ISSLS

Comparable long-term pain and disability outcomes following decompression alone versus decompression with fusion in lumbar spinal stenosis patients with high-signal facet joints - European Spine Journ... Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of decompressive surgery with or without fusion in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) exhibiting high-signal facet joints, a radiolo...

Does every patient with lumbar spinal stenosis and high-signal facet joints need spinal fusion? 🧵

Our new study says no, not always! A simpler approach might be the way forward for some patients in the Hunter New England Local Health District.

www.doi.org/10.1007/s005...

The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine #ISSLS is pleased to announce that the European Spine Journal #ESJ is now the official journal of ISSLS!

📣 One week left to submit your abstract ‼️

The abstract deadline for the combined #ISSLS & #SASS 2026 Annual Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa (May 11–15, 2026) has been extended until November 15, 2025 ‼️

issls2026.org/abstracts/

#ISSLS2026 #CapeTown #SpineResearch

Why join ISSLS?
✔️ Discounted registration
✔️ Access to a truly interdisciplinary, international network
✔️ Eligibility for fellowships, awards, and committee roles
✔️ Voting rights to help shape the future of ISSLS
✔️ Opportunities to contribute to global initiatives, taskforces, and consensus papers

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION — The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine

ISSLS membership applications are now open until the 19th of September!

Join our global community of world-class spine researchers, clinicians, surgeons, and more before the deadline closes

📅 Deadline to apply: September 19th
🔗 Learn more and apply: www.issls.org/membership

Why join ISSLS? 👇🏼

Let’s give a warm welcome to Dr. Mengis! 🫴

💬 Say hi in the comments & connect on LinkedIn:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-me...

Are you also pushing the boundaries of #LumbarSpine research? Join ISSLS and be part of a global community shaping the future of spine science:
🔗 www.issls.org/membership

Intervertebral disc microbiome in Modic changes: Lack of result replication underscores the need for a consensus in low-biomass microbiome analysis - PubMed There is dysbiosis in MC discs. Bioinformatic parameters impact results yet cannot explain the different findings from this and a previous study. Therefore, discrepancies are likely caused by differen...

One of Dr. Mengis's recent impactful studies, published in JCI Insight, investigates immune responses linked to vertebral bone marrow changes, offering promising new perspectives for understanding and treating chronic low back pain.
📖 Read it here: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38585427/

Dr. Mengis is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center of Experimental Rheumatology, University of Zurich, where she explores the intricate biology of spinal conditions with a focus on Modic changes. Her research highlights the key role of the intervertebral disc in the development of Modic changes.

🌟 Welcome Dr. Tamara Mengis – Our Newest ISSLS Member! 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Tamara Mengis, PhD to the #ISSLS community of spine researchers and clinicians!

The study showed:
➡️ Significant reduction in LBP (VAS scores) in the BM-MSC group
➡️ Improved quality of life and work ability
➡️ Strong safety profile, with no serious adverse events

In this randomized controlled trial, the team investigated the use of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells BM- #MSCs to treat patients with chronic low back pain #LBP linked to multilevel intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

issls-2025.p.asnevents.com.au/days/2025-05...

🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 ISSLS Best Paper Award Winner! 🎉

We are thrilled to spotlight some of the most compelling research in #LumbarSpine science and clinical innovation.

This year’s Best Paper Award was to Prof. Gianluca Vadalà et al of the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

In Memoriam of Dr. Margareta Nordin (1945–2025)

Please read the beautiful obituary by Dino Samartzis and Björn Rydevik in the #EuropeanSpineJournal here: 🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

We’re already halfway through ISSLS 2025! 😲

From cutting-edge research to truly inspiring discussions, the energy here is amazing. #ISSLS2025

Great special poster session this morning #ISSLS2025 on #IVD degeneration chaired by Stefan Dudli and Kotaro Nishida

Presenters are getting robust and constructive questioning here very much in the spirit of #ISSLS2025! Halfway through a great session here including studies on #Modicchanges and deep learning spine variables extracted from UK biobank

#ISSLS2025 has officially kicked off here in Atlanta with the basic science session!

The Combined Influence of Sleep Disturbance and Depression... : Spine havioral factors are considered major risk factors for poor outcomes after LSS. However, there is a need to explore the combined effects of preoperative factors such as sleep disturbance and depressio...

