2025 David B. Levine, MD, HSS Spine Symposium

Spinal Alignment: Current-Day Concepts and Applications

Friday, June 6, 2025 7:00 am – 2:45 pm ET

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Virtual or Onsite at Hospital for Special Surgery

535 East 70th Street New York, NY 10021

Join HSS for a 1-day course focused on the evolving field of spinal alignment, with insights into the latest concepts and practices. Learn about new alignment parameters, how they impact surgical planning, and how to evaluate spinal alignment pre- and postoperatively, considering patient-specific factors that influence outcomes. The course will cover advanced surgical techniques, advanced imaging and navigation tools, and evidence-based guidelines for addressing spinal deformities and complications. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of personalized treatment approaches, tailored to age, comorbidities, and individual clinical presentation.

Agenda

June 6, 2025 | Onsite at HSS and Livestream

06/06/2025 06:30 am to
07:00 am

Check In / Exhibit Hall Open*

06/06/2025 07:00 am to
08:00 am

David B. Levine, MD Honorary Lecture in Spine: Modern Alignment Concepts in a Dynamic Field

Michael Kelly, MD

Michael P. Kelly
MD

06/14/2025 08:00 am to
08:25 am

Transition / Breakfast / Exhibit Hall Open*

06/06/2025 08:25 am to
08:55 am

Introduction and Welcome

Han Jo Kim, MD

06/06/2025 08:30 am to
09:30 am

Pavilion Spine Service Update

Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA

06/06/2025 08:40 am to
09:40 am

Historical Perspective of Scoliosis at HSS | A Word from David B. Levine, MD*

David B. Levine, MD

David B. Levine
MD

06/06/2025 09:00 am to
10:30 am

Alignment Concepts Overview

Moderator: James E. Dowdell III, MD; Kyle W. Morse, MD


9:05 am

PI-LL and the Evolution of How We Arrived at These Concepts | Virginie Lafage, PhD


9:20 am

The History of the Creation of Age-Adjusted Alignment and Its Clinical Relevancy | Renaud Lafage, MS

06/06/2025 09:30 am to
11:00 am

Clinical Applications of PI-LL in Spinal Deformity Patients: Successes and Failures with Case Examples

Moderator: Francis C. Lovecchio, MD

Panel: Dr. Munish C. Gupta, MD, MBA; Ronald A. Lehman Jr., MD; Lawrence G. Lenke, MD; Matthew E. Cunningham, MD, PhD


9:30 am

Case #1: PI-LL was Perfect, but Still Had Mechanical Failures


9:35 am

Panel Commentary


9:45 am

Case #2: PI-LL was Perfect, and Patient Did Perfectly


9:50 am

Panel Commentary


10:00 am

Case #3: Where PI-LL was Not Perfect, but Patient Did Very Well Anyway


10:05 am

Panel Commentary

06/06/2025 10:15 am to
10:25 am

Break / Exhibit Hall Open*

06/06/2025 10:30 am to
11:45 am

New Concepts in Spinal Alignment

Moderator: Han Jo Kim, MD

 

10:35 am         

GAP Score and Its Clinical Relevancy | Michael P. Kelly, MD

 

10:45 am         

T4-L1PA and Future Concepts in Spinal Alignment | Jeffrey M. Hills, MD

 

11:00 am         

Practical Applications of the GAP Score, T4-L1PA, C2-PA and PI-LL, SVA Concepts: What Does the Literature Say is Superior with Regard to PJK Incidence? | Kyle W. Morse, MD

06/06/2025 11:15 am to
12:15 pm

Clinical Applications of T4-L1PA in Spinal Deformity Patients

Moderator: Francis C. Lovecchio, MD

Panel: Munish C. Gupta, MD, MBA; Han Jo Kim, MD; Lawrence G. Lenke, MD

11:15 am

Case #1: T4-L1PA are Spot On, but Still Had Failure / PJK Development


11:20 am

Panel Commentary


11:30 am

Case #2: T4-L1PA were “Off,” but No Failure of PJK and Clinical Success

11:35 am

Panel Commentary

11:45 am

Case #3: T4-L1PA were “Off,” and developed Mechanical Failure


11:50 am

Panel Commentary

06/06/2025 12:00 pm to
12:30 pm

Lunch / Exhibit Hall Open*

06/06/2025 12:30 pm to
01:30 pm

Pediatric Applications of Alignment Concepts: The Evolution of Sagittal Alignment in Pediatric Deformity Patients

Suken A. Shah, MD

Suken A. Shah
MD

06/06/2025 12:45 pm to
01:45 pm

Level Selection to Optimize Sagittal Alignment in Pediatric Deformity Surgery (Scoliosis & Kyphosis)

Michael Kelly, MD

Michael P. Kelly
MD

06/06/2025 01:00 pm to
02:00 pm

Case Discussion: Early Failures in Pediatric Deformity Surgery due to Malalignment: Lessons Learned

