Surgery International was thrilled to attend this year’s Global Spine Congress (GSC), one of the largest spine meetings globally, held from 15-18 May in Bangkok.
This prestigious event brought together thousands of international spine surgeons, practitioners, allied health professionals, and researchers for four days of engaging discussions, innovative showcases and networking opportunities.
The GSC is renowned for its unique approach to sharing knowledge and developing new strategies for treating spinal disorders, significantly advancing spine care and improving patient outcomes.
The congress featured a comprehensive scientific programme, including pre-courses, AO Spine Symposia, Society Symposia, and peer-reviewed abstracts presented as oral or e-poster presentations. A highlight of this year's event was the introduction of rapid-fire sessions, where researchers presented their findings in concise, two-minute intervals, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience.
As a proud exhibitor and media partner, we at Surgery International were honoured to collaborate with AO Spine, the organisers behind this prestigious event. We had the pleasure of interviewing numerous key industry leaders, including the esteemed Dr. Jeffrey Wang, an internationally renowned Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at the University of Southern California.
As the Chairperson of the Global Spine Congress, Dr. Wang shared his insights on the event’s significance and the latest trends in spine surgery.
A Conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Wang
Q: What makes the Global Spine Congress such a significant event in the spine surgery community?
Dr. Wang: "The Global Spine Congress is a truly international event focused on spine surgery. While it predominantly features spine surgeons, it also includes practitioners from around the world. AO Spine is a global organisation with a worldwide membership and infrastructure. This annual meeting is a chance to present our research and symposia, and more importantly, to interact with old friends and discuss the latest advancements in spine surgery."
Q. What are some of the key topics being discussed at this year's congress, and what trends are you most excited about?
Dr. Wang: “We cover a broad range of topics to ensure we have breadth. Exciting trends include navigation and robotics, which represent the future of spine surgery. Minimally invasive and endoscopic surgeries allow us to perform traditionally large operations through small incisions, minimising morbidity, pain and recovery time.
“Looking to the future, there’s a lot of technology that’s advancing outside of medicine being applied to medicine, so I think the most exciting things are robotics. We’re right on the verge of having that explode. Right now, a lot of us have robots, and we can do very rudimentary things with them which we think are fantastic. But we know the potential is there, so right now we’re looking at what else can we do with that robot other than place hardware very accurately. I think that’s very important.”
Q. How does AO Spine contribute to training and education in spine surgery?
Dr. Wang: “AO Spine is an excellent platform for training and education, particularly for the new generation of surgeons who want more dynamic learning experiences. Traditional classroom learning is evolving, and GSC combines didactic lectures, interactive symposia, technology showcases, and rapid-fire poster sessions.
“That’s important because the new generation want to get their information quickly and in different ways than just seeing it in a classroom. I think that’s why we’ve been very successful because we’re giving it to them in a creative way. It’s hard to sit in a classroom for eight hours, but being at this meeting, eight hours fly by.”
Check out our full interview with Dr. Jeffrey Wang here where he delves deeper into the exciting developments in spine surgery and the pivotal role of AO Spine in advancing education and training.
Looking ahead to GSC 2025 in Rio de Janeiro
As we reflect on the success of the 2024 Global Spine Congress, we eagerly anticipate next year's event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 2025 GSC promises to be another exceptional opportunity for spine care professionals to enhance their expertise through a highly regarded scientific programme, learn about the latest innovations from industry partners, and experience a unique cultural setting.
For more information about GSC 2025, visit: https://www.gsc2025.org/
