Register now for NASS 2026 and experience enhanced spine education with more sessions for surgeons as well as all members of the spine care team, with presentations from leading expert faculty. Surgical and multidisciplinary CME symposium will address the most pressing issues in spine.

How to Think About Margins and Challenging Cases and Complications in Spinal Oncology: A Case-Based Interactive Discussion

Presented by the Section on Spine Oncology, this symposium will highlight current challenges and evolving strategies in the surgical management of spinal tumors.

Lateral Approaches to the Spine: What, When, and Where

Lateral approaches to the thoracolumbar spine continue to expand the surgical toolbox, but choosing the right approach requires a clear understanding of indications, risks, and tradeoffs. In this session, faculty will compare commonly used lateral techniques, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and patient-specific considerations. Through practical discussion and case-informed insights, participants will learn how to evaluate approach selection based on anatomy, pathology, and surgical goals. Attendees will leave with clearer strategies for matching the right lateral approach to the right patient in real-world practice.

Cervical and Lumbar Total Disc Replacement: Appropriate Indications for Safety and Good Outcomes

Total disc replacement (TDR) continues to evolve as indications expand beyond early FDA trial criteria, making patient selection increasingly important for safe and effective outcomes. This symposium will review current indications and contraindications for both cervical and lumbar TDR, with emphasis on avoiding complications such as subsidence, migration, and endplate-related issues. Through case-based discussion, faculty will highlight key anatomical and clinical factors—including facet degeneration, prior surgery, and bone quality—that influence candidacy. Attendees will learn strategies for identifying appropriate TDR candidates in everyday practice.

State-of-the-Art Approaches to the Evaluation and Management of Spinal Infections

Spinal infections present complex diagnostic and treatment challenges that require timely recognition and coordinated management. This symposium will review current approaches to evaluating and treating common conditions such as spondylodiscitis, spinal epidural abscess, and postoperative surgical site infections. Faculty will highlight key pathophysiologic principles and decision-making strategies through focused presentations and case-based discussion. Participants will develop a clearer framework for diagnosing and managing spinal infections across a range of clinical scenarios.

Medicare Bundles Payment Models and Impact on Spine Care: The Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM)

As CMS expands mandatory bundled payment programs, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) is poised to reshape how spine care is delivered and evaluated. This symposium will provide a spine-specific overview of TEAM, including its structure, early implementation considerations, and lessons from prior bundled payment initiatives such as BPCI-Advanced and CJR. Faculty will also discuss emerging models like the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) and their potential implications for outpatient spine care, along with strategies for surgeon–hospital alignment in value-based environments.

Addressing the Challenges of Integrating New Technology into the Operating Room

Bringing new technology into the operating room requires more than clinical evidence- it also involves navigating institutional processes, stakeholder priorities, and regulatory considerations. This symposium will explore how hospitals, group purchasing organizations, industry partners, and surgeons evaluate and approve emerging spine technologies and biologics. Faculty will highlight practical strategies for aligning clinical value with operational requirements and communicating effectively with decision-makers. Participants will better understand the steps required to move promising innovations from proposal to implementation within hospital systems.

Small Incisions: From Minimally Invasive to Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques continue to expand the options available for treating spinal pathology with less tissue disruption and faster recovery. This symposium will review core principles of decompression and fusion through tubular and retractor-based approaches, along with evolving strategies for endoscopic surgery. Faculty will also explore how emerging technologies—including navigation, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality—are shaping the future of minimally invasive spine care. Attendees will gain practical insight into selecting and applying these techniques in contemporary surgical practice.

Identifying Opportunities to Mitigate Obstacles During Deformity Correction: A Case-Based Discussion

Presented by the Section on Spinal Deformity, this case-based panel will explore practical strategies for navigating common technical challenges encountered during adult spinal deformity surgery. Faculty will share step-by-step tips for optimizing surgical exposure, performing multilevel anterior and posterior reconstruction, and achieving effective deformity correction while minimizing complications. Discussion will also address management of common postoperative concerns and scenarios involving suboptimal correction or persistent pain. Attendees will gain practical knowledge they can apply to improve planning, execution, and postoperative decision-making in ASD surgery.

Cervical Spine Controversies: Getting the Weekend Warrior or Professional Athlete Back to Play

Presented in collaboration with the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), this symposium explores common cervical spine conditions in athletes, including burners and stingers, cervical radiculopathy, and cervical myelopathy, with a focus on return-to-play decision-making at both amateur and professional levels. Faculty will review current controversies in management, including the role of cervical disc replacement and ACDF in contact athletes. The session will also address counseling strategies for athletes with asymptomatic cervical stenosis and other risk factors affecting safe return to sport.