Kolkata: Kolkata became a meeting point for spine surgeons from India and abroad as the Asian UBE Meet 2026 brought together specialists to examine the growing use of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic (UBE) spine surgery, a minimally invasive technique increasingly being used for complex spinal procedures.
The two-day academic meeting focused on how endoscopic approaches are changing spine surgery, with discussions ranging from patient selection and surgical planning to challenging cases, complications and long-term clinical outcomes.
Surgeons and faculty from countries including the UK, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bahrain and Egypt, along with specialists from across India, participated in lectures, panel discussions and case-based sessions.
The event also saw the presence of West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay, who highlighted the role of professional exchanges in sharing clinical experience and strengthening healthcare practices.
UBE uses two small access points, or portals, to reach the spine. Unlike conventional open procedures, the technique is designed to provide the surgeon with an endoscopic view while limiting disruption to surrounding tissues. However, experts at the meeting stressed the importance of appropriate patient selection, technical expertise and careful management of complications as the technique expands.
The scientific sessions examined the practical challenges involved in adopting UBE, including the choice of surgical technique for different spinal conditions, management of difficult cases and approaches to intraoperative and postoperative complications.
Among the international faculty were Miguel Carvalho of Portugal, Ashok Subramanian of the UK, Gee Teak Sheng of Malaysia and Hani Assoum of Bahrain, while Shailesh Hadgaonkar from Pune was among the Indian specialists participating in the programme.
According to Dr Anindya Basu, Organising Chairman of Asian UBE Meet 2026 and Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Spine Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur, the meeting provided an opportunity for surgeons working in different healthcare systems to compare techniques and clinical experiences.
“Endoscopic spine surgery is steadily expanding the scope of minimally invasive spine care,” Basu said, adding that discussions around patient selection, challenging cases and outcomes are important as the technology gains wider acceptance.
Dr S. Vidyadhara, Chairman and HOD, Spine Surgery, Consultant for Robotic Spine Surgery and Co-Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board at Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, said meetings involving surgeons from different countries help broaden understanding of emerging techniques in spine care.
The conference included live surgery demonstrations, cadaveric workshops, simulator-based training and interactive discussions, allowing participating surgeons and trainees to examine UBE techniques beyond classroom-based lectures.
The 2026 edition is the second edition of the Asian UBE Meet. The programme was hosted by the Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata, with endorsement from ISUBE and academic support from Manipal Hospitals. The conference had 31 faculty members from eight countries.
The focus of the meeting reflects a broader shift in spine surgery towards minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches, while also raising an important clinical question: how these techniques should be selected and applied safely for individual patients rather than treated as a one-size-fits-all alternative to conventional surgery.
