ISASS17 started with a bang—the MIS-1 session was packed to standing! We discussed revision rates on MIS decompression, how to handle analgesia following TLIF, and complication rates for LLIF with authors from Rush University in Chicago, US; the University of Toronto, CA; Sao Paolo, Brazil; Santorso, Italy, and the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Republic of Korea!

The MIS-2 session, moderated by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi and Dr. Jian Shen, began with perennial favorite Dr. Neel Anand pontificating on outcomes prediction for circumferential MIS treating adult spinal deformity. Other researchers and authors brought their own perspectives from their homes in Korea and Singapore on topics like optimizing cortical bone trajectory and screw fixation.

The Spinal Innovation session was packed to the brim! There’s certainly a great deal of interest in ISASS’s signature topic! Dr. Mark Kurd and Dr. Stephen Hochschuler smartly moderated a series of lectures on robotic guidance, titanium plasma spray PEEK vs. a porous titanium scaffold on PEEK with respect to osseointegration, patient-specific 3D printing (!), the SMART trial, and performing LLIF at L4-5 on patients with high iliac crests (a possible solution: angled instrumentation).

After a break on the busy exhibit floor to see new techniques and technologies, attendees tucked into lunch. Following the meal came a spirited discussion at the Symposium on Pain Management, as moderated by Dr. Pierce Nunley. The weather is sunny and pleasantly cool here in Boca Raton, but we’re tackling all the hottest issues in the lecture hall! 🔥

Mid-afternoon saw a Biomechanics session led by Leonard Voronov. Gait analysis of differing conditions, anatomical variations and their impacts on kinematics, and a deep dive into the motion loss following fusion were all discussed by heavy scholarly hitters like Ram Haddas of Texas Back Institute and Yu-Po Lee of UCSD.

The last of the day’s podium presentations are on the topic of Cervical Motion Preservation, with Dr. Seok Woo Kim (or SK, as he likes to be called) and Dr. Harel Deutch moderating. Dr. Jeffrey McConnell gave us a great look at a disc replacement that selectively constrains movement, and Dr. Frank Phillips followed it up with preliminary results from the M6-C IDE. This session is an excellent sneak peek at the next generation of devices!

But ISASS always goes the extra mile to present fascinating research, so the day isn’t over yet—there are still four tracks of poster presentations on topics like the classic MIS, Cervical, and Lumbar, but also on Values and Outcomes, Innovative Technologies, and Adult Thoracolumbar Degeneration.

And after a hard day of scholarship, research, and learning comes the fun, the warmth, and the camaraderie of meeting colleagues old and new at the Welcome Reception in the evening at the Exhibit Hall.

Tomorrow at ISASS17 – Day 2

General Session: Adult Spinal Deformity
8:00 am – 9:15 am

The first session of the scientific program for Thursday is General Session: Adult Spinal Deformity moderated by Ricardo Fontes, MD; Hanjo Kim, MD. Twelve presentations are scheduled.

Presidential Address & Presidential Guest Speaker
9:15 am – 10:10 am
Presidential Address by Hee Kit Wong, MD and Presidential Guest Speaker Professor Kandiah Satkunanatham, speaking on the topic “Regulating Medical Devices in Asia”.

Break on Exhibit Floor
10:10 am – 10:40 am

Visit ISASS17 Exhibits.

General Session: General Session: Tumor, Trauma, and Infection
10:40 am – 12:00 pm

The second session of the scientific program is General Session: Spinal Innovation moderated by Steven Ludwig, MD; Yu-Po Lee, MD. Thirteen presentations are scheduled.

Industry Workshops (not CME)
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Seven industry workshops will be held on Thursday.

Royal 7 – Paradigm Spine
Spine procedures in an ASC environment: 2017 CMS Rule changes offer choice for patients. Join spinal stenosis experts in case discussion and evidence-based medicine approaches for better outcomes for patients.
Reginald Davis, MD, Chris Yeung, MD, Scott Leary, MD and Roy Vingan, MD

Royal 8 – Aesculap Implant Systems
Taking Back Control in the Age of Denials for Degenerative Disc Disease: Defending Your Right to Treat Chronic Low Back Pain Patients
Gary Owens, MD – Former VP of Policy at Independence BCBS; Matthew Gornet, MD – The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis; Richard Guyer, MD – Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Back Institute; Kim Norton – Head of Reimbursement & Payer Relations at Aesculap

Royal 9 – Globus Medical
Robotics: The Future of Spine Surgery
Rishi K Wadhwa, MD

Royal 10 – Medtronic
Rialto – Latest Innovation in SI Fusion-Approach Matters
William D. Tobler, MD

Addison Ballroom West – Joimax, Inc.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Expert Panel Presentations – Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Here we are. Where do we go?
Wolfgang Ries, Founder & CEO – joimax® Group; Anatomical Preservation: Endoscopy vs. Microdiscectomy – Choll Kim, MD, PhD – Spine Institute of San Diego; Getting started with Spinal Endoscopy: The First 10 Cases – Darren Bergey, MD – Back & Sport Institute; Advanced Techniques: Broadening Your Indications – Jian Shen, MD – Mohawk Valley Orthopaedics; Interlaminar Approach: Introducing iLESSYS & iLESSYS Delta – Ralph Wagner, MD – Ligamenta Wirbelsaulenzentrum

Estate Ballroom 1 – PracticeBloom
How To Drive New Patients to Your Practice in 2017 – New smart marketing tools and social media are catapulting practice revenues. In this session, hear about the easy to understand models from real case studies that have doubled profits.
Matt Coffy, CEO – PracticeBloom

Estate Ballroom 2/3 – Legally Mine
The Keys to Locking Out Lawsuits and Reducing Taxes

Symposium 2: Adult Spinal Deformity
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

The second symposium of the scientific program, moderated by Luis Pimenta, MD, PhD.

General Session: Value and Outcomes in Spine Surgery
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

The afternoon continues with General Session: Value and Outcomes in Spine Surgery moderated by Neel Anand, MD; Alexander Vaccaro, MD. Eight presentations are scheduled.

Awards Ceremony; Transfer of Presidency; Guest Speaker Robin R. Young
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Awards for ISASS17 papers, transfer of ISASS presidency and guest speaker Robin R. Young will update attendees on the state of the spine industry.

Break on Exhibit Floor
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Visit ISASS17 Exhibits. Thursday, April 13th want to learn more about whiskey? Jack Daniel’s representative will be in the ISASS exhibit hall lounge from 3:30 to 3:50 She will share her tips on what you need to know when choosing a great whisky.

General Session: Lumbar Motion Preservation
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Next up will be General Session: Lumber Motion Preservation moderated by Jack Zigler, MD and Luiz Pimenta, MD, PhD. Ten presentations are scheduled.

Symposium 3: Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

The third symposium of the scientific program, moderated by Anthony Yeung, MD, PhD and Choll Kim, MD.

Thank you,

ISASS