International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques - IMAST

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Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

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A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Scoliosis

A three-dimensional lateral curvature of the spine, usually measured on a radiograph as a Cobb angle of at least 10 degrees, with associated vertebral rotation.

2

Kyphosis

An excessive outward front-to-back curve of the thoracic spine; normal thoracic kyphosis is present, but hyperkyphosis can affect balance, pain, and pulmonary function.

3

Cobb angle

The standard radiographic measure of scoliosis severity, taken between the end vertebrae of a curve; it is used for diagnosis, bracing decisions, surgical planning, and follow-up.

4

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)

Structural scoliosis that appears in otherwise healthy children around ages 10 to 18 without a defined neuromuscular, congenital, or syndromic cause.

5

Adult spinal deformity (ASD)

Spinal deformity in a skeletally mature patient, often degenerative or progressive, and frequently assessed with global alignment, disability, and quality-of-life measures.

6

Neuromuscular scoliosis

Scoliosis associated with a neuromuscular condition such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, where trunk control, seating, and respiratory function may drive treatment.

7

Congenital scoliosis

Scoliosis caused by vertebral anomalies present at birth, such as hemivertebrae or butterfly vertebrae; progression risk depends on the type and location of the anomaly.

8

Sagittal alignment

The front-to-back profile of the spine, including thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, plus global measures used to plan deformity correction and avoid imbalance.

9

Pelvic incidence

A fixed anatomic angle between the sacral endplate and the femoral heads; it helps define expected lumbar lordosis and is used in sagittal alignment planning.

10

Pedicle screw

A screw placed through the pedicle into the vertebral body to anchor spinal instrumentation; it is a common fixation method in deformity and fusion surgery.

11

Spinal fusion

A surgical procedure that joins two or more vertebrae using bone graft, instrumentation, and biologic or mechanical preparation so that the segment heals as a stable unit.

12

Vertebral body tethering (VBT)

A growth-modulating technique in selected skeletally immature patients that uses an anterior tether to guide curve correction while allowing continued spinal growth.

13

Growing rods

Expandable instrumentation used in early-onset scoliosis to control deformity while permitting chest and spine growth; lengthening may be surgical or magnetically controlled.

14

Halo-gravity traction

Controlled traction applied through a halo device, often before definitive correction in severe deformity, to improve alignment and tolerate a safer surgical strategy.

15

Intraoperative neuromonitoring

Monitoring of spinal cord and nerve function during deformity surgery using modalities such as motor evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, and EMG.

16

EOS imaging

Low-dose biplanar X-ray imaging that produces 3D spine reconstructions and is used to assess scoliosis, sagittal alignment, and surgical planning.

17

Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK)

Postoperative kyphosis just above the upper instrumented vertebra; it is a recognized failure mode after long adult deformity fusions and a common topic in outcome review.

18

Mehta casting

Serial plaster or fiberglass casting used in infantile scoliosis to guide spinal growth and reduce curve progression in selected young children.