Symposia Spotlight: Innovation, Integration, and Evolving Models in Spine Care

Presented by the Section on Innovative Spine Research and Novel Technologies, this symposium offers a real-world look at the road from concept to clinical adoption in spine innovation. Explore advances- and persistent challenges- in biomechanics, endoscopy, robotics, and disc regeneration. Gain insight into the evolving clinical trial landscape and what it takes to bring next-generation technologies to the bedside.

Presented by the Section on Spinal Cord Injury, this symposium addresses the rising complexity of traumatic spine injuries in elderly patients with comorbidities and spinal stiffening conditions like AS and DISH. Through case-based discussion, explore surgical strategies, perioperative challenges, and the role of advanced technologies including navigation and robotics. Faculty will also examine emerging approaches to spinal cord injury management in this high-risk population.

This session highlights the present need for spine care providers to collaborate in delivering comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered care. As spine conditions become more prevalent and complex, fostering a cohesive care model is crucial. By integrating the expertise of orthopedic surgeons, interventional pain specialists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals, providers can better address patient needs and improve outcomes. The session will explore strategies for implementing evidence-based treatment protocols, developing integrated care pathways, and promoting shared decision-making.

Spinal disorders represent a major source of disability and healthcare burden, with patients frequently presenting with functional impairment, diminished quality of life, and progressive decline. Accurate, patient-specific outcome measurements are essential to complement traditional clinical and radiographic assessments. Gait analysis provides a quantitative, individualized evaluation of disability, capturing spatiotemporal parameters, dynamic joint kinematics, neuromuscular activity, and joint reaction forces. Beyond characterizing functional impairment, gait analysis has translational impact by informing surgical decision-making, guiding rehabilitation strategies, and linking biomechanical insights to clinically meaningful outcomes. This approach enables spine surgeons to tailor interventions, monitor recovery, and optimize patient-specific management in both pre- and postoperative care.

Presented by the Section on Sacroiliac Joint and Pelvic Girdle Pain, this symposium examines the complex interplay between biomechanics, transitional segments, and pre-arthritic hip conditions in athletic populations. With insights from physical therapy, orthopedics, and biomechanics, attendees will gain practical strategies for evaluating load-force transmission and managing lumbopelvic-hip pain in high-performance individuals.

Explore the evolving landscape of intervertebral disc therapeutics in this thought-provoking symposium. From legacy approaches like steroids and thermal ablation to cutting-edge biologics, stem cells, and disease-modifying pharmaceuticals—discover how these minimally invasive strategies may shift the treatment paradigm for degenerative disc disease, reduce reliance on surgery, and transform spine care.

Presented by the Section on Spinal Deformity, this interactive symposium uses real-world cases to explore key considerations in adult spinal deformity surgery. Topics include alignment goals, level selection, prevention of proximal junctional kyphosis, patient optimization, and when to apply minimally invasive techniques- all paired with expert insights and technical pearls to enhance surgical decision-making.

Presented by the Section on Comprehensive Episodes of Spine Care, this interactive, case-based symposium tackles the diagnostic and treatment challenges of patients with overlapping hip and lumbosacral conditions. Gain practical, evidence-based strategies to improve evaluation and treatment planning—and avoid common pitfalls that can lead to treatment failure.

High quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for back pain typically recommend a stepped approach to management with a first line emphasis on conservative care. Despite CPG recommendations, and a large, growing body of research demonstrating the value of this approach, less than 40% of patients benefit from management consistent with CPGs. In addition to suboptimal clinical outcomes, this lack of concordance with CPGs results in fragmentation, low-value care and excess costs. This session will review current evidence-based approaches to management of back pain and offer examples from three innovative, CPG concordant healthcare systems. It will also address barriers to guideline-concordant, high-value care including payer coverage, network and prior authorization processes and procedures targeting the types of providers identified by CPGs as the first line of care.

Presented by the Section on Multidisciplinary Surgical Approaches in the Spine, this high-yield, debate-style symposium brings leading surgeons head-to-head to explore best practices for ALIF, OLIF, and TLIF. Through expert comparisons and case-driven discussion, examine safety, reproducibility, and patient outcomes across techniques-culminating in a dynamic panel dialogue to help inform your own surgical decision-making.