AO Surgery Reference vs SagittalBalanceApp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AO Surgery Reference
Access a comprehensive online repository of surgical knowledge for fracture management. It provides detailed guidance on diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare for numerous fracture types, supported by extensive illustrations and expert review.
- 353 fracture types covered
- 172 surgical approaches
- 1222 surgical procedures
- Over 30,000 illustrations
- Feline, canine, and equine fracture care
- Powerful search function
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QUICK ONLINE REFERENCE IN CLINICAL LIFE Gain easy access to the award-winning AO Surgery Reference. AO Surgery Reference is an online repository for surgical knowledge. It describes the complete surgical management process from diagnosis to aftercare for all fractures of a given anatomical region, and also assembles relevant material that the AO has published before. It gives access to: • aid in surgical decision making for 353 fracture types • 172 approaches • 1222 surgical procedures • all richly illustrated with more than 30'000 Illustrations and much more. To ensure the quality of the content, it is authored, edited, and peer reviewed by experienced AO Faculty from all over the world, some of which are also well-known textbook authors/editors. This is a relaunch of the AO Surgery Reference app utilizing the same responsive user interface that was released February 2020. The highlights are: • Consistent navigational logic and user experience on all screen sizes • Inclusion of feline, canine, and equine fracture care • Combination of Preparation – Approach – Reduction and Fixation – Aftercare into one step called treatment. • Introduction of a powerful search function, allowing simplifications of the user interface as it replaces previous shortcuts.
SagittalBalanceApp
This medical app assists orthopedic surgeons by providing tools to analyze spinal alignment from X-ray images. It calculates key radiographic parameters, categorizes imbalance severity, and saves results for review and research. It streamlines the measurement process, offering a more convenient alternative to manual methods.
- Import medical images
- Calculate radiographic parameters (PI, SS, PT, LL, etc.)
- Categorize spinal imbalance severity
- Save and export measurement data
- Calculate vertebral centroids
- Compare measurements to reference databases
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The assessment of global sagittal alignment and the compensatory mechanisms which are implicated in the spine and the spinopelvic jucture are of paramount importance for spine and joint replacement surgeon. The dynamic interplay between flexibility and balance around the axis of gravity determine the type and the amount of influence in spine and hips. Radiographic parameters to evaluate objectively the sagittal balance are Pelvic incidence (PI), Sacral slope (SS), Pelvic Tilt (PT), Lumbar lordosis (LL),Thoracic Kyphosis, C7 plumb line (C7PL) and its ratio. Drawings in patients X-rays and precise measurements are important in order to quantify the magnitude of spinal deformities, to monitor the success or failure of treatment and thus optimise the management of patients according to the severity of the imbalance. The Sagittal Balance App is medical software aimed for orthopaedic surgeons, providing tools that allow doctors to: -Securely import medical images directly from the camera or stored photos. -By marking several points at the image of X-ray, the App calculates and offers a very convenient way to determine the most accurate possibly way at once, Pelvic incidence (PI), Sacral slope (SS), Pelvic Tilt (PT), Lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis, C7 plumb line (C7PL), C7PLD/sfd ratio, PI–LL, theoretical normal pelvic tilt (tPT),theoretical normal L1-S1 lumbar lordosis (tL1S1), Spino-sacral angle (SSA) According to measured parameters the app categorizes the severity of the imbalance of spine, in three different stages: optimal balanced, balanced with compensatory mechanisms and imbalanced. -Save the planned images, for later review or consultation.The measured values are compared by normal reference databases and also data are exported as txt file, ready to print or to input as cells to excel for research. -The app also allows the calculations of centroids after choosing points in vertebra body in independent manner from order. All information received from the software output must be clinically reviewed regarding its plausibility before patient treatment! Sagittal Balance App indicated for assisting healthcare professionals. Clinical judgment and experience are required to properly use the software. The software is not for primary image interpretation. In a busy everyday practice, the examiner have to draw lines in X-rays or in clinical settings, this it is time consuming and cumbersome. Accessory instruments like protractors, hinged goniometers, well sharped pencils, rulers or even transparent papers must be available. The app offers a very convenient and accurate way to perform most common radiographic measurements for spine, and spinopelvic juncture in a blink of an eye in front of your screen. The build in feature of the app, allows results to be categorized may help decide what could be considered normal or pathologic. The app is not a simple goniometer, is an enhanced product which helps to monitor objectively the course of the treatment and evaluate optimally the spine. This App is particular useful especially in clinical settings where you need a quick results without losing time. Please see tutorial videos at the developer’s web site www.orthopractis.com Reference databases 1.Legaye J, Duval-Beaupe`re G, Hecquet J, Marty C (1998) Pelvic incidence: a fundamental pelvic parameter for three-dimensional regulation of spinal sagittal curves. Eur Spine J 7(2):99–103 2. Cavanilles-Walker JM, Ballestero C, Iborra M, Ubierna MT, Tomasi SO (2014). "Adult Spinal Deformity: Sagittal Imbalance". International Journal of Orthopaedics.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: AO Surgery Reference at Free against SagittalBalanceApp's $8.99. AO Surgery Reference also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (14 vs 1). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
AO Surgery Reference is free to download; SagittalBalanceApp costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AO Surgery Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AO Surgery Reference has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, SagittalBalanceApp every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AO Surgery Reference | SagittalBalanceApp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (14 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | AO Foundation | ORTHOPRACTIS.COM SINGLE MEMBER P.C. |
Customer experience
AO Surgery Reference
SagittalBalanceApp
In-app purchases
AO Surgery Reference
No in-app purchases
SagittalBalanceApp
No in-app purchases
Questions
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Is SagittalBalanceApp free?
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