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    Ticketed Session

    Special Course 3: Advances in Adult Spinal Deformity: Optimization, Alignment, Techniques and Complication Management

    Thursday, February 26, 2026
    1:30 PM - 5:30 PM MST

    In partnership with the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)

    This session equips neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons with a structured approach to evaluating and managing spinal deformities, emphasizing alignment principles. Participants will gain insight into advanced osteotomy techniques and intraoperative strategies, along with perioperative optimization methods—such as nutrition, bone health and frailty assessment—to improve patient outcomes and recovery.

    Separate registration is required.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Equip neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons with a comprehensive framework for evaluating and managing spinal deformities, emphasizing the importance of alignment principles.
    • Expose participants to cutting-edge intraoperative strategies with a focus on varying types of osteotomies.
    • Foster awareness of perioperative optimization strategies—such as nutrition and frailty assessment—that contribute to better patient outcomes.

    Presentations:

    • 1:30 PM - 1:36 PM MST
      Welcome and Introduction
    • 1:37 PM - 1:44 PM MST
      Bone Assessment and Optimization: Words for the Wise

      Speaker: Benjamin Elder, MD, PhD – Mayo Clinic

    • 1:37 PM - 2:15 PM MST
      Session 1: Perioperative Optimization: Stay Ahead of the Curve
    • 1:45 PM - 1:52 PM MST
      Intraoperative Strategies for Osteopenia/Osteoporosis

      Speaker: Gregory M. Mundis, Jr., MD – San Diego Spine Foundation

    • 1:53 PM - 1:59 PM MST
      Prehab, Nutrition, and Frailty

      Speaker: Kristen Jones, MD, FAANS – Duke University

    • 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM MST
      Discussion Panel
    • 2:16 PM - 2:23 PM MST
      Osteotomies for Sagittal Plane Correction

      Speaker: Zeeshan Sardar, MD – Columbia University

    • 2:16 PM - 3:00 PM MST
      Session 2: Spinopelvic Alignment: What’s New?
    • 2:24 PM - 2:31 PM MST
      Death by Numbers: T4L1Hip Axis

      Speaker: Michael P. Kelly, MD – University of California, San Diego

    • 2:32 PM - 2:39 PM MST
      GAP, Roussouly and Apex of Lordosis

      Speaker: Tyler Koski, MD – Northwestern Medicine

    • 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM MST
      Discussion Panel
    • 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM MST
      Break
    • 3:31 PM - 3:38 PM MST
      Accomplishing Alignment Plan: How I do it?

      Speaker: Munish Gupta, MD, MBA – Washington University

    • 3:31 PM - 4:10 PM MST
      Session 3: Spinal Osteotomies: Learn from the Masters
    • 3:39 PM - 3:46 PM MST
      Osteotomies for Coronal and Multi Plane Correction

      Speaker: Serena S. Hu, MD – Stanford Healthcare

    • 3:47 PM - 3:54 PM MST
      3 Column Osteotomies: How I do it?

      Speaker: Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, FACS, FAANS – Duke University Medical Center

    • 3:55 PM - 4:10 PM MST
      Discussion Panel
    • 4:11 PM - 4:18 PM MST
      Indications for Minimally Invasive Deformity Correction

      Speaker: Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD, MBA – Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco

    • 4:11 PM - 4:50 PM MST
      Session 4: Minimally Invasive Concepts in Deformity
    • 4:19 PM - 4:26 PM MST
      Avoiding PSO With Anterior Column Realignment

      Speaker: Juan S. Uribe, MD, FAANS – Barrow Neurological Institute

    • 4:27 PM - 4:34 PM MST
      "Transition" Patient from Adolescent to Adult Deformity

      Speaker: Michael P. Kelly, MD – University of California, San Diego

    • 4:35 PM - 4:50 PM MST
      Discussion Panel
    • 4:51 PM - 4:58 PM MST
      My Worst Proximal Junctional Failure, and How I Salvaged It

      Speaker: Daniel Sciubba, MD, MBA – Northwell Health

    • 4:51 PM - 5:30 PM MST
      Session 5: Complications and Failures in Adult Deformity: What Went Wrong?
    • 4:59 PM - 5:06 PM MST
      Beware of Late Rod Fractures! It Can Happen to You

      Speaker: Ferran Pellisé, MD – Hospital Vall Hebron and Hospital Quiron Barcelona, Spain

    • 5:07 PM - 5:15 PM MST
      How to Salvage from a Terrible Infection Trainwreck

      Speaker: Melissa Erickson, MD, MBA – Duke

    • 5:16 PM - 5:30 PM MST
      Discussion Panel/Wrap Up