Recently, doctors and researchers from our Spine team participated in the 55th annual Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) meeting – but this year, it went virtual. Due to COVID-19, many of the medical conferences our team attends are now online.

The Scoliosis Research Society is an international group founded in 1966. Established with only 37 members, the organization has grown to be known as one of the world’s premier spine societies with over 1,300 members including spine surgeons, physician assistants, researchers and orthotists from across the world. Staff from Scottish Rite are active members in SRS, and several have served in leadership positions. The organization’s purpose is to advance care through research and education for individuals with spinal deformities. 

SRS 2020 kicked off with live presentations for members only that are now available until the end of the year. Spine experts presented research projects, led courses and shared case presentations to other members in the group. 

Each year, Scottish Rite has a strong showing at this annual meeting – giving our team an international platform to share latest spine research. Although the conference looked different in 2020, that tradition remained steady. A total of six projects were selected for presentation with four others where staff are contributors for multi-site collaborations with institutions across the country. Below is the research chosen from Scottish Rite:

• Casting for Non-Idiopathic Scoliosis - Combined Results from Two Centers
• Ponte Osteotomies in a Matched Series of Large AIS Patients Increase Surgical Risk Without Improving Coronal or Sagittal Correction or Patient Reported Outcomes
• Patient Centered Interdisciplinary Medical Optimization Clinic Decreases Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Risk in Pediatric Neuromuscular and Syndromic Scoliosis Patients
• AIS Patients with Pain Catastrophizing Have Worse SRS Scores 1 Year Postoperatively
• A Wireless Intraoperative Neuromonitoring System is as Reliable and Accurate as the Traditional Wired Systems for AIS Surgery
• Realities of a Multi-Site Randomized Schroth-Based Trial for AIS <25° 

Chief of Staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S., made a live presentation during the conference and also led a self-paced course for members. “As a team, it is an honor to be able to share our research to other spine specialists from around the world,” says Sucato. “Although we could not gather together in person, we were still able to share and collaborate virtually to continue our discussions on how to provide the best care to patients with spinal deformities.”

Learn more about our Center for Excellence in Spine.