The 4th Annual Meeting of International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ISESS) concluded successfully

The 4th Annual Meeting of International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ISESS): Global Wisdom Paves a New Blueprint for Spinal Endoscopic Technology Development August 29–31, 2025 | Guangzhou, China The 4th Annual Meeting of International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ISESS), organized by ISESS and the Spinal Endoscopy Committee, Orthopedics Branch, CPAM, and hosted by the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, was successfully held in Guangzhou, China, from August 29 to 31, 2025. The conference brought together over a hundred leading experts and scholars from around the world, including China (covering Hong Kong and Taiwan regions), the United States, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and et al. Through a series of academic activities, the event showcased the latest achievements and future trends in global spinal endoscopic technology. At the opening ceremony on August 30, Professor Li-Min Rong from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, the newly appointed Chair of the ISESS Executive Committee and Executive Chair of the conference, emphasized in his address that Guangzhou, as a core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, embodies the spirit of openness and vitality that aligns perfectly with ISESS's mission to advance spinal endoscopic technology worldwide. He also stressed the importance of deepening international collaboration to drive technological innovation. Pioneers and leaders in the field, including Kai-Xuan Liu, the founder of ISESS; Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, the president-elect of the ISESS Executive Committee; Anthony Yeung, a pioneer in spinal endoscopy technology (via video); and professor Shu-Xun Hou, first Chair of the ISESS Executive Committee, also delivered speeches. They unanimously highlighted international exchange as a core driver of technological breakthroughs and called for global peers to prioritize patient well-being, accelerate technology translation, and establish unified standards under the global trend of "minimally invasive and endoscopic" diagnosis and treatment for spinal diseases. The academic sessions focused on cutting-edge topics and practical challenges in spinal endoscopic technology, facilitating in-depth cross-border and cross-disciplinary dialogues through a multidimensional format including "Master Forums, Keynote Speeches, and Thematic Presentations." Experts such as Kai-Xuan Liu, Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Eduardo Barreto, Hyeun Sung Kim, Bambang Darwono, S.M. Rohidas, Pornpavit Sriphirom, Elmer Jose Arevalo Meceda, Alvaro Dowling, Chein-Min Chen, and Zhen-Zhou Li delivered rich and comprehensive keynote addresses covering various domains of spinal endoscopic technologies. Topics ranged from analyzing local technological development paths and reviewing the evolution of spinal endoscopic techniques to demonstrating innovative applications such as navigation-guided and 3D endoscopy, breakthroughs in specialized areas like geriatric cases and cervical minimally invasive surgery, and exploring the integrated future of "endoscopy + regenerative medicine." Heated discussions were held on controversial issues such as Uni-portal versus Bi-portal endoscopic surgery, choices in minimally invasive decompression protocols, and clinical applications of multi-medium endoscopy. These exchanges aimed to build consensus on technical standardization, define clinical boundaries, and guide future innovation, ultimately advancing from "technology sharing" to "standard co-creation." At the closing ceremony, Professor Li-Min Rong, Kai-Xuan Liu, and Eduardo Barreto summarized the conference outcomes and outlined ISESS's next-phase priorities in international collaboration, technology promotion, and talent development. A flag-handover ceremony announced that the next ISESS Annual Meeting will be held in Brazil in 2026. The 4th Annual Meeting of ISESS was not only an intellectual feast for the global spinal endoscopy community but also a platform for open collaboration that built a transnational academic community. It injected strong momentum into the standardization and innovation of global spinal endoscopic technology, contributing substantially to the improvement of spinal disease diagnosis and treatment and enhanced patient well-being worldwide.