Book it now. Join top spine surgeons from around the world at IMAST in amazing Glasgow in April. There you will hobnob with the world’s best spine surgeons. The 2025 International Meeting on Advanced Spine Technologies kicks off April 2 through April 5 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Meric Enercan, M.D., who is co-chair of this year’s meeting along with Kristen Jones, M.D., spoke to Orthopedics This Week about what spine surgeons can expect from this premiere meeting for spine surgeons.
Enercan said, “The meeting focuses mainly on innovations in spine surgery. This year’s theme is “Changing Practice with New Technologies.”
He added, “Any spine surgeon can attend, and will have the chance to interact and share the latest innovations with our experts who are all famous in the field.”
“Out of 800 abstracts submitted, we have chosen the best 100 to be invited to make four-minute presentations at the meeting with discussion afterwards. There will also be plenty of instructional course lectures, workshops, and case discussions on how we can improve on the latest innovations like AI [artificial intelligence] and machine learning,” he explained.
“We will discuss how to implement these techniques and how to integrate them into our practices while also addressing their limitations,” Enercan continued.
When asked if he had any tips on how attendees can make the most of the meeting, he said, “I am really excited about the scientific part of the meeting, but attendees also will not want to miss out on all the city of Glasgow has to offer.”
He added, “Glasgow is known for its friendly people and plenty of cultural spots to visit like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, the city centre Art Mural Trail and the abundance of parks and green spaces. Glasgow is the UNESCO City of Music with over 150 live music events every week. Every corner of the city you can hear music.”
Another exciting element of this year’s meeting he said is the keynote speaker. “Mr. Derek Cawley, an Irish consultant spine surgeon and environmentalist, will be presenting ‘Sustainability in Hospitals and The Carbon Footprint of Spine Surgery.’”
Cawley has previously chaired the Patientline committee at EuroSpine and is a board member with the Road Safety Authority and Irish Doctors for the Environment. He is actively advocating across national and European institutions for sustainability in our healthcare systems.”
Another highlight will be a collaboration with two European spine societies, EuroSpine and the British Association of Spine Surgeons. He said hot topics will be endoscopic spine surgery and creating registries for spinal implants.
Highlights From the Program
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Spine & Scotch: Cases on the Rocks 1: Complication Avoidance in AIS moderated by Baron Zarate Kalfopulos, M.D.
- Spine & Scotch: Cases on the Rocks 2: New Technology for Adult Spinal Deformity moderated by Gregory M. Mundis Jr., M.D.
- Spine & Scotch: Cases on the Rocks 3: Innovation in MIS moderated by Robert K. Eastlack, M.D.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Session 2A – Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, moderated by Kariman Abelin Genevois, M.D., and Suken A. Shah, M.D.
- Abstract Session 1 – Whitecloud Award Nominated Papers by Meric Enercan, M.D. and Kristen E. Jones, M.D., FAANS
- Some of the papers nominated include:
- Paper #1: Surface Carburized 3D Printed Ti-6AI-4V Biomimetic Porous Motion-Preserving Artificial Cervical Vertebra and Its Initial Clinical Application Wen-Long Yang, Ph.D.; Chaoyuan Ge, Ph.D.
- Paper #2: Circulating MicroRNAs as a Prognostic Tool in Pediatric Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis, Michael Luic, M.D.; Michal Galko, M.D.; Martin Repko, M.D., Ph.D.; Jana Orličková, M.S.; Dagmar Al Tukmachi, M.S.; Milan Filipovič, M.D., Ph.D.; Ondrej Slaby, M.S., Ph.D.
- Paper #3: A Novel Growth Guidance System: Research and Development, You Du, M.D.; Jianguo Zhang, M.D.; John T. Killian, M.D.
- Paper#7: Comprehensive Skeletal Maturity Index Can Obviate the Need for Hand Radiographs for Sanders Scoring, Alison Dyszel, PA-C; Elyette M. Lugo, B.S.; Paul D. Sponseller, M.D., MBA; Amit Jain, M.D., MBA
Friday, April 4, 2025
- Abstract Session 5A – Pediatric Deformity, moderated by A. Noelle Larson, M.D. & Firoz Miyanji, M.D., FRCS
- Some of the paper presentations will include:
- Paper#47: Does an Efficient, Steady, or Dual-Surgeon Approach Produce the Best Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery? Vishal Sarwahi, M.D.; Effat Rahman, B.S.; Katherine Eigo, B.S,; Yungtai Lo, Ph.D.; Jon-Paul P. DiMauro, M.D.; Terry D. Amaral, M.D.
- Paper #40: Early Brace Treatment: The New Standard for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis? Karina A. Zapata, Ph.D.; Megan Johnson, M.D.; John Patrick Rathbun, B.S.; Donald Virostek, CPO; Chan-Hee Jo, Ph.D.; Jaysson T. Brooks, M.D.; Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., MS.
- Paper#43: MRI Generated Synthetic CT in Pediatric Spine Patients, George Michael, B.S., Suhas Etigunta, B.S.; Andy Liu, B.S.; David L. Skaggs, M.D., MMM; Meliza Perales, RN, BSN; Cristabelle Alexander, M.S.; Christopher Watterson, M.D.; Daniel Hoghougi, MRSO; Norman Gellada, BHS; Kenneth D. Illingworth, M.D.
- Paper #44: Understanding Technical Difficulties and Recognized Errors in Pediatric Robotic Spine Surgery Margaret L. Sullivan, B.S.; Grant D. Hogue, M.D.; Craig M. Birch; M.T. Hresko, M.D.; Mark A. Erickson, M.D.; Kirsten Ross, M.D.; Robert F. Murphy, M.D.; Dennis P. Devito, M.D.; Shanika De Silva, Ph.D., MS; Dahill J. Hedequist, M.D.
For more information on the program for this year’s IMAST meeting, visit https://www.srs.org/Meetings-Conferences/IMAST/IMAST2025
