There’s another spine society. This new spine society is focusing on endoscopic spine surgery.
On July 13, 2016, spine surgeons from Frederick, Maryland-based American Spine announced the formation of the International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ISESS).
The mission behind the new society, according to a press release, is that it would “not be driven by any one person, company or country.”
There is currently an alphabet soup of spine organizations focusing on minimally invasive spine surgery, including the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons and the International Intradiscal and Transforaminal Therapy Society. In fact, the new society came out of the 5th World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery & Techniques, 15th Annual Meeting of Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Society and the 5th Asian Congress of MISS.
This is also in addition to the North American Spine Society (NASS) and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), both of which have specialized endoscopic training programs.
Spine surgeons from Asia currently perform 40% of global endoscopic surgeries, according to the announcement.
Kaixuan Liu, M.D., Ph.D., is listed as the founder of the new society.
On the society’s website he is described as a, “leader in endoscopic spine surgery, which has bridged the gap between interventional pain management and traditional spine surgery. He has substantial experience in this rapidly developing field, specializing in treatments for disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, failed neck or back surgery, and many other diseases and conditions in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.”
Members of ISESS, according to the website, will receive advanced educational opportunities to learn about and be trained in endoscopic spine surgery.
The site promotes Atlantic Spine Center, as one of the “top centers” for endoscopic spine surgery in America offering the chance to observe and participate in performing endoscopic spine surgery on cadavers. Additionally, the Richard Wolf Corporation is mentioned as a company offering a variety of training opportunities, including conventions and workshops focused on the endoscopic spine community. As a member of the ISESS, these opportunities will be available at a discounted price.
“The importance of endoscopic spine surgery is not widely enough known in the U.S., ” said Said Osman, M.D. of the Atlantic Spine Center and winner of the Kambin Foundation Annual Award. In the mid 1980-1990s, endoscopic surgeries were only done by a few pioneering spine surgeons in the U.S. The technique, however, was very difficult to learn, according to the group.
“Attempts started with endoscopy, but received little attention in the Americas, then things moved quickly toward other minimally invasive surgery techniques, involving microscopic incisions, mostly local anesthesia, little to no blood loss compared to open back surgeries, same day surgeries, much reduced recovery time, high success rates, less post-op pain medications required, improved quality of life, preservation of spinal mobility and no removal of muscle or bone, ” stated the press release.
The ISESS was founded by Dr. Liu as correctly described. The website is currently being revised and the new version will be published as soon as completed.
ISESS, in its current form will home for all endoscopy products which meet the criteria of safety for patients.
I work with American Spine in Frederick, and not with Atlantic Spine Center!
Dear Sir .
I am an anaesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist . I would like to learn endoscopy discectomy . Kindly help and guide me.
Regards