Junseok Bae, MD, PhD
Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery · Adult Spinal Deformity
Dr. Junseok Bae is a spine surgeon based in Seoul, Republic of Korea. His clinical focus is on endoscopic lumbar, thoracic, and cervical (anterior and posterior) decompression and minimally invasive spine surgery, as well as adult spinal deformity surgery.
Cheongdam Wooridul Spine Hospital · Lumbar / Thoracic / Cervical Endoscopic Surgery · Adult Spinal Deformity & MIS
Key Facts
- Spine surgeon specializing in endoscopic lumbar, thoracic, and cervical (anterior and posterior) decompression with a focus on minimizing tissue damage and preserving motion.
- Active in adult spinal deformity surgery
- Contributor to the development and refinement of thoracic endoscopy with navigation (TETD) and cost-effective endoscopic approaches for thoracic disc pathology.
- Recipient of the Parviz Kambin Award (2022) for contributions to endoscopic spine surgery.
Clinical Expertise
Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery
- Endoscopic lumbar discectomy (uniportal / biportal)
- Endoscopic lumbar decompression for spinal stenosis
- Management of recurrent lumbar disc herniation
Endoscopic Thoracic Surgery
- Thoracic endoscopy with navigation (TETD)
- Endoscopic thoracic decompression for myelopathy
- Minimally invasive strategies for complex thoracic disc herniation
Endoscopic Cervical Surgery (Anterior)
- Anterior endoscopic cervical decompression
- Motion-preserving anterior cervical foraminotomy
- Selective disc and foraminal decompression
Endoscopic Cervical Surgery (Posterior)
- Posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy
- Posterior endoscopic cervical decompression
- Minimally invasive posterior decompression for radiculopathy
Adult Spinal Deformity (MIS & Hybrid)
- Coronal and sagittal imbalance in adult spinal deformity.
- Minimally invasive and hybrid constructs for moderate sagittal imbalance.
- Risk-stratified planning for PJK/PJF using clinical and machine learning models.
Academic & Teaching Activities
Societies & Roles
- Member, KOMISS (Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Society)
- Member, KOSESS (Korean Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery)
- Faculty, SMISS Asia-Pacific
- Faculty / member, ESPINEA – www.espinea.org
- Faculty / member, NSpine – www.nspine.com
International Teaching
- Faculty at hands-on courses for lumbar, thoracic, and cervical endoscopic surgery.
- Lectures on thoracic endoscopy with navigation, MIS deformity strategies, and endoscopic economics.
- Engagement in global discussions on standards for adult spinal deformity correction and alignment targets.
Featured Research
Selected peer-reviewed work on endoscopic spine surgery, adult spinal deformity, and machine learning–based risk prediction.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Technical description and clinical outcomes of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic thoracic discectomy in the upper and midthoracic spine, expanding the indications of full endoscopic surgery beyond the lumbar region.
Describes transforaminal endoscopic thoracic discectomy (TETD) with foraminoplasty for symptomatic thoracic disc herniation, focusing on safe access, decompression, and complication avoidance.
Reports mid-term clinical and radiological results of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion, demonstrating the durability of endoscopic fusion techniques in degenerative lumbar disease.
Adult Spinal Deformity
Reviews minimally invasive and hybrid strategies for adult spinal deformity using SRS-Schwab classification, highlighting when MIS constructs can achieve acceptable coronal and sagittal correction while reducing morbidity.
Explores different strategies for treating moderate sagittal imbalance in adult spinal deformity, linking radiographic correction (PI–LL, PT, SVA) with clinical outcomes and complication profiles, including PJK/PJF.
Machine Learning & Economics
Uses machine learning models trained on an adult spinal deformity database to build an individualized PJK risk calculator, integrating preoperative SRS-Schwab parameters and surgical factors to support risk-stratified planning.
Online tool: PJKafterASD calculator
Compares the cost-effectiveness of transforaminal endoscopic thoracic discectomy with conventional microdiscectomy for thoracic disc herniation, linking clinical outcomes with economic impact.
Information for Patients
The following questions summarize how endoscopic spine surgery is typically applied in clinical practice. Answers are general information and do not replace an in-person consultation or individualized medical advice.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery – FAQ
Patients with cervical disc herniation or foraminal stenosis causing arm pain or radiculopathy, who have persistent symptoms despite conservative treatment and have pathology limited to a small number of levels without severe deformity or instability, may be considered for anterior endoscopic decompression.
Posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy is often chosen for lateral or foraminal stenosis in patients with preserved cervical alignment when motion preservation is important and central disc compression is limited.
Endoscopic thoracic decompression can reduce muscle damage and postoperative pain, shorten hospital stay, and avoid many thoracotomy-related complications, while still providing effective decompression in properly selected cases.
In many patients, endoscopic lumbar discectomy offers a targeted way to remove recurrent disc fragments while limiting scar dissection and preserving stabilizing structures, which can be advantageous compared with repeat open surgery.
Many patients are able to walk on the same day or the next day, resume light daily activities within several days, and return to normal function within a few weeks, depending on the level treated, the underlying condition, and overall health.
Patients with severe spinal instability, significant deformity requiring realignment, active infection, or tumors requiring wider resection are generally not good candidates for endoscopic surgery and may need more extensive procedures.
When appropriate, endoscopic surgery removes the compressive pathology while preserving motion segments, reducing the risk of stiffness and adjacent segment degeneration that can occur after fusion.