AO Surgery Reference vs RealImaging Lite
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.
RealImaging Lite
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RealImaging Lite: Your Digital Companion for Surgical Training RealImaging Lite is designed to elevate your surgical training experience. Using advanced augmented reality technology, this innovative tool allows you to practice minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopy, in an immersive and realistic environment. Key Features - Comprehensive learning experience with simulated radiological visualization. - Compatible with physical models like the RealSpine Basic Endo for hybrid training. - Eight anatomical pathologies featuring disc herniations at various vertebral levels to sharpen your skills. - Intuitive interface for progressive learning. - Virtual markers for precise anatomical guidance. Key Benefits - Enhance your surgical skills with a unique combination of physical and digital training. - Customizable and designed to adapt to future applications and models. Important Disclaimer This app is not a medical device. It is intended solely for educational and training purposes to support learning and is not for use in real medical procedures or to provide medical advice. The app does not offer diagnoses or health-related recommendations. Users should consult a licensed healthcare professional before making medical decisions or performing medical procedures. Important Regulatory Notice This app is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended for medical diagnosis, treatment, or health management. The app does not provide medical data or treatment recommendations. It is not a substitute for real-world medical training or practice.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: RealImaging Lite at monthly against AO Surgery Reference's every 6 months. AO Surgery Reference's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AO Surgery Reference ships an update every 6 months, RealImaging Lite monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AO Surgery Reference | RealImaging Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (14 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 281 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | AO Foundation | Realists Training Technologies GmbH |
In-app purchases
AO Surgery Reference
No in-app purchases
RealImaging Lite
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AO Surgery Reference free?
Is RealImaging Lite free?
Do AO Surgery Reference or RealImaging Lite have ads?
Which is updated more often, AO Surgery Reference or RealImaging Lite?
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