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Spinal Services

Our Spinal Service is a comprehensive multi-disciplinary service for patients with a variety of spinal issues. 

By blending the expertise and skills of Consultant Spinal Surgeons, a resident Neurosurgeon, Extended Scope Physiotherapists and other musculoskeletal practitioners, we are able to offer a holistic service to patients with the most appropriate and effective surgical or non-surgical intervetion. Spinal Services are seamlessly linked our Musculoskeletal Medicine service.

Our Spinal Service encompasses three main areas:

Degenerative spinal Services

We are experts in delivering the most effective and appropriate treatment for degenerative spinal conditions. 

Degenerative spinal conditions involve the gradual loss of normal structure and function of the spine over time. They are usually caused by aging, but may also be the result of tumors, infections or arthritis. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by degeneration can be caused by slipped or herniated discs.

Spinal Deformity Services

Our Consultant Spinal Surgeons are recognised experts in treating spinal deformity. 

Scoliosis and kyphosis are curvatures of the spine. Although most common in young teenagers, these deformities affect children as well as adults. In most patients these deformities of the spine are non-progressive; however in some patients, scoliosis and kyphosis continue to slowly progress throughout life, resulting in cosmetic issues, functional issues and occasionally painful and sometimes dangerous curvatures that must be addressed through spine stabilization surgery.

The goals of treating any deformity of the spine are to stop progression, normalize spinal function, minimize any associated painful problems. For adolescent patients with severe curves, and for adults with curves that continue to worsen, or are painful, surgical treatment can reduce and halt the progression of the spine's deformity.

Specialist Spinal Services

Our specialist spinal services include treatment for emergency trauma, infection and oncology (cancer). 

Meet our Consultant Spinal Surgeons

Click here to meet our Consultant Spinal Surgeons

Contact us

To check on the progress of your appointment, please call 0121 685 4186 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To speak to the secretarial team who support our Consultant Spinal Surgeons, please visit the Consultant bio page.

To ask a specific question, use the contact details below:

Helen Hartshorn

Paediatric Spinal deformity clinical nurse specialist

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

0121 685 4000 ext 55252 - 07790945003

Amy Young

Paediatric Spinal deformity clinical nurse specialist

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0121 685 4000 ext. 55397 - 07798617753

Whitney Dalby

Adult Spinal Deformity Clinical Nurse Specialist

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0121 685 4000 ext. 55239 - 07767215241

Patient information

You can also read our patient information. Click here to access patient information about spinal services

MAGEC rods system

If you are a patient or parent of a patient with MAGEC, please read this letter. If you would like to speak with someone at ROH about MAGEC rods, please call 07790945003.

Paediatric spinal surgery

Here at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital we are one of the few providers of specialist spinal services for children. This means that we receive referrals from all over the country for many children with complex conditions.

Often, due to the complex additional conditions that children with spinal issues often experience, surgery must be undertaken somewhere with a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). In this way we can make sure we provide safe and effective care for these patients with very specialised needs. We do not have a PICU at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, so we work closely with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where we undertake this kind of surgery. Children can then be cared for in the PICU there. However, there is naturally a limit in the number of beds on this unit, and often the availability can be unpredictable due to the Children’s Hospital’s role in taking care of emergency cases. This makes scheduling complex spinal surgery difficult, and has led to some delays. This is exacerbated by the fact that demand for this service is growing, and there are a limited number of specialists nationally.

Have you been listed for spinal surgery?

If you are currently on the waiting list for Spinal Deformity Surgery, please contact us if any of the following apply to you:

  • You have developed acne or spots to your back
  • You have pressure ulcers, cuts or grazes
  • You are a smoker or start smoking cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or take non-prescribed drugs
  • You take the contraceptive pill, have the contraceptive injection, use the contraceptive patch or have a contraceptive implant
  • You have developed a new medical condition
  • You plan to take a holiday with a flight longer than four hours a month beofre or after your scheduled surgery
  • You develop a cough, cold or infection prior to your admission date
  • You are aware of dates that you may be unavailable for surgery
  • You are pregnant or become pregnant

Please be aware the above conditions can result in a delay at any point prior to your admission date for surgery. It is very important that you contact us as soon as possible to enable the relevant treatment or investigations to commence. If there is a change in your condition that is not highlighted to us prior to admission this could lead to cancellation.