Ideal topics for IMAST Abstracts include: new surgical techniques, outcomes and methods of robotics and navigation technologies, changes in healthcare economics and cost pressures resulting in changes in practice, the utility of artificial intelligence and “big data” algorithms that will foster innovative care for all pathologies of the spine

IMAST focuses on innovative and new methods/techniques for spinal pathology. Educational content includes instructional course lectures, four-minute paper presentations, case discussions, E-Point Presentations, and industry workshops, all lead by a multidisciplinary and international faculty.

2A: Culture of Innovation in Spine Surgery: Ideas, Execution & Adoption with moderators: Ahmet Alanay, MD, Neel Anand, MD, & Caglar Yilgor, MD

2B: Patient-Specific Approaches and Implants in Spine Surgery: 2023 vs 2033 with Moderators: Rajiv K. Sethi, MD, & Eric O. Klineberg, MD

Session 3A: Miscellaneous (Tumor, Infection, Non-Op, Other) This session includes nine abstract presentations that cover research on spinal metastasis, lumbar pedicle screws, and cervical deformity surgery.

Moderators: Christopher P. Ames, MD and Rajiv K. Sethi, MD

Session 3B: Cervical Spine, Kyphosis and Lumbar Degenerative. With diverse, international speakers, in this session you will hear abstract presentations covering varying viewpoints on cervical deformity, lumbar degeneration, and kyphosis.

Moderators: Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD and Tyler Koski, MD

Session 4: 30 Years of Innovation: What Stuck and What Didn't? with moderators: Stefan Parent, MD, PhD, & Ahmet Alanay, MD

Session 5A: AIS, Motion Preservation, Innovative Methods and Neuromuscular. This session focuses on Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and innovative treatment methods. You will hear presentations on Vertebral Body Tethering, robot-assisted surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and many more.

Moderators: Ferran Pellise, MD, PhD and Justin S. Smith, MD, PhD

Session 5B: Adult Spinal Deformity & Quality / Safety / Value / Complications. In this session you will hear papers focused on ASD, AIS, and QSVC, covering a multitude of topics including sagittal imbalance, non-operative care, and risk factors for adult spinal deformity surgery.

Moderators: Lindsay M. Andras, MD and Laurel C. Blakemore, MD

Session 6A: Non-Fusion Surgical Treatment for AIS | Expanding the Portfolio

Session 6B: Patient-Focused MIS

Moderator: Stefan Parent, MD, PhD

• Presentation of the Whitecloud Award Winning Paper
• How I Perform a VBT? Tips, Tricks, and Master Techniques, Amer F. Samdani, MD
• Cervico-Thoracic VCR, Christopher P. Ames, MD
• Cervical Pedicle Screws, Kota Watanabe, MD, PhD
• High-Grade Spondylolisthesis Reduction, Daniel J. Sucato, MD, MS
• MIS Anterior Scoliosis Correction- Combined All Prone

An opportunity to watch the prestigious Whitecloud Award session! Presentations cover the top 15 abstracts in the Clinical and Basic Science/Translational Research categories. These are the best-of-the-best papers, as selected by our scientific abstract reviewers. Topics include Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Adult Spinal Deformity, Early Onset Scoliosis, Vertebral Body Tethering, and many more. Moderators: Stefan Parent, MD, Phd, IMAST Chair and Eric O. Klineberg, MD, IMAST Chair-elect

Spine Deformity surgeons are at an increased risk of overuse injuries of the upper extremity and cervical spine. New EMG studies demonstrate traditional spine surgery with manual instruments places surgeons at risk for injury, and that use of power can dramatically decrease repetitive forces experienced by the surgeon. Similarly, the use of innovative powered surgical instruments has the potential to increase patient safety by decreasing the force placed on a patient’s spine, increasing the accuracy, and decreasing need for imaging.