If you have a question about a position statement, please contact policy@canorth.org.
Position Statements
Position Statements are developed by the COA Executive and by various committees, to outline the opinion and recommendations of the Association. They have been issued in order to serve the needs of orthopaedic surgeons, patients and policy makers.
All position statements are currently being reviewed by Committees. Updated position statements will be made available by late 2025.
If you wish to request an endorsement or have an idea for a position statement, please contact chelsea@canorth.org.
Latest Position Statements
- Joint Statement on Oral Treatment for Bone and Joint (including prosthetic joint) infections – 2025
- Supporting Pregnancy and Parental Responsibility in the Orthopaedic Profession and Throughout Orthopaedic Training – Complete Version – 2024
- Supporting Pregnancy and Parental Responsibility in the Orthopaedic Profession and Throughout Orthopaedic Training – Abbreviated Version – 2024
- Statement on Global Conflict – 2024
Education Pillar
Membership Pillar
Professional Practice Pillar
- COA Position Statement on Remuneration for Orthopaedic Surgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic – 2020 (contact policy@canorth.org to obtain a copy of the position statement)
- COA Position Statement on Daytime Orthopaedic Trauma Block Time – 2019
- COA Position Statement on Orthopaedic Graduate Unemployment – 2016
- Guidelines for Late Career Transition – 2016
Advocacy Pillar
- COA Response to Recent Racial Violence – 2020
- Position Statement on Resuming Restorative Surgery: Prioritizing Orthopaedic Surgery Nationwide – 2020
- COA Response to the National Assembly of Québec’s Bill 21 (An Act representing laicity of the State) – 2019
- Position Statement on Diversity and Inclusion – 2018
- Position Statement on Access to Orthopaedic Care in Canada – 2018
- Charter for Orthopaedic Surgeons – 2017
- COA Response to the Constitutional Challenge to B.C.’s Ban on Private Health Insurance led by the Cambie Surgery Centre – 2016
Knowledge Transfer Pillar
- Virtual Care for Orthopaedic Practice – 2021
- Position Statement on Intra-Articular Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis – AAC/COA – 2019
- Position Statement: Opioids and Orthopaedic Surgical Practice – 2018
- Position Statement on Arthroscopy of the Knee Joint – AAC COA – 2018
- Stem Cell Therapy – 2018
- Consensus Statement – Patients with Total Joint Replacement having Dental Procedures – 2016
- Identifying Musculoskeletal Interventions with Low or Limited Levels of Efficacy – 2016
- Orthopaedic Surgery Patient Transfer of Care – COA Guidelines – 2013
- Position Statement on the Reuse of Single-use Devices – 2011
- The Orthopaedist and Blood-borne Pathogens – 2010
COA Position Statement Disclaimer
The statements summarized in this document are opinions and/or consensus-based statements/recommendations published by various resources. The summarized statements may not necessarily be based on empirical evidence, nor consider physician or patient values and/or preferences. None of the statements are meant to serve as official guideline recommendations or exclusive course of treatment or procedure recommendations for health-care providers and/or decision-makers endorsed by the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. Internet addresses are current at the time of publication.