EUROSPINE 2026

Dr. Elena Rostova is a consultant spine neurosurgeon specializing in sub-millimeter endoscopic decompression, robotic navigation platforms, and machine-learning applications in the operating theater. After completing specialized fellowships at IRCAD in Strasbourg and Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rostova established one of Europe’s highest-volume centers for ultra-minimally invasive tubular and biportal endoscopic spinal procedures. She currently co-chairs the EUROSPINE Digital Technology & AI Taskforce and serves as principal investigator on the pan-European ENHANCE-Spine cohort trial. Her research bridges the gap between intraoperative computer vision, automated trajectory planning, and tactile robotic haptics. In this plenary session, Dr. Rostova outlines real-world data on operative safety profiles, surgical curve learning rates, and automated boundary protection when navigating distorted anatomy.

Prof. Dr. Henrik Vance is an internationally recognized leader in reconstructive spine surgery and biomechanical motion preservation. With over twenty years of clinical and academic practice across Switzerland and Germany, Dr. Vance has pioneered minimally invasive correction strategies for complex adult spinal deformities. He serves as an executive council member for the European Federation of Spine Societies and leads the European Spine Biomechanics Consortium (ESBC). A prolific clinical trialist, Dr. Vance has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed articles focusing on proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) mitigation and finite-element modeling in multi-level instrumentation. At EUROSPINE, he will examine the tipping point between dynamic stabilization and rigid arthrodesis in aging populations, presenting longitudinal registry data comparing patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) against revision burdens.