How to choose a hip and knee cadaver lab in the United States

Define the training you actually need

Write down two or three objectives that you can discuss with your program director, mentor, or department. These might concern understanding a surgical workflow, comparing instrumentation, or receiving feedback during a supervised exercise. Use that list to read the agenda session by session. A broad conference can be valuable for discussion and evidence updates, but its length does not tell you how much supervised practice it includes.

AAOS maintains a dedicated hands-on skills course collection that includes hip and knee arthroplasty. Treat an organizer’s general course calendar as a starting point, then open the page for the exact edition. Confirm the year, audience, and lab description rather than relying on an old brochure or a similarly named recording.

Official reference: AAOS hands-on surgical skills courses ↗. Source reviewed October 1, 2026.

Ask what hands-on means in the published program

A course may combine lectures, faculty demonstrations, synthetic models, planning software, and cadaveric exercises. Identify which portions involve each participant. Ask whether registration includes the lab or whether a separate workshop ticket is required. An observation-only place can have a different learning purpose from an operating station.

If practical experience is your priority, ask the organizer for the number of participants per station, the expected rotation of roles, and the faculty coverage. Compare scheduled lab time with the actual tasks you hope to practice. There is no universal ratio or duration that guarantees a good course; the important point is whether the setup suits your goals.

• Does each participant have a defined opportunity to perform the exercise?
• Which hip and knee procedures are included in the lab schedule?
• Are primary and revision stations separate or combined?
• Is equipment demonstrated from one manufacturer or several?
• Are required pre-course modules included in the registration fee?

Confirm eligibility before reserving travel

Resident-only, fellow-focused, and practicing-surgeon courses are not interchangeable. A listing that says advanced does not establish that a specific trainee can enroll. Review the intended audience, any required training year, institutional approval, and attendance conditions. Ask about accompanying team members separately; a physician registration may not cover their participation.

Keep the organizer’s written response with your booking documents. If you require departmental funding, provide the course objectives, attendance dates, registration category, and itemized estimate together. Do not assume that a place on a waiting list or a submitted application guarantees lab access.

Compare the full cost, not just tuition

Build a budget with separate lines for tuition, any lab add-on, transportation, lodging, meals, and time away from work. Leave a field for the source and date checked beside each amount. Member and trainee prices can have different eligibility rules, and early registration deadlines may close in a specific time zone.

Check the venue location against the official travel page before choosing an airport or hotel. Confirm the first required session and the final lab finish time; a flight that cuts off the last teaching block reduces the value of the trip. Read cancellation and substitution terms before committing to nonrefundable arrangements.

Make the learning plan extend beyond the lab

Before departure, review the preparation material supplied by the organizer and make a short list of questions. During the course, distinguish observations about unfamiliar equipment from ideas you want to discuss with your supervisor afterward. Ask which materials remain available and whether faculty provide a channel for follow-up educational questions.

After the event, record what was covered, what remains unclear, and the next supervised learning opportunity you need. Course attendance alone does not establish independent competence, hospital privileges, or readiness to change practice. Keep the certificate and any approved CME record separate from your personal learning notes.