AO Spine Fellowship Programme

1. About the AO Spine Fellowship

The Department of Spine Surgery at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, New Delhi, is proud to be a carefully selected and internationally recognized centre for the AO Spine Fellowship Programme - a globally prestigious educational initiative of the AO Foundation, one of the world's foremost medical education and research organizations in surgery.

The AO Spine Fellowship Programme offers a unique and transformative educational experience to the most promising young spine surgeons worldwide. Designed for fully trained orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who wish to further advance their expertise in spine surgery, the fellowship provides fellows with direct, hands-on exposure to cutting-edge surgical techniques, complex case management, and internationally benchmarked surgical practice at one of India's premier spine surgery centres.

ISIC Multispeciality Hospital was selected as an AO Spine Fellowship host centre on the basis of its outstanding surgical volume, the breadth and complexity of its spine surgery programme, the academic credentials of its faculty, and its long-standing commitment to surgical education and research. The department has been recognised by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) as the first unit in India for super-specialty training in Spine Surgery since the year 2000, underscoring its position as a national leader in spine surgical education.

2. The AO Foundation & AO Spine

The AO Foundation is a medically guided, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Davos, Switzerland. Founded in 1958, the AO Foundation has grown into a global network of over 400,000 surgeons, operating room professionals, and scientists across more than 100 countries. Its mission is to promote excellence in patient care and outcomes in orthopaedics and related disciplines through education, research, and the development of evidence-based surgical principles.

AO Spine is the dedicated spine surgery division of the AO Foundation, bringing together spine surgeons from across the world - orthopaedic and neurological alike - under a shared commitment to advancing spine surgical science, education, and patient care. AO Spine's global fellowship programme is one of its flagship educational offerings, providing a structured gateway for talented young spine surgeons to access world-class training at carefully vetted host centres around the globe.

For detailed and current information about the AO Spine Fellowship Programme, including application procedures, eligibility criteria, and host centre listings, candidates are encouraged to visit the official AO Foundation website:

https://www.aofoundation.org/spine/education/fellowship

4. Programme Objectives

The AO Spine Fellowship at ISIC is designed to achieve specific, high-value educational outcomes for each visiting fellow. By the end of their fellowship tenure, fellows are expected to have attained the following:

4.1 Surgical Skill Advancement

• Acquire direct exposure to advanced and complex spine surgical techniques performed by AO Spine-credentialed faculty at ISIC, covering the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine.
• Observe and participate in a wide spectrum of spine procedures - from routine decompressions and instrumented fusions to complex spinal deformity corrections, tumour resections, and minimally invasive spine surgeries - enriching the fellow's technical repertoire beyond what is available at their home institution.
• Gain familiarity with the AO Spine surgical philosophy, including the principles of biological fixation, load sharing, and evidence-based surgical decision-making that underpin AO teaching.
• Develop competence in the use of specialized spine surgical instrumentation, implant systems, intraoperative imaging modalities, and navigation technology employed at ISIC.

4.2 Clinical Knowledge & Decision-Making

• Develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the full clinical spectrum of spinal disorders - degenerative, traumatic, deformity, oncological, and infectious - through exposure to ISIC's large and varied patient population.
• Refine clinical assessment skills and pre-operative surgical planning abilities, including the interpretation of advanced spine imaging (MRI, CT myelography, EOS full-body imaging, and dynamic radiographs).
• Learn and apply internationally validated classification systems for spinal disorders, including the AO Spine classification for vertebral fractures, the Lenke classification for scoliosis, and the SRS-Schwab classification for adult spinal deformity.
• Gain insight into evidence-based perioperative management protocols for spine surgery patients, including enhanced recovery pathways, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring protocols, and complication prevention strategies.

4.3 Global Networking & Cross-Cultural Learning

• The AO Spine Fellowship programme is specifically designed to foster cross-pollination of ideas, techniques, and surgical philosophies across the global spine surgery community. Fellows at ISIC benefit from the opportunity to observe how a high-volume, internationally benchmarked Asian spine surgery centre approaches clinical challenges that may differ in presentation, aetiology, or resource context from their home country.
• Fellows become part of the AO Spine worldwide network - a community of over 10,000 spine surgeons globally - opening doors to future collaborations, research partnerships, international conference participation, and lifelong professional relationships.
• Interaction with ISIC's multidisciplinary team, including neurologists, rheumatologists, oncologists, rehabilitation physicians, and neuroradiologists, exposes fellows to integrated, team-based approaches to complex spine care.

4.4 Research & Academic Exposure

• Fellows are encouraged to participate in ongoing research projects within the department during their fellowship tenure, gaining exposure to the department's research methodology and academic culture.
• Opportunities exist to contribute to case series, clinical audits, and prospective data collection as part of ISIC's active spine surgery research programme.
• Fellows are welcome to attend and participate in the department's regular academic activities, including journal clubs, case conferences, radiology teaching sessions, and grand rounds, enriching their academic experience during their stay.

