Educational Programming

Lateral approaches to the thoracolumbar spine continue to expand the surgical toolbox, but choosing the right approach requires a clear understanding of indications, risks, and tradeoffs. In this session, faculty will compare commonly used lateral techniques, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and patient-specific considerations. Through practical discussion and case-informed insights, participants will learn how to evaluate approach selection based on anatomy, pathology, and surgical goals. Attendees will leave with clearer strategies for matching the right lateral approach to the right patient in real-world practice.

Total disc replacement (TDR) continues to evolve as indications expand beyond early FDA trial criteria, making patient selection increasingly important for safe and effective outcomes. This symposium will review current indications and contraindications for both cervical and lumbar TDR, with emphasis on avoiding complications such as subsidence, migration, and endplate-related issues. Through case-based discussion, faculty will highlight key anatomical and clinical factors—including facet degeneration, prior surgery, and bone quality—that influence candidacy. Attendees will learn strategies for identifying appropriate TDR candidates in everyday practice.

As CMS expands mandatory bundled payment programs, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) is poised to reshape how spine care is delivered and evaluated. This symposium will provide a spine-specific overview of TEAM, including its structure, early implementation considerations, and lessons from prior bundled payment initiatives such as BPCI-Advanced and CJR. Faculty will also discuss emerging models like the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) and their potential implications for outpatient spine care, along with strategies for surgeon–hospital alignment in value-based environments.

Bringing new technology into the operating room requires more than clinical evidence- it also involves navigating institutional processes, stakeholder priorities, and regulatory considerations. This symposium will explore how hospitals, group purchasing organizations, industry partners, and surgeons evaluate and approve emerging spine technologies and biologics. Faculty will highlight practical strategies for aligning clinical value with operational requirements and communicating effectively with decision-makers. Participants will better understand the steps required to move promising innovations from proposal to implementation within hospital systems.

Presented by the Section on Spinal Deformity, this case-based panel will explore practical strategies for navigating common technical challenges encountered during adult spinal deformity surgery. Faculty will share step-by-step tips for optimizing surgical exposure, performing multilevel anterior and posterior reconstruction, and achieving effective deformity correction while minimizing complications. Discussion will also address management of common postoperative concerns and scenarios involving suboptimal correction or persistent pain. Attendees will gain practical knowledge they can apply to improve planning, execution, and postoperative decision-making in ASD surgery.

Presented by the Section on Spinal Cord Injury, this symposium highlights emerging technologies that are reshaping care for patients with spinal cord injury. Faculty will review applications of artificial intelligence for prognostication and rehabilitation, as well as neuromodulation approaches such as spinal epidural and vagus nerve stimulation that are demonstrating functional gains in clinical studies. The session will also examine the evolving role of stem cell therapies and biomaterial platforms as they move toward clinical translation. Together, these topics provide an overview of how innovation is advancing recovery and treatment possibilities in spinal cord injury care.

The No Surprises Act has introduced significant changes to reimbursement and administrative workflows that directly affect spine surgery practices. This session will review the structure of the law, the federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, and how these mechanisms influence payment outcomes and practice operations. Faculty will share real-world examples illustrating how practices can navigate compliance requirements while identifying opportunities within the evolving regulatory environment. The discussion will also highlight advocacy efforts and emerging support resources designed to help spine surgeons respond strategically to these changes.

Spine surgeons devote years to mastering clinical decision-making, yet many face avoidable financial pitfalls that can affect long-term security and career flexibility. This session highlights common financial planning mistakes—from tax inefficiencies and risk protection gaps to advisor misalignment and lack of exit strategy—and explains how they develop over the course of a career. Using the What, Why, How (WWH) Method, the presentation offers a structured approach to connecting financial decisions with personal goals, career planning, and long-term security. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for strengthening financial strategy before problems become difficult to reverse.

Endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) is rapidly expanding from a niche technique to a potential alternative to traditional microscopic fusion approaches. This symposium will review current evidence on outcomes and fusion rates, compare endoscopic and microscopic TLIF techniques, and examine the role of Endo-LIF in ambulatory surgery center settings. Faculty will also demonstrate key uniportal and biportal techniques and discuss strategies for managing intraoperative challenges and complications. The session offers a practical, evidence-based perspective for surgeons considering incorporating endoscopic fusion into their practice.

Total disc replacement continues to evolve as evidence; implant design, and patient selection criteria become more nuanced. This symposium will review lessons learned from multiple IDE trials, biomechanical principles of disc design, and key anatomical considerations that influence implant selection. Faculty will also examine retrieval analyses and biological responses associated with implant failure to better understand long-term performance. Together, these perspectives provide a deeper framework for evaluating when disc replacement is—and is not—the right choice for patients.

This multidisciplinary symposium will outline key considerations for developing and implementing a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Spine Center (CMSC) within academic or hybrid practice environments. Faculty will discuss strategies for integrating surgical, nonoperative, rehabilitation, and administrative services to improve coordination, efficiency, and patient outcomes. The session will also explore models for centralized triage, patient access, and collaboration across spine care specialties. Together, these perspectives provide a practical roadmap for building and sustaining an effective multidisciplinary spine program.