City surgeon to lead World UBE Spine Society’s India chapter

Pune: The World Unilateral Bi-Poral Endoscopic (UBE) Spine Society has launched its India (Indian Subcontinent) chapter, uniting spine surgeons from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Pune-based spine surgeon Dr Shailesh Hadgaonkar of Sancheti Hospital has been nominated its founding president at the World UBE spine meet in Seoul, South Korea.

Dr Hadgaonkar said, “The India chapter aims to create structured academic programs, standardized training modules, and fellowship opportunities to ensure safe and effective adoption of this (endoscopic) technique. With approximately 9-10 thousand spine surgeons in India, the initiative targets both young and experienced neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine specialists who are increasingly transitioning toward endoscopic approaches.”

The India chapter will be aligned with global UBE chapters in the United States, Australia, China, and Korea and will facilitate international collaboration, workshops, and knowledge exchange—advancing the future of minimally invasive spine surgery in the region, he added.

The core leadership team includes Dr Ketan Deshpande (secretary general), Dr Amol Rege (vice president), and Kolkata-based spine surgeon Dr Anindya Basu as treasurer. A comprehensive organisational structure has been established, comprising executive, scientific, and academic committees with around 30 executive members representing institutions across the country.

Unilateral bi-portal endoscopic (UBE) spine surgery is an advanced minimally invasive procedure that uses two small portals - one for a high-definition endoscopic camera and the other for surgical instruments, to access the spine with precision.

This endoscopic approach allows surgeons to operate through tiny incisions while continuously visualizing the surgical field on a screen, thereby minimizing damage to surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues.

“Unlike traditional open surgery, it avoids large cuts and extensive dissection, resulting in less blood loss, reduced post-operative pain, and faster recovery,” said Dr Rege.