Can’t Miss Monday: Forging New Frontiers in Neurosurgery
Unmissable Discussions Shaping the Future of Neurosurgical Practice
Don’t Miss the Grand Finale: Stay for Monday’s Groundbreaking Sessions! These highly anticipated Monday sessions are offered on the final day of the meeting, so you’ll definitely want to stay to ensure you don’t miss out!
It’s your unique opportunity to be at the forefront of neurosurgical innovation, featuring a diverse global perspective. These exclusive educational opportunities will delve into the latest advancements and groundbreaking research that are shaping the future of the field. By staying for these Monday sessions, you’ll gain invaluable insights from renowned experts, network with industry leaders and discover how cutting-edge technologies and techniques are revolutionizing neurosurgical practice.
These sessions are free with your general registration but are ticketed and you must sign up during the registration process.
8 – 9:30 am
401 | Spine M&M: Case Presentations, Thoughtful Reflections and Strategies for Avoidance
This session will focus on the complications that can arise during spine surgeries. Comprehensive views of complications across different subspecialties will be presented by nationally respected senior neurosurgeons.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize and categorize the common and rare complications that can arise during spine surgeries across various subspecialties.
- Analyze the risk factors contributing to complications in spine surgery, drawing on insights from experienced neurosurgeons.
- Discuss effective management and mitigation strategies for addressing complications during spine surgeries, including preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative approaches.
402 | Cranial M&M: Case Presentations, Thoughtful Reflections and Strategies for Avoidance
This session will focus on the complications that can arise during cranial surgeries and will feature a combination of open and endovascular cases. Comprehensive views of complications across different subspecialties will be presented by nationally respected senior neurosurgeons.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and classify common and unique complications associated with cranial surgeries, including both open and endovascular approaches.
- Analyze the risk factors and scenarios that contribute to complications during cranial surgeries, informed by expert insights.
- Discuss effective strategies for managing and mitigating complications in cranial surgery, focusing on practical approaches for both preoperative and intraoperative settings.
403 | Debates in Neurotrauma: Confronting Controversies, Advancing Care
This session offers a unique opportunity to explore divergent viewpoints, challenge existing paradigms, and gain deeper insights into the evolving landscape of neurotrauma care.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and understand key controversies currently shaping the field of neurotrauma.
- Evaluate expert perspectives on topics where evidence is evolving or divided.
- Access and interpret foundational literature supporting the next generation of neurotrauma treatments.
404 | Strategic Career Development in Neurosurgery: From Fellowship to Faculty
This session is designed for neurosurgical trainees and early-career neurosurgeons who are navigating the transition from fellowship to faculty. Through expert-led panels and interactive discussions, participants will explore practical strategies for securing the right fellowship, launching a research or clinical focus, obtaining faculty positions and building a successful and sustainable career in neurosurgery. The session features insights from experienced leaders across various subspecialties and includes time for mentorship, Q&A and interactive dialogue.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key strategies and timelines for securing competitive neurosurgical oncology fellowships.
- Understand the foundational steps and resources required to establish a basic, translational or clinical research lab.
- Outline best practices for obtaining academic and private practice positions and developing a sustainable neurosurgical oncology practice.
405 | Refining Brain Tumor Surgery through Intra-Operative Molecular Testing
As our understanding of brain tumor biology deepens, it’s becoming clear that the benefits of surgical intervention differ significantly across molecular subtypes. At the same time, technological advances have made ultra-rapid, intraoperative molecular diagnostics a reality. This forward-looking session explores how tools such as nanopore sequencing, droplet digital PCR and AI-based classifiers are transforming real-time decision-making in the operating room. Focused on gliomas and skull base tumors, the session highlights how integrating molecular data into surgery can refine resection strategies and personalize care at the point of treatment.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how surgical outcomes vary among molecular subtypes of brain tumors.
- Describe the role and clinical application of intraoperative molecular technologies—including nanopore sequencing, droplet digital PCR and AI-based classifiers—in real-time tumor profiling.
- Identify opportunities to integrate rapid molecular diagnostics into surgical workflows to optimize tumor resection strategies.
411 | Session of the Adult Hydrocephalus, Chiari & ICP Society
This is the inaugural session of the newly formed Adult Hydrocephalus, Chiari & ICP Society (AHCIS). All participants at any level of training or type of neurosurgical practice are welcome to learn about the new society and how it will function. This session will feature two inaugural invited guest lectures and abstract presentations relevant to adult hydrocephalus, Chiari and ICP disorders.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how the new Adult Hydrocephalus, Chiari & ICP Society will function.