5. Scope of Surgical Exposure at ISIC

ISIC Multispeciality Hospital performs approximately 2,000 spine surgeries annually, offering AO Spine fellows an exceptionally rich and diverse surgical exposure. The following represents the breadth of procedures fellows may be exposed to during their fellowship:

5.1 Degenerative Spine Surgery

• Cervical disc herniation - anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc replacement, posterior foraminotomy
• Cervical myelopathy - anterior corpectomy and fusion, posterior laminoplasty (open-door and French-door), posterior laminectomy with instrumented fusion
• Lumbar disc herniation - microdiscectomy, tubular retractor-assisted discectomy, endoscopic discectomy
• Lumbar canal stenosis - decompressive laminectomy, laminotomy, microdecompression, decompression with instrumented fusion
• Lumbar spondylolisthesis - posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF/XLIF)
• Adjacent segment disease and revision spine surgery for failed prior procedures

5.2 Spinal Deformity Surgery

• Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) - posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation and rod derotation manoeuvres
• Adult degenerative scoliosis and sagittal plane imbalance - multi-level deformity correction including pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and vertebral column resection (VCR)
• Scheuermann's kyphosis and post-tubercular kyphosis - posterior, combined anterior-posterior, and three-column osteotomy corrections
• Early onset scoliosis - growing rod systems and magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR)
• Neuromuscular scoliosis and complex syndromic deformity management

5.3 Spinal Trauma

• Occipito-cervical and atlantoaxial instability - occipito-cervical fixation, C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw fixation (Harms technique), transarticular screw fixation
• Subaxial cervical spine fractures - anterior cervical fixation, posterior lateral mass and pedicle screw fixation
• Thoracolumbar fractures - posterior short and long segment pedicle screw fixation, corpectomy with anterior cage reconstruction, percutaneous minimally invasive fixation
• Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures - vertebroplasty, balloon kyphoplasty, cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation
• Spinal cord injury management - surgical decompression, stabilization, and neuromonitoring-guided procedures

5.4 Spinal Tumours & Infections

• Primary benign spinal tumours - intralesional excision, curettage, and stabilization
• Primary malignant spinal tumours - en bloc resection with spinal reconstruction
• Metastatic spine disease - palliative decompression, posterolateral stabilization, and separation surgery with adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery planning
• Spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease) - anterior debridement and interbody fusion, posterior stabilization, and kyphosis correction
• Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis - medical and surgical management, debridement, and reconstruction

5.5 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MIS)

• Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and minimally invasive TLIF (MIS-TLIF)
• Uniportal and biportal endoscopic spine surgery - endoscopic discectomy, decompression, and foraminotomy
• Navigation-assisted and robotic-guided pedicle screw placement for enhanced precision
• Lateral retroperitoneal approaches for interbody fusion (LLIF, XLIF, OLIF)
• Outpatient and day-care spine surgery protocols

6. Academic Activities & Learning Environment

Beyond the operating theatre, the AO Spine fellowship at ISIC offers fellows a stimulating and structured academic environment. Fellows are warmly invited to participate in the full range of the department's academic activities during their fellowship period:

• Spine Journal Club: Weekly critical appraisal of landmark and contemporary publications in spine surgery, with structured discussion facilitated by senior faculty.
• Case Conferences & Grand Rounds: Complex and instructive cases are presented and discussed by the multidisciplinary spine team, offering fellows insight into the department's clinical reasoning and decision-making process.
• Radiology & Imaging Teaching Sessions: Dedicated sessions on the interpretation of spine MRI, CT myelography, CT scans, dynamic radiographs, and EOS full-body imaging, conducted jointly with the neuroradiology team.
• Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) Sessions: Teaching sessions on the principles, interpretation, and clinical relevance of SSEP, MEP, and EMG monitoring during complex spine procedures.
• Biomechanics & Implant Workshops: Hands-on exposure to AO Spine and other spine implant systems, including discussion of the biomechanical principles guiding implant selection and surgical technique.
• Visiting Professor Programmes: ISIC regularly hosts internationally recognized spine surgeons for lectures, operative demonstrations, and cadaveric workshops, and AO Spine fellows are included in these events during their tenure.
• AO Spine Educational Resources: Fellows have access to the extensive AO Spine online educational library, including operative technique guides, case-based learning modules, webinars, and the AO Spine classification tools.

