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Hansjoerg F. Leu, M.D.

President Elect ISMISS 2008-2011

Evolution is our life. From first lumbar disc decompression concept by Mixter & Barr (US) in 1934 evolution to minimal invasive spinal surgery took around 50 years, what corresponds to two professional active life cycles of a professional spinal surgeon. Since introduction of endoscopic surgery another 25 years are over.

Many new procedures araised and disappeared. A need for exchange in experience and mutual instructions soon became evident. Since its foundation in 1989 by the three founding members S.Hijikata (Jp), P.Kambin (US) and A.Schreiber (CVH), the International Society for Minimal Invasive Spinal Surgery (ISMISS / www.ismiss.com  affiliated to SICOT) seeks to foster minimal invasive technologies and aims for exchange of well controlled information and methodical instruction in the rapidly evolving field of this young branch of spinal surgery.

So, beside its upraise in Europe and US, since the nineties a rapid growth was to observe in Korea and Japan; in the last years also in China and ASEAN countries. Interested groups and active spinal surgeons pioneered several new techniques and report their experiences in periodically organized meetings under the auspices of ISMISS. The goal remains to allow first hand information on new techniques, their concepts with well defined indications, limits and results. So all over the world several established courses are now periodically organized under the auspices of ISMISS under this commitment, such as this Turkish Courses under direction of Dr.Satana, now already in its third edition. Beside technical and operative aspects also clinical analysis of indications, relevant learning-curves and follow-up criteria deserve our interest in worldwide economically restricted conditions and an evident need for outcome quality control.

So also a need for common rules for good practice became evident within the ISMISS to define and publish (see under www.issmiss.com ) common sense definitions and guidelines, helping so all active partners in the field of minimal invasive spinal surgery to orient themselves in the rapid evolution of this field.

Now in the over two decades of ISMISS activities, it is our honor and pleasure to auspice again this already third specific meeting in Turkey. We are convinced that it will, as its previous editions, mirror an up-date on established techniques in this field, the 2010’s state of the art and flash on upcoming innovative developments in spinal surgery. We congratulate and thank Dr.Satana Tolgay, ISMISS national representative of Turkey, and his group for the once more amazing organization of this third meeting. It is most encouraging to see the large interest of our colleges in Turkey. We remain convinced that only bundling of common interest and forces can help to foster our goals. With such a common sense and open exchange local and international pioneers and experts sharing the

course faculty promise to contribute to a ISMISS-typically vivid and collegial atmosphere again in the third Turkish meeting and making many contacts to build strong bridges worldwide within the colleges active in this fascinating filed of spinal surgery.

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Tolgay SATANA, MD

Course Coordinator

'“If you do not know where you are headed, your destination does not matter.” Peter Drucker That nuclear energy could well be used to destroy humanity shows the graveness of the question: “Does science have ethical responsibilities?” So, like other treatments, surgery should benefit all of humanity. This belief has led to a key development for all surgical treatments whose mottos no more serve the main philosophy behind minimally invasive surgery. Those involved in surgical treatment should be concerned with ensuring minimal invasiveness with less trauma rather than simply smaller incisions. The use of endoscopic surgery is inevitable to that end. The mission of the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS), the scientific knowledge sharing platform enabling surgeons to meet and follow the latest trends in surgery, continues with this congress. In saying “If you do not know where you are headed, your destination does not matter”, Peter Drucker pointedly emphasizes that a prudent approach is required to the introduction of surgical innovations, and also to keep surgery in line with contemporary technologies. While it seems to be in conflict with classic surgery, endoscopic spinal surgery is sure to open new horizons. We call on all our colleagues to welcome this development and get involved in knowledge sharing on our platform.

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