Panel: John S. Blanco, MD; Jessica H. Heyer, MD; Han Jo Kim, MD; Lawrence G. Lenke, MD


1:00 pm         

Case 1 | Suken A. Shah, MD

 

1:15 pm         

Case 2 | Michael Kelly, MD

06/06/2025 01:30 pm to
01:45 pm

Break / Exhibit Hall Open*

06/06/2025 01:45 pm to
02:45 pm

The Role of Alignment Concepts in MIS Surgery

Moderators: Ronald A. Lehman Jr., MD; Michael Virk, MD


1:50 pm

MIS Applications of Alignment Concepts: Is it Important? | Sravisht Iyer, MD

06/06/2025 02:00 pm to
03:30 pm

Debate: Point / Counterpoint / What’s on the Horizon

Segmental Alignment is Not Important for Fusions in MIS Surgery | Roger Härtl, MD


2:07 pm

Segmental Alignment is Absolutely Important in MIS Surgery | Jeremy Steinberger, MD


2:14 pm

The Role for Alignment in the Endoscopic Case | Michael Kelly, MD


2:21 pm

Audience Vote: Debate Winner

06/06/2025 02:22 pm to
03:52 pm

Techniques for Getting the Alignment Right: Tips and Tricks

Moderator: Han Jo Kim, MD


2:25 pm

Prone-Lateral Procedures: Tips and Tricks | William D. Zelenty, MD


2:30 pm

All Posterior Approach | Gbolabo Sokunbi, MD


2:35 pm

Thoracic Kyphosis Generation in the AIS Patient | Suken A. Shah, MD


2:40 pm

MIS Approaches | Sravisht Iyer, MD

06/06/2025 02:45 pm to
02:50 pm

Closing Remarks and Adjourn

*Not designated for credit
Faculty and agenda are subject to change.

About This Course

This course is named in honor of David B. Levine, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery. A former Chief of the Scoliosis Service (1967–1995), Dr. Levine specialized in scoliosis and care of the spine at HSS for over 30 years. He is Director Emeritus of both the Alumni Affairs and the Archives Committees. The David B. Levine, MD, Chair in Scoliosis is established in his honor.


Program Faculty

Activity Director:

  • Han Jo Kim, MD

HSS Faculty:

  • Sravisht Iyer, MD
  • Francis C. Lovecchio, MD

  • Kyle W. Morse, MD

Guest Faculty:

  • Munish C. Gupta, MD, MBA | Washington University Orthopedics

  • Roger Hartl, MD | Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Jeffrey M. Hills, MD | UT Health San Antonio

  • Michael Kelly, MD | Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego

  • Renaud Lafage, MS | Northwell Health

  • Virginie Lafage, PhD | Lenox Hill Hospital

  • Ronald Arthur Lehman, MD | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

  • Lawrence G. Lenke, MD | NewYork Presbyterian Och Spine Hospital

  • Suken A. Shah, MD | Nemours Children’s Hospital

  • Jeremy M. Steinberger, MD | Mount Sinai Health System

  • Michael S. Virk, MD, PhD | Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Michael G. Vitale, MD | Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Target Audience

This activity is targeted to spine and neurosurgeons, non-operative spine and sports physicians, and advanced practice providers. Residents, fellows and medical students may also benefit from this activity.


Learning Objectives

Hospital for Special Surgery Continuing Education activities are intended to improve the quality of patient care and safety. At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to:
  • Describe current state-of-the-art techniques in spinal alignment, including the latest surgical approaches and the use of advanced imaging and navigation tools.
  • Discuss and apply the latest evidence-based guidelines for assessing and addressing spinal deformities.
  • Identify the most common complications associated with spinal alignment procedures and outline strategies to manage these complications effectively.
  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities, clinical presentation) when making decisions about spinal alignment treatments, using evidence-based approaches for individualized care.

Acknowledgements

Funding support for this program is pending. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Alena Competello, Director of Education Development, at competelloa@hss.edu.

Important Event Information

Add Settings

For registration assistance or any other questions, contact HSS Continuing Education at 212.606.1057 or continuingeducation@hss.edu.

All registered participants will receive a confirmation via e-mail.

A handling fee will be deducted from the registration fee for cancellations. Refund requests must be received no later than one week prior to the course. No refund will be made thereafter.

Hospital for Special Surgery reserves the right to cancel this course. In the unlikely event the course is canceled, HSS will issue a full refund of the registration fee, but will not be responsible for any other charges incurred by the registrant due to the cancellation of the course.

This program may be recorded, filmed or photographed. By attending this program, you give permission to Hospital for Special Surgery to use your voice and likeness for any purpose (promotional, educational, or other), in any medium, and without remuneration of any kind to you.