
At the end of the module delegates should have an understanding of:
- Diagnosis and treatment of un-united anconeal process
- Diagnosis and treatment of elbow incongruence
- How to reattach an un-united anconeal process using a lag screw
- How to perform proximal and distal ulna osteotomies/ostectomies including
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 16 Jul 2020 (9:00-18:00) | Madrid | Alessandro Andreoni|Alan Danielski |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Elbow Surgery II
Module Information
At the end of the module delegates should have an understanding of:
- Indications of performing a canine unicompartimental elbow (CUE) procedure
- Indications of performing a proximal abducting ulna (PAUL) procedure
- Indications of performing a sliding humeral osteotomy (SHO) procedure
- How to perform a CUE procedure
- How to perform a PAUL procedure
- How to perform an SHO procedure
Delegates will receive demonstrations of a variety of these procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 17 Jul 2020 (9:00-18:00) | Madrid | Alessandro Andreoni|Alan Danielski |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Achilles Tendon and Tarsal Surgery
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- How to diagnose and treat achilles tendon disease
- How to stabilise a luxated tarsal joint using ligament replacement/augmentation techniques
- How to perform a pantarsal arthrodesis
- How to perform a partial tarsal arthrodesis
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 21 Sep 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Sheffield | Scott Rutherford|Stephen Clarke |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Limb Fractures I - Internal Fixation
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- General principles of internal fixation
- How to treat humeral condylar fractures (unicondylar / bicondylar)
- How to reduce and stabilise fractures of the acetabulum
- How to reduce and stabilise carpal fractures
- How to reduce and stabilise tarsal fractures
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 22 Sep 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Sheffield | Richard Meeson|Heidi Radke |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Limb Fractures II - External Fixation
Module Information
At the end of the course delegates should have an understanding of:
- General principles and of external skeletal fixation
- How to stabilise radial fractures with a type Ib linear ESF frame
- How to stabilise tibial fractures with a type IIb linear ESF frame
- How to stabilise humeral and femoral fractures using a linear ESF frame / tie in configuration
Delegates will practise the above procedures in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 23 Sep 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Sheffield | Mark Longley|Hannes Bergmann |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Arthroscopic Procedures I
Module Information
At the end of this module delegates should be able to:
- Review the instrumentation necessary for arthroscopic procedures
- Discuss common joint pathology
- Understand the indications for arthroscopy
- Understand patient preparation and the creation of portals for elbow, shoulder and stifle arthroscopy
Practise the above techniques in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 24 Sep 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Sheffield | Pilar Lafuente|Ulrich Rytz |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Arthroscopic Procedures II
Module Information
At the end of this module delegates should be able to:
- Understand the limitations and possible complications of arthroscopic procedures
- Perform an arthroscopic examination of the elbow, shoulder and stifle joints
- Perform simple arthroscopic surgery of the elbow, shoulder and stifle joints
Practise the above techniques in a wet-lab environment
Status |
When |
Where |
Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available* | 25 Sep 2020 (9:30-17:30) | Sheffield | Pilar Lafuente|Ulrich Rytz |
| * Dates available on first come first served basis. Please note we advise all delegates not to book time off work / make travel arrangements until their dates have been confirmed with the Programme tutor. This will only happen once your place on the course has been confirmed. | |||
Small Animal Orthopaedic Surgery Pricing
Booking Options
| Payments | Initial Payment |
Total Payable |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Options | All prices exclude VAT | ||
| Full Course (Pay in full) | £11,995.00 | £0.00 | £11,995.00 |
| Deposit and 12 monthly payments | £925.00 | £1,495.00 | £12,595.00 |
| Full Course (Deposit to secure place) | £10,500.00 | £1,495.00 | £11,995.00 |
To book any option please click the "Book Now" button and select your preferences in your shopping cart.
Book Full Programme
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All GPAdvCert exam fees are included in the course fees however if you do not hold the appropriate GPCert entry criteria then additional fees will be incurred to achieve the entry criteria – please contact ISVPS to discuss this further.
Payment Terms & Conditions
- A non-refundable initial payment is due on registration. Initial payments can be paid by cheque, credit card or bank transfer.
- Full payment to be made by BACS, card or cheque within 30 days of the deposit payment in order to be eligible for the discounted rate.
- Direct debit plans are administered and collected on our behalf by Animal Healthcare Limited.
- Multiple booking discounts available. Please contact us on 01793 759159 for further information.
- If paying by direct debit we must receive the first payment prior to the course commencing.
- You will be charged VAT by default. If you are part of an EU country outside of the UK and you have a valid intra-community VAT number the invoice will be exempt of VAT.
- Full details regarding the course cancellation procedure can be found here: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/terms-and-conditions/
Registration Information
- Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Where all available places are full, applicants will be offered first refusal for the next available date.
- Improve International reserves the right to close the intake early if the number of applications received exceeds the number of available places.
- Confirmation and enrolment details will then be sent to applicants once we have received a completed application form.
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Route to a GPAdvCert & PgD
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What do our customers think of our training?
Raymond Fitzpatrick is a self-employed locum studying for our PgC in Small Animal Surgery (SAS) between 2018 and 2020. He shares his experience so far: Embarking on Improve’s two-year Small Animal Surgery programme was my second attempt at earning a PgC in surgery. I’d previously enrolled on a one-year programme with another provider but, unfortunately, it didn’t deliver what I was hoping for, especially as it was mostly self-study. I also found the lack of learning support frustrating. I […] Read more...
Raymond Fitzpatrick
Once I’d settled into a routine, I relished the new knowledge I was absorbing, as well as the practical surgery skills I was learning. The tutors were excellent and worked hard to provide a balance between the theory in lectures and developing our practical skills in the excellent practical sessions. By the end of every module, I was confident and felt that my knowledge had increased. Improve’s online virtual learning environment, Moodle, was very useful because of the range of tools it offers to support the learning process. I used it to discuss topics with my fellow delegates and tutors; to receive feedback on case reports and to stay up to date with reading resources and advice from tutors. Read more...
Andreas Manousoudakis
The theory backed up by the amazing practical sessions really consolidate your knowledge base, read the notes, the textbook, watch the DVD and go ahead and book in the perineal hernia repair or the salivary gland removal instead of referring it on to someone else’s practice. I now eagerly anticipate the next surgery case walking […] Read more...
Marni Miller
