Since the inception of AOSpine, there have been many unique milestones. However, in the fall of 2010, the launch of the AOSpine Knowledge Forums began and redefined the ensuing “footprints” and “cadence” of the society, and its impact on the spine field. It was during that period that Dr Luiz Vialle, from the Department of Orthopaedics, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil, and past Chair of AOSpine’s International Board, spearheaded the establishment of the AOSpine Knowledge Forums that eventually became the premier knowledge “broker” within the spine community.
AOSpine’s Knowledge Forums are pathology-based study groups focusing on degeneration, deformity, spinal cord injury, trauma, and tumor. Each AOSpine Knowledge Forum is composed of Steering Committee Members, Associate Members, and their respective Chairs. Invitation to these groups is based on a proven track record of research, a passion to collaborate, and being regarded within the community as a key opinion leader. The main goal of these entities is knowledge creation that is intended to fill research voids, challenge long-held beliefs, influence practice worldwide, and positively influence all health care stakeholders.
With the aforementioned framework in place, since 2011 the AOSpine Knowledge Forums have published over 139 peer-reviewed articles in numerous esteemed journals such as Cancer,1 Neuro-Oncology,2 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery,3 Spine,4,5 European Spine Journal,6 and the Global Spine Journal,7-10 among others. The AOSpine Knowledge Forums have amassed over 20 international awards and accolades related to their research, such as the Russel A. Hibbs Award, the Whitecloud Award, various Young Investigator Awards, and other Best Clinical Presentation Awards at various conferences. Their collaborative work has also led to various journal theme issues and textbooks, such as the AOSpine Masters Series. In fact, they not only transfer knowledge through peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, and book chapters, but each year at the Global Spine Congress they deliver pre-courses and/or symposia, and further partner with other societies to disseminate their findings. In addition to receiving funding from AOSpine, the AOSpine Knowledge Forums have also secured competitive funding from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, Scoliosis Research Society, the United States Department of Defense, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, among others. In short, the AOSpine Knowledge Forums have ultimately become the most international, collaborative research entity among any spine society worldwide.
The main hallmark of the AOSpine Knowledge Forums has been the ability to conduct multicenter studies on a global level. Studies range from retrospective to prospective cohort and randomized controlled trials. In addition, registries and research networks have been established. Through this research and collaboration, the Forums have gone on to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of various spinal disorders, outcome instruments, cost-analyses/cost-effectiveness, novel classification schemes, predictive modelling, and treatment recommendations.2-25 As a knowledge “mobilizer,”they have sought to raise awareness of their findings via knowledge exchange and dissemination, have fostered research education and mentorship, and strived to translate their findings to ultimately improve patient care and quality of life on the international stage.
We are proud to present in this special focus issue some of the recent work by AOSpine’s Knowledge Forums. Each of the 5 groups has contributed 2 articles that range from reviews of pressing issues and presenting key concepts that spine surgeons should know, to bringing to the forefront some key findings from their multicenter studies. This work is a glowing example that even though 8 years have passed since the AOSpine Knowledge Forums began, their research and activities continue to remain in “motion,” always striving to influence patient care and alter the tempo of the spine field by the combustion of the creation and transmission of knowledge upon the global stage.
Dino Samartzis, DSc
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
Niccole M. Germscheid, MSc
AOSpine International, Davos, Switzerland
Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Charles G. Fisher, MD, MHSc
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada
Marinus de Kleuver, MD, PhD
Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
F. Cumhur Öner, MD, PhD
University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
S. Tim Yoon, MD, PhD
Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Luiz R. Vialle, MD, PhD
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná, Curitiba,
Brazil
Contributor Information
Dino Samartzis, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Niccole M. Germscheid, AOSpine International, Davos, Switzerland.
