This virtual symposium will cover the role of the anterior approach to the thoracolumbar spine, for the various pathologies including 1) degenerative 2) adult deformity 3) pediatric deformity 4) tumor and 5) trauma. There continues to be an important role for the anterior approach, and discussion of technique and complications of this approach remain important in contemporary spine surgery practice.

This webinar will provide a systematic analysis of the current evidence and practice guidelines for nonoperative management of patients with spinal deformity for both adolescents and adults. With variations in brace design and evidence for long-term benefits, use the consensus discussed to clarify your current practice and selections. There will be an update on the status of scoliosis specific exercises including the evidence, guidelines, and strategies for implementation.

Learning Objectives:

1) Identify both the indications and the contraindications of cast treatment of early onset scoliosis. 2) Describe the important technical aspects of applying a proper scoliosis cast. 3) Discuss common pitfalls in scoliosis casting and how to avoid them. 4) Determine when scoliosis casting should be abandoned and other methods used instead.

This one-hour Webinar will highlight practical applications of quality improvement registries dedicated to improving performance and patient outcomes in surgical treatment of spinal deformities.

This webinar will review the current best evidence for different forms of treatment for early onset scoliosis (EOS).

It is well known in the pediatric and adult population that there is an important balance between the spine and lower extremities. Changes in pelvic parameters can alter strategies in both populations. Lower extremity deformities or leg length differences must be considered to achieve optimal outcomes. Recent studies investigating the relationship between the spine and the pelvis have refined our understanding of pelvic and spinal orientation.

Learning Objectives:

1) Describe how current treatments for early-onset scoliosis affect the health of children including the potential risks from anesthesia and health-related quality of life. 2) Articulate the actual indications for surgery and children with early-onset scoliosis and when it should be performed. 3) Delineate how the indications for surgery and the proper instrumentation selection change over time and with the child’s individual condition.

Enabling technologies have the potential to increase safety and efficiency while improving outcomes in spinal deformity surgery. These may include radiation reduction technologies, navigation, robotics and even machine learning or predictive analytics. While they don’t replace surgeon experience as a critical component, they have the power to leverage surgeon experience for the benefit of the patient when combined with the right technologies.

In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of ethics-related decision-making in our practices, we provide five thought-provoking examples. SRS members infrequently experience ethics-related issues in their practices and, understandably, have limited knowledge of how these issues should be handled. Members need guidelines to follow, and references to review, if/when they are confronted with various ethical issues involving them or their colleagues.

The Global Current Concepts in Spine Deformity course is a virtual, curriculum-based, flipped classroom style learning opportunity. Topics include adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, early onset scoliosis, kyphosis, adult deformity, cervical spine, spondylolisthesis, and acquired deformity.