About Spinal Studies and Surgery

The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery (CSSS) is based at Queen's Medical Centre of the Nottingham University Hospitals, one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. The CSSS has been recognised as a Centre for Spinal Excellence within Europe in December, 2023. The CSSS is embedded in the Surgical Division together with the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Neurology.The seven fulltime consultants and one part time consultant of the CSSS provide extensive collective knowledge and experience in dealing with the entire range of spinal pathologies. The core of the CSSS is formed by the spinal ward D8, the spinal theatres and the spinal outpatient department.

All consultants of the Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery (CSSS) exclusively perform spinal surgery and have a background in either orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery. All have undergone dedicated spinal fellowship training. As a team, the CSSS therefore provides expert spinal care even for the more rare and complex pathologies. Being a recognised national and international referral centre for complex spinal pathologies, the consultants see an above-average case load, which are discussed jointly at the weekly spinal conference and close cooperation exists with the Department of Neurosurgery which has extensive experience in dealing with intraspinal pathologies.

As one of the largest university hospitals in Europe, Queens's Medical Centre provides all the specialities that can become necessary to deal with very specific complex pathologies - such as vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, or ENT and maxillofacial surgery. QMC also upholds one of the busiest Accident & Emergency departments of the country - as such, the CSSS in one of the few spinal centres in Europe that is able to provide both emergency and elective spinal cover 24hrs a day, every day of the week. The spinal consultants are confident in dealing with the entire range of spinal emergencies and work a one-in-seven on-call rota (exclusively for spinal emergencies) together with the senior fellows rota (also exclusively for spinal emergencies) who are responsible to the consultant on call.

Each of the spinal consultants has an area of special interest such as paediatric or adult spinal deformity, neuromuscular deformity, degenerative conditions of the spine, spinal oncology and primary bone tumours, spinal osteoporosis and spinal trauma. Together the entire range of spinal pathologies is covered and reconstructive or minimally/microsurgical techniques are applied accordingly.