Clinical Orthopaedics (MCO)

MCO 6310  Advanced Shoulder and Elbow Injury Management  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6410  
This doctoral-level course advances expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of complex shoulder and elbow sports injuries through integrated application of advanced regional anatomy, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on instability, rotator cuff pathology, labral injury, throwing-related conditions, and overuse syndromes. Learners synthesize pathophysiology, kinetic chain mechanics, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize return-to-sport and functional outcomes, and prepare for independent specialty orthopaedic practice.
MCO 6311  Advanced Lower Extremity Sports Injury Management  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6411  
This doctoral-level course advances in the comprehensive evaluation and management of complex lower extremity sports injuries through integrated application of advanced anatomy, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on synthesizing pathophysiology, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize return-to-activity and functional outcomes, and prepare learners for independent specialty practice.
MCO 6312  Advanced Management of Hand and Elbow Disorders  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6412 and 6410  
This course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of hand and elbow pathology by integrating advanced anatomy, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on microsurgical principles, fracture and dislocation management, tendon and nerve injury, degenerative conditions, and elbow instability. Learners synthesize pathophysiology, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making and independent specialty practice across outpatient, inpatient, and austere environments.
MCO 6313  Advanced Management of Foot and Ankle Disorders  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6413 and either MCO 6411 or MCO 6417  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of complex foot and ankle pathology by integrating advanced regional anatomy, biomechanics, gait analysis, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on trauma, deformity correction, tendon and ligament pathology, arthritic conditions, diabetic foot disorders, cartilage lesions, and limb preservation principles. Learners synthesize pathophysiology, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize functional outcomes, and prepare for independent specialty orthopaedic practice.
MCO 6322  Advanced Critical Care Management  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants certification, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive management of critically ill and perioperative patients within intensive care and trauma environments. Emphasis is placed on advanced cardiopulmonary physiology, hemodynamic monitoring, resuscitation principles, multisystem organ dysfunction, damage control orthopaedics, sepsis management, and perioperative optimization. Learners integrate diagnostic imaging, laboratory interpretation, critical care pharmacology, and evidence-based protocols to support advanced decision-making across inpatient and austere environments.
MCO 6324  Advanced Wound Care and Burns  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants certification, Basic Life Support  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of complex wounds and soft-tissue pathology, with an optional advanced focus on burn care. Emphasis is placed on wound pathophysiology, limb preservation principles, vascular and diabetic wound management, infection control, reconstructive strategies, grafting techniques, and burn depth assessment. Learners integrate advanced anatomy, tissue-healing biology, diagnostic imaging, laboratory evaluation, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies to support complex soft-tissue management across inpatient, outpatient, and austere environments.
MCO 6325  Advanced Joint Arthroplasty  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6415 or MCO 6417  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of advanced degenerative joint disease by integrating arthroplasty biomechanics, implant design principles, diagnostic imaging, perioperative optimization, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on primary and revision joint arthroplasty of the hip, knee, and shoulder; implant fixation concepts; alignment strategies; infection prevention; complication management; and longitudinal surveillance. Learners synthesize biomechanical principles, perioperative medicine, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making and specialty orthopaedic practice.
MCO 6326  Advanced Musculoskeletal Oncology  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6416  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic infections through integrated application of advanced regional anatomy, tumor biology, diagnostic imaging, histopathology principles, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, metastatic disease, pathologic fractures, limb preservation, oncologic margins, adjuvant therapies, and oncologic surveillance. Learners synthesize oncologic staging principles, multidisciplinary care coordination, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making and specialty orthopaedic practice.
MCO 6328  Advanced General Trauma  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants certification, Basic Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of multisystem general trauma across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on trauma systems, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) principles, damage control resuscitation, shock states, hemorrhage control, thoracic and abdominal trauma, traumatic brain injury, and multisystem organ dysfunction. Learners integrate advanced anatomy, trauma physiology, imaging interpretation, laboratory analysis, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies to support life-saving interventions, perioperative stabilization, and functional readiness across inpatient and austere environments.
MCO 6331  Advanced Orthopaedic Trauma: Self Study  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6417 and 6421  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of orthopaedic trauma across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on fracture biomechanics, soft-tissue injury, open fracture management, limb preservation, damage control orthopaedics, fixation strategies, and operative stabilization principles. Learners integrate advanced musculoskeletal anatomy, imaging interpretation, fracture classification systems, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies to support limb-saving interventions, functional restoration, and operational readiness across inpatient and austere environments.
MCO 6332  Advanced Hip Sports Injury Management  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6411, 6415, or 6420  
This doctoral-level course advances expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of complex hip sports pathology by integrating advanced hip anatomy, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on femoroacetabular impingement, labral pathology, instability, hip dysplasia, athletic overuse syndromes, and post-traumatic conditions. Learners synthesize pathophysiology, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize return-to-sport and functional outcomes, and prepare for independent specialty practice.
MCO 6350  Introduction to Orthopaedic Clinical Evaluation and Procedures  (3)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic patients, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6351  Evidence Based Orthopaedic Care  (3)  
This course introduces the application of evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic complaints, focusing on assessing current peer-reviewed journal articles for sound research design and valid conclusions so as to apply lessons learned from the literature to individual patients and patient populations.
MCO 6352  Orthopaedic Evaluation and Management of Spine Disorders  (3)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic spine complaints, and focusing on spine anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and classification of common select fractures of the spine.
MCO 6353  Evaluation and Management of Neurologic Disorders  (3)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of neurologic complaints, and focusing on spine and head anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and classification of common select fractures of the head and spine.
