The History of Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Society (KOMISS) and Global Impact on Spine Surgery

Abstract

Korea minimally invasive spine surgery society (KOMISS) celebrated its 20th anniversary this year in 2021. The society was established in 2002 for the purpose of research on novel techniques and instruments in the rapidly developing field of spine surgery, under the leadership of Professor Park, Chun Kun, the first president. Annual meetings have been held every year since. The advanced course focusing on endoscopic surgery was introduced in 2009, while international academic conferences and cadaver workshops have been held since 2012. In 2012, the first textbook was published. In 2015, KOMISS was promoted to an official society by integrating with the Korean Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, another Korean society for minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS). Additionally, in 2017, the Korean Research Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery (KOSESS), a research group specialized in spinal endoscopic surgery, was established as its own society. Presently, in the face of the ongoing corona pandemic, there is continuous research efforts through online meetings. For the past 20 years, KOMISS has been educating Korean doctors on MIS surgery through various symposiums and hand on workshops, and has gradually established its ranks and expanded its scope around the world. Most importantly, among the many areas of minimally invasive spinal surgery, KOMISS has developed surgical techniques focusing on endoscopic spinal surgery above all else and has had an unrivaled impact worldwide. Consequently, pioneers and world-renowned surgeons of endoscopic spine surgery in KOMISS have inaugurated the era of endoscopic spine surgery as gold standard of care.