Mastering minimally invasive spine surgery with AO Spine’s new hands-on courses

Learn, apply, and master MISS
Hands-on AO Spine Minimally Invasive Spine surgery course

Whether you’re new to minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) or looking to take your existing skills to the next level, AO Spine’s new MISS courses establish a path to mastery. As part of AO Spine’s suite of competency-based curriculum, these two highly interactive courses allow you to start where you are and follow a carefully designed pathway to MISS proficiency.

The current offer includes the AO Spine Online Course—the MISS Spectrum Series and the AO Spine Course—Advanced MISS Techniques

AO Spine MISS Task Force Chairperson Roger Härtl, MD, an MISS pioneer, explained the reasoning behind the MISS curriculum approach.

“There’s a lot of exciting and very fast development currently happening out there!” said Härtl, a professor of neurological surgery and director of spinal surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, United States. “Based on years of research of the AO Task Force and our joint expertise, we put together comprehensive and up-to-date material for the courses we are now launching. The global courses happen online and in-person. They focus on hands-on learning and are constantly updated with the latest knowledge and evidence."

The educational material covers any type of MISS procedure—through tubular retractors, lateral and anterior approaches, and endoscopic procedures. Härtl continued the courses cover a wide range of degenerative processes from lumbar spinal stenosis, to disc herniation and spondylolisthesis, just to mention a few of the many pathologies that spine surgeons deal with in your their busy practice.

Härtl recommends the courses for spine surgeons at different stages of training: "It's extremely important! For example, we talk about lateral approaches and use of robotics and navigation in the treatment of lumbar spine conditions, which is a very hot topic in spine surgery and relevant for all."

MISS Spectrum Series: ‘just mind blowing’

AO Spine’s MISS learning pathway begins with the eight-week AO Spine Online Course—the MISS Spectrum Series, scheduled for March 21–May 18 in 2025. Developed and taught by global MISS leaders, this course covers the full spectrum of MISS from indications and general skills to specific microscopic, endoscopic, and instrumented procedures.

Designed for practicing spine surgeons with little or no MISS skills, the Spectrum Series brings together eight weeks of online education (2–3 hours of learning per week), self-directed learning activities and resources; and four live, one-hour online case discussions led by international experts in various MISS areas.

For the 2025 course, chairpersons are Néstor Taboada (Colombia) and JinSung Kim (South Korea).

Post-course participant feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

“As someone who wants to focus on MISS, this course with amazing mentors was just mind blowing,” said Dr Uri Hadelsberg, Jerusalem, Israel . “The knowledge is comprehensive, but the online discussion and debate were what really amazed me. Discussing cases with masters of MISS was just invaluable and indispensable.”

Dr Deya AlWadi, an orthopedic surgeon in Leeds, United Kingdom, said the course exceeded his expectations in every way.

“The instructors were knowledgeable and engaging,” he explained. “I particularly appreciated the emphasis on practical skills and the opportunity to interact with peers from around the world. I recommend this course to any spine surgeon.”

Elevate your hands-on skills in MISS with advanced techniques

Led by world-renowned faculty, the two-day, on-site AO Spine Course—Advanced MISS Techniques takes place in August, September, and October 2025, in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The course is designed to equip surgeons with the full spectrum of MISS skills, from accurate diagnosis of patient conditions to performing advanced procedures. Thanks to the course’s highly interactive format, you will develop confidence and proficiency in state-of-the-art techniques and treatment options.

"The course is tailored for orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons with at least three years of experience in spine surgery, as well as surgeons with some experience with uncomplicated MISS procedures," AO Spine Education Commission member Cristiano Menezes said. He suggests taking the course as the next step after having completed the AO Spine Online Course—the MISS Spectrum Series.

Menezes explains, that each course begins with two weeks of online, pre-course learning in which participants have access to short self-directed modules including videos of practical exercises. The on-site portion of the course features highly engaging case-based discussions with master faculty, a focus on surgical techniques with step-by-step discussion of MISS techniques, and practical exercises on human anatomical specimens: 

  • MISS transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
  • Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)
  • Navigation, robotics, and endoscopic procedures at select courses

The AO Spine Course—Advanced MISS Techniques takes place around the world throughout 2025:

The AO Spine Online Course—the MISS Spectrum Series and the AO Spine Course—Advanced MISS Techniques are your pathway to the knowledge, tools, and extended expertise you need to achieve better patient outcomes. Check out the course calendars or the courses and events finder to find the course closest to you.

Roger Haertl

Roger Härtl

C Menezes

Cristiano Menezes

Nestor Taboada

Néstor Taboada

JinSung Luke Kim

Sameh Abdelfotouh

Sameh Abolfotouh

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