Spine surgery continues to evolve at a rapid pace, bringing open, tubular, and endoscopic approaches into dynamic daily dialogue. On Sunday, 25 October 2026, the Trivandrum Spine Society (TSS), in association with the Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons Association of Bharat (MISSAB), brought these discussions to the forefront with the MISSAB Outreach Program 2026 at Hotel Hycinth, Trivandrum.
Titled “Tube vs Endoscope vs Open — MISS: Face Off,” the one-day intensive program set out to compare the three principal contemporary approaches through structured, case-based debates, engaging surgeons from Kerala and beyond.
Program Snapshot
- Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026 (08:00 – 16:45)
- Venue: Hotel Hycinth, Trivandrum
- Registrations: 93 delegates
- Scientific Content: 32 talks delivered by 30 expert speakers
An Engaging Scientific Program
The day kicked off with a traditional lamp-lighting inauguration by Dr. M.I. Sahadulla, Chairman and Managing Director of KIMSHEALTH, Aster DM Quality Care Ltd.
The academic schedule ran from 08:00 to 16:45, structured around four core case-based sessions:
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Lumbar canal stenosis
- Cervical spine
- Spondylolisthesis
Each session began with a concrete case presentation, followed by competitive advocacy talks where faculty championed their preferred techniques—ranging from microdiscectomy, tubular decompression, and unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) to full endoscopy, transforaminal approaches, open TLIF, MIS TLIF, and endoscopic TLIF. Lively moderated Q&A summaries concluded each segment.
Additionally, specialized invited talks explored the transition from open to endoscopic practice, technique selection criteria, newer fusion windows (OLIF/KLIF/OLLIF), the evidence supporting minimally invasive spine surgery, 3D navigation, and extended indications for endoscopy.
Feedback and Delegate Response
With 93 registered delegates in attendance, the event captured strong professional engagement. Feedback was collected digitally via QR code between sessions, with 43 participants completing evaluations rating each talk on topic choice, presentation quality, and clinical relevance.
The attendee profile reflected a robust mix of experience levels:
- Consultants / Faculty: 44%
- Postgraduates / Residents: 30%
- Fellows: 21%
- Others: 5%
The overall event received stellar marks, earning a mean rating of 4.7 out of 5, with 74.4% of respondents rating it a perfect 5 and 23.3% rating it a 4. No respondent rated the program below 3.
Delegates expressed high appreciation for the contrasting-technique “Face Off” format and invited lectures. Valuable suggestions for future editions included incorporating hands-on or cadaveric workshops, adding a dedicated session on spinal deformity, and expanding video-based presentations.
Looking Ahead
The overwhelming success and enthusiasm surrounding the Face Off format demonstrate a clear professional appetite for balanced, technique-agnostic discussions among spine surgeons. The Trivandrum Spine Society extends its sincere gratitude to all faculty members, chairpersons, delegates, and MISSAB for their unwavering support. Feedback from this year’s event will directly guide the curation of future outreach initiatives.
— Report compiled by Dr. Ranjith Unnikrishnan, President, Trivandrum Spine Society & Organizing Secretary, MISSAB Outreach Program 2026.