Preoperative #SleepDisturbances and #Depression independently and jointly predict higher disability and pain 12 months after lumbar #SpineSurgery.​

The latest publication in Spine by #ISSLS member Kristin R. Archer and team: journals.lww.com/spinejournal...

Patient acceptance of reoperation risk for lumbar decompression versus fusion Lumbar decompression and lumbar fusion are effective methods of treating spinal compressive pathologies refractory to conservative management. These surgeries are typically used to treat different spi...

The latest publication in The Spine Journal by Todd Alamin investigates patient acceptance of reoperation risk following lumbar decompression and fusion surgeries, revealing some important findings that could impact the future of #LumbarSpine research.

www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/S152...

SOD2 orchestrates redox homeostasis in intervertebral discs: A novel insight into oxidative stress-mediated degeneration and therapeutic potential Low back pain (LBP) is a pervasive global health concern, primarily associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Although oxidative stress …

This research provides valuable insights into the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in disc degeneration and highlights potential therapeutic strategies for low back pain interventions. Read the full study here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Check out his latest study in #RedoxBiology! His work sheds light on how #OxidativeStress contributes to intervertebral disc degeneration and explores the therapeutic potential of targeting superoxide dismutase 2 to restore redox homeostasis in the disc.

🌟 Introducing Dr. Shota Tamagawa – Our Newest ISSLS Member! 🌟

ISSLS is thrilled to welcome Shota Tamagawa, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor at Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, to our #ISSLS community of spine researchers and clinicians!

Cross-sectional area and fat infiltration of the lumbar spine muscles in patients with back disorders: a deep learning-based big data analysis - European Spine Journal Purpose Validated deep learning models represent a valuable option to perform large-scale research studies aiming to evaluate muscle quality and quantity of paravertebral lumbar muscles at the populat...

One of his recent studies uses deep learning to analyze MRI data, revealing how lumbar muscle cross-sectional area and fat infiltration vary by sex, age, and clinical condition. Read their complete work here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Dr Jacopo Vitale's work bridges clinical practice and sports science, with a focus on enhancing spine health in individuals with back disorders. Dr Vitale investigates how spinal muscle morphology & function relate to patient-reported outcomes, aiming to optimize recovery & long-term spinal health.

🌟 Welcome Dr. Jacopo Vitale – Our Newest ISSLS Member! 🌟

Dr. Vitale is a Research Associate at the Spine Centre at Schulthess Klinik in Zürich (Switzerland) and Associate Professor at the Institute of Sports Sciences at University of Physical Culture in Cracow (Poland).

In this study oral administration of senolytic drugs in a mouse model significantly reduced LBP, eliminated SnCs in intervertebral discs and the spinal cord, decreased inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors, improved disc & bone health, & lowered pain marker expression

Senolytic treatment for low back pain Senolytics drugs can reduce back pain by removing senescent cells from the intervertebral discs and spinal cord.

Publication in #ScienceAdvances by #ISSLS member Prof. Lisbet Haglund: www.science.org/doi/full/10.... This study investigates the potential of two senolytic drugs in treating #LowBackPain by targeting senescent cells, which accumulate with aging and contribute to #inflammation and degeneration

Single Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Emergent Notochord-Derived Cell Subpopulations in the Postnatal Nucleus Pulposus: 🔗 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

📢 Publication in FASEB J by #ISSLS member Dr. Lachlan Smith et al highlights key findings using single cell RNA seq., revealing the diversity & crucial roles of notochord-derived NP cells in the postnatal mouse disc #SpineResearch #LumbarSpine #LowBackPain #RegenerativeMedicine #Biotechnology Link 👇🏼

Development and application of predictive clinical biomarkers for low back pain care: recommendations from the ISSLS phenotype/precision spine focus group - European Spine Journal Predictive biomarkers (or moderators of treatment) are features, or more likely feature clusters, that discriminate individuals who are more likely to experience a favourable or unfavourable effect fr...

The #ISSLS Phenotype/Precision Spine Focus Group is driving advancements in low back pain management through predictive biomarkers. Their 2024 recommendations, now published in the European Spine Journal, emphasize unified terminology, robust research designs, and overcoming development barriers 👇🏼