- Define the results of the PENS randomized clinical trial regarding treatment of iNPH.
- Identify key diagnostic and treatment issues for spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
9:45 – 11:15 am
406 | Difficult Spine Cases: Case Presentations, Surgical Nuances and Complication Avoidance Strategies
This session will involve case presentations focusing on surgical nuances and strategies for avoiding complications in spinal surgeries. Experts will share their experiences and approaches to complex cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and describe key surgical nuances specific to spinal procedures that can impact patient outcomes.
- Analyze strategies and best practices for avoiding complications in spinal surgeries, drawing from expert case presentations.
- Evaluate approaches used by experts in managing complex spinal surgery cases and apply these insights to enhance clinical decision-making.
407 | Difficult Cranial Cases: Case Presentations, Surgical Nuances and Complication Avoidance Strategies
This session will involve case presentations focusing on surgical nuances and strategies for avoiding complications in cranial surgeries. Experts will share their experiences and approaches to complex cases for both open and endovascular cranial cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and discuss the critical surgical nuances involved in both open and endovascular cranial procedures that can influence outcomes.
- Analyze effective strategies and techniques for preventing complications in cranial surgeries, as shared by expert presenters.
- Evaluate the approaches of experts in managing complex cranial cases, incorporating their experiences into clinical practice to enhance decision-making.
408 | Ask The Experts: Case Based Discussions in Neurotrauma
Managing complex cranial and spinal neurotrauma often requires navigating a web of interrelated injuries, specialties and evolving treatment strategies. This interactive, case-based session brings together leading experts in neurocritical care and cranial/spinal trauma to walk through real-world scenarios that reflect the challenges of modern neurotrauma practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze the clinical complexity of polytrauma patients with neurotrauma.
- Apply integrated management strategies that span multiple specialties and
- Learn from expert-led, case-based discussions to enhance practical, real-world decision-making.
409 | How to Pass the Oral Boards: Mastering Neurotrauma & Critical Care Scenarios
Designed specifically for candidates preparing for the Oral Board Exam, this focused, high-yield session will walk you through the most commonly tested neurotrauma and critical care cases. Learn how to approach challenging scenarios with confidence, sharpen your clinical reasoning and gain insights into what examiners are really looking for.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the most frequently encountered neurotrauma and critical care scenarios on the Oral Board Exam.
- Apply essential background knowledge to confidently structure and articulate board-level answers.
- Practice responding to oral board-style questions in a simulated, interactive format to enhance performance under pressure.
410 | Minimally Invasive Cranial Tumor Surgery: Endoscopic and Parafascicular Approaches
This session offers discussion of cutting-edge, minimally invasive cranial tumor surgery, emphasizing both parafascicular tubular techniques and endoscopic approaches for skull base, ventricular and intra-axial lesions. Participants will engage in high-yield lectures and case-based discussions to master the safe and effective use of MIS platforms, including neuronavigation, tractography, tubular retractors and endoscopic tools.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the anatomical and technical foundations of minimally invasive parafascicular and endoscopic tumor approaches.
- Gain practical, hands-on experience with MIS systems, including tubular retractor platforms and endoscopic navigation technologies.
- Apply principles of trajectory planning, white matter tract preservation and safe corridor development for deep-seated and skull base lesions using simulation- based techniques.
412 | Advancing the Future of Computational Neurosurgery
Building on the foundation established by the inaugural Computational Neurosurgery session at AANS 2025 in Boston, this session provides a comprehensive introduction to the emerging discipline of computational neurosurgery. It examines the integration of computational modeling, fractal- and pattern-based analytical frameworks, multi-omics methodologies and advanced artificial intelligence techniques across the major subspecialties of neurosurgery. The session will address current evidence, methodological advances and translational applications, as well as discuss future directions and the anticipated impact of computational and AI-driven approaches on neurosurgical research and clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the basic concepts of computational modeling, fractal- and pattern-based computational analysis and AI and how these technologies can be applied to neurosurgery.
- Examine the different applications of AI across neurosurgical subspecialties, including neuro-oncology, vascular neurosurgery, spine surgery and intraoperative neuromonitoring.
- Acquire practical knowledge regarding the utilization of AI methodologies in neuroimaging, digital neuropathology, brain-machine interface and intraoperative neurosurgery, with emphasis on ethical and legal considerations.