Michael G. Fehlings, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Charles G. Fisher, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Marinus de Kleuver, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
F. Cumhur Öner, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
S. Tim Yoon, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Luiz R. Vialle, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
References
- 1. Versteeg AL, Sahgal A, Rhines LD, et al. Psychometric evaluation and adaptation of the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire to evaluate health-related quality of life in patients with spinal metastases. Cancer. 2018;124:1828–1838. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2. Bettegowda C, Yip S, Lo SL, et al. Spinal column chordoma: prognostic significance of clinical variables and T (brachyury) gene SNP rs2305089 for local recurrence and overall survival. Neuro Oncol. 2017;19:405–413. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3. Lenke LG, Shaffrey CI, Carreon LY, et al. Lower extremity motor function following complex adult spinal deformity surgery: two-year follow-up in the Scoli-RISK-1 prospective, multicenter, international study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018;100:656–665. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4. Germscheid NM, Fisher CG. Focus issue II in spine oncology: compendium of spine oncology recommendations. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016;41(suppl 20):S163–S170. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5. Vaccaro AR, Oner C, Kepler CK, et al. AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classification system: fracture description, neurological status, and key modifiers. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013;38:2028–2037. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6. Kwan KYH, Bow C, Samartzis D, et al. Non-neurologic adverse events after complex adult spinal deformity surgery: results from the prospective, multicenter Scoli-RISK-1 study. Eur Spine J. 2019;28:170–179. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7. Yoon ST, Konopka JA, Wang JC, et al. ACDF graft selection by surgeons: survey of AOSpine members. Global Spine J. 2017;7:410–416. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8. Lao L, Cohen JR, Buser Z, et al. Trends analysis of rhBMP2 utilization in single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion in the United States. Global Spine J. 2018;8:137–141. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9. Esmail N, Buser Z, Cohen JR, et al. Postoperative complications associated with rhBMP2 use in posterior/posterolateral lumbar fusion. Global Spine J. 2018;8:142–148. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10. Buser Z, Brodke DS, Youssef JA, et al. Allograft versus demineralized bone matrix in instrumented and noninstrumented lumbar fusion: a systematic review. Global Spine J. 2018;8:396–412. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11. Fisher CG, Schouten R, Versteeg AL, et al. Reliability of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) among radiation oncologists: an assessment of instability secondary to spinal metastases. Radiat Oncol. 2014;9:69. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12. de Kleuver M, Faraj SSA, Holewijn RM, et al. Defining a core outcome set for adolescent and young adult patients with a spinal deformity. Acta Orthop. 2017;88:612–618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13. Fehlings MG, Kwon BK, Tetreault LA. Guidelines for the management of degenerative cervical myelopathy and spinal cord injury: an introduction to a focus issue. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):6S–7S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14. Fehlings MG, Martin AR, Tetreault LA, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury: recommendations on the role of baseline magnetic resonance imaging in clinical decision making and outcome prediction. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):221S–230S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Aarabi B, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury: recommendations on the type and timing of anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):212S–220S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Aarabi B, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury: recommendations on the type and timing of rehabilitation. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):231S–238S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Riew KD, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy: recommendations for patients with mild, moderate, and severe disease and nonmyelopathic patients with evidence of cord compression. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):70S–83S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Riew KD, Middleton JW, Wang JC. A clinical practice guideline for the management of degenerative cervical myelopathy: introduction, rationale, and scope. Global Spine J. 2017;7:21S–27S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Wilson JR, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury and central cord syndrome: recommendations on the timing (≤24 hours versus >24 hours) of decompressive surgery. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):195S–202S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20. Fehlings MG, Tetreault LA, Wilson JR, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of acute spinal cord injury: introduction, rationale, and scope. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):84S–94S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 21. Fehlings MG, Wilson JR, Tetreault LA, et al. A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury: recommendations on the use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):203S–211S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22. Rajasekaran S, Vaccaro AR, Kanna RM, et al. The value of CT and MRI in the classification and surgical decision-making among spine surgeons in thoracolumbar spinal injuries. Eur Spine J. 2017;26:1463–1469. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23. Tetreault LA, Skelly AC, Dettori JR, Wilson JR, Martin AR, Fehlings MG. Guidelines for the management of degenerative cervical myelopathy and acute spinal cord injury: development process and methodology. Global Spine J. 2017;7(3 suppl):8S–20S. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 24. Myhre SL, Buser Z, Meisel HJ, et al. Trends and cost of posterior cervical fusions with and without recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in the US Medicare population. Global Spine J. 2017;7:334–342. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25. Alobaidaan R, Cohen JR, Lord EL, et al. Complication rates in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery with human bone morphogenetic protein 2: Medicare population. Global Spine J. 2017;7:770–773. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]