7. Infrastructure & Facilities at ISIC

AO Spine fellows at ISIC have access to the department's world-class infrastructure, which supports the highest standards of spine surgical practice and education:

• Dedicated Spine Operating Theatres equipped with laminar airflow, high-definition intraoperative fluoroscopy (C-arm), and 3D cone-beam CT intraoperative navigation systems for precision surgery.
• Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) - continuous multimodal monitoring including SSEP, MEP, and free-run and triggered EMG for all complex deformity, tumour, and high-risk cases.
• Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery platform for navigation-guided, patient-specific pedicle screw placement.
• 3 Tesla MRI, 128-slice CT scanner, and EOS full-body low-dose biplanar imaging for comprehensive pre-operative planning.
• Endoscopic Spine Surgery Suite with uniportal and biportal endoscopic systems, 4K HD visualization, and full accessory instrumentation.
• Comprehensive Spine Implant Library covering systems from leading global manufacturers - including AO Spine-endorsed implant systems - for deformity correction, motion preservation, tumour reconstruction, and minimally invasive surgery.
• Physiotherapy and Spine Rehabilitation Unit providing pre-habilitation and post-operative rehabilitation services for spine surgery patients.
• Digital Medical Library with institutional access to major spine surgery journals - Spine, European Spine Journal, The Spine Journal, Global Spine Journal - and online databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ovid.
• Skills and Simulation Laboratory for cadaveric surgical practice, implant handling, endoscopic technique simulation, and AO Spine hands-on workshops.

8. AO Spine Faculty at ISIC

The AO Spine Fellowship at ISIC is supervised by AO Spine-credentialed faculty who are internationally trained, nationally recognized spine surgeons with extensive subspecialty expertise. Faculty members are active contributors to AO Spine's global educational and research missions, serving as faculty at AO Spine courses, congresses, and international meetings.

ISIC's spine faculty represent both orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine surgery backgrounds, embodying the multidisciplinary spirit of the AO Spine Fellowship programme.

Fellows are assigned a primary faculty supervisor for the duration of their fellowship, who serves as their academic mentor, surgical guide, and point of contact for any professional or administrative matters during their stay at ISIC.

9. The AO Spine Global Network Advantage

One of the most enduring benefits of the AO Spine Fellowship experience is the gateway it provides to the global AO Spine community. Fellows who complete their fellowship at ISIC:

• Become part of the AO Spine worldwide network of over 10,000 spine surgeons across more than 100 countries, fostering lifelong professional relationships and collaborative opportunities.
• Gain access to AO Spine's global educational programme, including preferential access to AO Spine courses, advanced workshops, and international congresses such as AOSpine World Congress and AOSpine regional meetings.
• Are eligible to participate in AO Spine's international research networks, multicenter clinical trials, and global spine registry initiatives, significantly expanding their research opportunities beyond their home institution.
• Benefit from cross-pollination of surgical philosophies, techniques, and clinical approaches gained from training at an internationally diverse host centre - an experience that consistently enriches returning fellows' practice and leadership at their home institutions.
• May access AO Spine's online educational platform for continued learning through operative technique videos, case-based modules, e-learning courses, and the AO Spine classification app suite.

10. Application & Selection Process

The AO Spine Fellowship is a globally competitive programme with a selective application process. Candidates are assessed on the basis of their surgical training background, professional references, statement of purpose, and alignment of their learning goals with the host centre's expertise.

• Candidates must be fully trained orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons with a documented interest in and commitment to spine surgery. Junior trainees or residents are not eligible for the AO Spine Fellowship.
• Applications are submitted through the official AO Foundation online portal. Candidates should review host centre profiles, including ISIC's profile, and select their preferred centres based on the specific surgical expertise and case mix they wish to be exposed to.
• Applications are reviewed and fellows are selected by AO Spine's international fellowship committee in collaboration with host centre faculty.
• Fellowship durations at ISIC range from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, as per AO Spine's programme guidelines. Candidates should specify their preferred duration and period of visit at the time of application.
• Selected fellows are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation, and visa (where applicable). AO Spine and ISIC provide guidance and necessary documentation support for the fellowship visit.

For complete application guidelines, deadlines, fellowship availability at ISIC, and to submit an application, please visit the official AO Foundation fellowship portal:

https://www.aofoundation.org/spine/education/fellowship

11. Contact & Further Information

For institution-specific enquiries regarding the AO Spine Fellowship at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, New Delhi - including information about the department's surgical programme, research activities, faculty, and fellowship logistics - please contact:

• Department of Spine Surgery, ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, New Delhi, India
• Academic Department, ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, New Delhi, India - academics@isichealthcare.org

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the AO Spine Fellowship programme guidelines and FAQs on the AO Foundation website before reaching out to the host centre directly, as most procedural and administrative queries are addressed comprehensively through the AO Spine fellowship portal.

ISIC Multispeciality Hospital | Department of Spine Surgery | New Delhi, India | AO Spine Accredited Fellowship Centre