Shaping spine care through endoscopy
Article information
It is our great pleasure to present this special issue of the Asian Spine Journal, dedicated to the expanding field of endoscopic spine surgery (ESS). The articles included in this issue represent a cross-section of contemporary efforts to refine techniques, evaluate outcomes, establish educational frameworks, and explore the broader clinical and societal implications of ESS.
This collection of fourteen studies reflects the increasingly diverse applications of ESS. From decompression to fusion procedures, and from primary cases to revisions, the selected papers demonstrate how ESS is evolving to address a wide range of spinal pathologies across different anatomical regions and patient populations. The reported outcomes affirm the clinical feasibility and safety of these approaches, while also highlighting the importance of careful patient selection and surgical planning.
Several papers in this issue focus on technique optimization—whether through innovative decompression strategies, reduced bone resection methods, or approaches that preserve spinal stability without the need for fusion. Others explore interbody fusion performed under endoscopic guidance, providing valuable data on fusion rates, complication profiles, and recovery patterns. Together, these studies contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the role of ESS in both motion-preserving and fusion-based surgical paradigms.
Education and training emerge as central themes as well. The learning curve of ESS remains steep, and structured approaches to training—such as tiered competency models and affordable simulation tools—are crucial for ensuring safe dissemination. Contributions in this issue offer practical strategies to support early learners and standardize technical progression, especially in settings with limited access to cadaveric or high-fidelity training resources.
Beyond the operating room, the impact of ESS is being shaped by broader forces. This issue also includes an analysis of the presence and nature of ESS-related content on social media, revealing both opportunities and challenges in how patients and professionals engage with surgical information in the digital age.
Importantly, the research featured in this issue is truly international in scope, with authors representing a wide geographical and institutional spectrum. This diversity enriches the discussion and underscores the global relevance of endoscopic techniques in modern spine care.
As guest editors, we are grateful to all the authors, reviewers, and editorial staff for their dedication and contributions. We hope that this issue will serve as both a reference and an inspiration—supporting ongoing innovation, collaboration, and thoughtful integration of ESS into contemporary clinical practice.