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AO COIAC software: an indispensible tool The latest version, 3.0, was downloaded 1,500 times in its first four months.
Laurent Audigé Manager Methodology, AOCID Dübendorf, Switzerland aocoiac@aofoundation.org
As a result of longstanding collaboration between the AO Classification Supervisory Committee, AO Classification Groups, and the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA), in December 2008, AO Clinical Investigation and Documentation (AOCID) released the new, updated, version 3.0 of the AO Comprehensive Injury Automatic Classifier (AO COIAC), which is available to trauma surgeons worldwide as a free download. Software overview AO COIAC is a PC-based software with a flexible, open-source database system (MySQL). The updated, version 3.0 includes the adult AO/ OTA long bone and the pediatric long bone fracture classification systems, as well as a newly developed craniomaxillofacial system for injury location. A skeleton interface provides access to one of several area-specific classification modules. Clicking with the mouse on standard bone drawings provides the user with successive drop-down menus and classification options, making for a quick and easy-to-use classification process. In addition, clinical notes and diagnostic images can be saved in a specific history tab. Some of the major new features in version 3.0 include: • • • • • •
Server-client installation for multiple users Password-controlled access to the database Registration of clinical studies Improved searching tool Data export for exchange between databases Text-delimited data export for statistical analyses
Success around the world In just the first three months following AO COIAC version 3.0’s release, the 1,000th download barrier was broken and today surgeons all around the 1 | 09
world are benefiting from the software. The largest proportion of users is located in Europe, followed by Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America, and finally, Africa. Clinical implantation AO COIAC can be installed in a server-client setting that allows for multiple users to access patient and injury data from anywhere in the clinic network, for example, from the radiology department, surgeon’s office, and meeting rooms. A full pediatric documentation database including treatment, complications, and outcomes is currently being used in a pilot phase by members of the Pediatric Classification Group (PACG) in five clinics in Europe and the US. Tailoring AO COIAC to surgeons’ needs A free copy of AO COIAC and a detailed user’s manual can be downloaded from the AOCID page of the AO Foundation’s web portal using the following URL address: www.aofoundation.org/aocoiac AO COIAC has the capacity to be further developed as a standardized classification and documentation tool, all the while meeting your needs. Regular software updates will be made available. To help us tailor the development process to suit end-users’ requirements, a web-based survey was implemented within the AO surgeon community. Half-way through the survey, close to 80% of respondents rated AO COIAC as very/tremendously useful, and a similar proportion reported that the software should be further developed. As reported by 84%, a full version allowing complete case documentation would be extremely valuable for the AO Foundation. Feel free to contact us with your comments or questions at: aocoiac@aofoundation.org.