MCO 6354  Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Orthopaedic Disorders  (3)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of pediatric orthopaedic complaints, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, congenital disorders, and classification of pediatric fractures.
MCO 6355  Advanced Orthopaedic Clinical Evaluation and Procedures  (3)  
This course furthers critical principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic patients, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6356  Techniques for Medical Research Presentation  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): CITI training only  
This course introduces various techniques for medical research presentation. It takes information obtained in developing a high-quality clinical research project, demographic and outcome measure data, and statistical analysis, and generates oral and written products for presentation at local and national venues.
MCO 6362  Advanced Management of Spine Disorders  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6352  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of spinal pathology by integrating advanced spinal anatomy, biomechanics, neuroanatomy, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on degenerative cervical and lumbar disease, radiculopathy, myelopathy, spinal trauma, deformity, instability, and spine-related functional impairment. Learners synthesize neurologic assessment, rehabilitation principles, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize functional and functional outcomes, and prepare for independent specialty orthopedic practice.
MCO 6364  Advanced Management of Pediatric Orthopaedic Disorders  (3)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6354 or 6454  
This doctoral-level course advances the orthopaedic physician assistant’s expertise in the comprehensive evaluation and management of pediatric musculoskeletal pathology by integrating growth and developmental anatomy, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on pediatric trauma, congenital and developmental disorders, neuromuscular conditions, spinal deformity, and physeal injury. Learners synthesize pediatric pathophysiology, growth modulation principles, rehabilitation science, and contemporary literature to support advanced clinical decision-making, optimize functional outcomes, and prepare for independent specialty orthopaedic practice.
MCO 6402  Orthopaedic Trauma Rotation  (4)  
This is a two-month clinical and surgical rotation on service with a fellowship-trained orthopaedic traumatologist and a team of surgical residents.
MCO 6410  Introduction to Upper Extremity Sports Injury Management  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of patient athletes, and focusing on upper extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6411  Introduction to Lower Extremity Sports Injury Management  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of patient athletes, and focusing on lower extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6412  Evaluation and Management of Hand and Elbow Disorders  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application; applies evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic upper extremity complaints; and focuses on microsurgery, upper extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and classification of common select fractures and dislocations of the upper extremity.
MCO 6413  Evaluation and Management of Foot and Ankle Disorders  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic complaints, and focusing on lower extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and classification of common select fractures and dislocations of the leg, ankle, and foot.
MCO 6414  Evaluation and Management of Complex Wounds  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of patients with complex wounds., and focusing on general anatomy, biochemistry, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and medical and surgical management of complex wounds.
MCO 6415  Evaluation of Joint Arthritis and Trauma Managed with Joint Reconstruction  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic complaints, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, classification of periarticular fractures, and arthritis.
MCO 6416  Musculoskeletal Oncology Evaluation and Management  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of musculoskeletal neoplasms and infections, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and radiographic classification of oncologic lesions and pathologic fractures.
MCO 6417  Introduction to Evaluation and Management of Orthopaedic Trauma  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of musculoskeletal trauma, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and radiographic classification of orthopaedic trauma.
MCO 6418  Introduction to Evaluation and Management of General Trauma  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of surgical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of multisystem trauma, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and radiographic classification of multisystem trauma.
MCO 6419  Introduction to Critical Care Management  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of intensive care unit patients, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and medical management of critical patients.
MCO 6420  Advanced Sports Injury Management  (4)  
This course further examines critical principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of patient athletes, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6421  Advanced evaluation and management of orthopaedic trauma  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of musculoskeletal trauma, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and radiographic classification of orthopaedic trauma.
MCO 6422  Advanced Critical Care Management  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of intensive care unit patients, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and medical management of critical patients.
MCO 6423  Medical Research Design  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): CITI training only  
This course introduces medical research design, focusing on generating a testable research question, developing a research design that addresses the question, and conducting a literature review that supports the study design.
MCO 6424  Approaches to Medical Data Collection and Analysis  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): CITI training only  
This course introduces approaches to medical data collection and analysis, focusing on executing a research protocol, collecting outcome measures data, and then participating in the analysis of the data.
MCO 6425  Urgent Orthopaedic Evaluation  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of musculoskeletal trauma, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and radiographic classification of orthopaedic trauma.
MCO 6426  Advanced Joint Reconstruction  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6417  
This course advances principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application. It applies evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic complaints. The course focuses on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, classification of periarticular fractures, and arthritis.
MCO 6450  Introduction to Orthopaedic Clinical Evaluation and Procedures  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic patients, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.
MCO 6451  Evidence Based Orthopaedic Care  (4)  
This course introduces the application of evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic complaints, focusing on assessing current peer-reviewed journal articles for sound research design and valid conclusions so as to apply lessons learned from the literature to individual patients and patient populations.
MCO 6452  Orthopaedic Evaluation and Management of Spine Disorders  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic spine complaints, and focusing on spine anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and classification of common select fractures of the spine.
MCO 6454  Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Orthopaedic Disorders  (4)  
This course introduces advanced principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of pediatric orthopaedic complaints, and focusing on general anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, congenital disorders, and classification of pediatric fractures.
MCO 6455  Advanced Orthopaedic Clinical Evaluation and Procedures  (4)  
Pre-requisite(s): MCO 6450  
This course furthers critical principles of orthopaedic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment necessary for regular clinical application, applying evidence-based medicine to the management of orthopaedic patients, and focusing on extremity anatomy, biomechanical pathology, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation methods.