5th ASEAN MISST 2019 Aids Spine Surgeons on Minimally Invasive Surgery Trend

With the impressive rising trend of minimally invasive procedures in the field of surgery, medical organizations turned their focus on promoting the art and science of it—specifically endoscopic spine surgery.

Spine specialists from neurosurgeons to orthopedic surgeons around ASEAN countries were gathered for the interest in providing the best spine health care to patients in the 4-day 5th ASEAN Minimally Invasive Spine Surgical Techniques (MISST) Congress 2019 that commenced last June 26, 2019 at the Calderon Hall, UP Manila.

Also read: Learn More About Endoscopic Spine Surgery at the 5th ASEAN MISST This June

5th ASEAN MISST Congress cadaveric workshop attendees

Organized by the Thai MISS and Rajavithi Hospital, in partnership with the Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) Minimally Invasive Surgery Study Group of the PGH Orthopedic Spine Section, this year’s Congress is brought to the Philippines for the first time since the organization was founded in Thailand in 2015.

5th ASEAN MISST Chair Dr. Rafael Bundoc, MD orients the delegate doctors for the cadaveric workshop

With the theme, “Paradigm Shift to Minimally Invasive Spine Solutions… Basic Concepts to Evolving Advanced Applications”, the first half of the Congress huddled 90 spine doctors and surgeons for a two-day lecture and cadaveric workshop on H2O-based endoscopy surgery techniques.

90 spine doctors and surgeons from ASEAN countries

Cadaveric Workshop

Each doctor delegate was segregated into several groups and was given their own scrubs and individual needles to be used for the cadaveric demonstration. 

Groups were then assigned to 6 cadavers, in which they performed the demonstration

Lectures relating to the demonstration were also heard from fundamental speakers including Dr. Girish Datar from Centre of Full Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Sushruta Hospital for Orthopedics & Traumatology in Maharashtra, India. Dr. Datar particularly talked about the relevant radiologic anatomy and endoscopic anatomy.

Dr. Girish Datar, MD from India

Dr. Ralf Jurgen Wagner, chief medical consultant for Ligamenta Spine Center and specialist for Spinal Surgery in Red Cross Hospitals in Frankfurt, Germany, had a lecture on needle target acquisition.

Dr. Ralf Wagner, MD from Germany

Meanwhile, Dr. Mehdi Abili, consultant neurosurgeon of Mashhad University of Medical Services in Iran, expounded on Mid-LIF Clinical Indications and Outcomes.

Iranian delegate Dr. Mehdi Abili

Exhibits and booths were also present in the event, where various medical companies showcased their surgical equipment, machines, and tools for minimally invasive surgery.

Gold and Platinum sponsors of the 5th ASEAN MISST 2019

Plenary Conference

The second part of the 5th ASEAN MISST 2019 Congress was the two-day scientific program held from June 28 to 29 at the Manila Hotel.

Entrance to the Rigodon Hall, the venue of the plenary conference

This was attended by 300 foreign and local delegates from the field of neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery. The main highlight of the plenary conference includes all sorts of lectures from different local and foreign experts in the field.

The day commenced with the introduction of the ASEAN MISST Congress 2019 organizing committee, led by Chairman Dr. Rafael Bundoc, who also gave his welcoming remarks.

Dr. Rafael Bundoc tells foreign delegates it’s more fun to learn in the Philippines

Keynote speaker Prof. Jin Sung Kim from the Catholic University of Korea opened the lecture proper with his talk “Is Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS) the Future of Spine Surgery?”.

He emphasized the factors that will determine the future of MISS, namely 3D implant printing, artificial intelligence (AI), precision medicine, and robot, navigation and ambulatory care.

This was followed by a series of special lectures on endoscopic spine surgery, which continued until the last day of the Congress.

Prof. Kim talks about recent advancements in minimally invasive spine surgery

Different companies from the pharmaceutical and implant industries, as well as the sponsors of the event, once again exhibited their products.

Tools and equipment for spine surgery were exhibited outside the plenary conference venue

On the last day, the banner of the ASEAN MISST was passed to Indonesia, which will host next year’s ASEAN MISST Congress.

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Written by Deneca Ordinanza and Teresa Gatmaitan