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Spinal services

Spinal surgery can be carried out for a number of reasons and to treat a variety of conditions. University Hospitals is a tertiary centre, which means that we provide specialised care, usually following referral from primary or secondary care centres. We cover Staffordshire, Shropshire, North Wales and parts of the Central West Midlands; a population of approximately 3 million people.

We provide treatment for all manner of spinal conditions, such as spinal Injuries, spinal tumours, degenerative conditions such as slipped discs, children's spinal conditions such as scoliosis and other conditions affecting the spine. We deal with all areas of the spine, including cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral.

All our consultants are highly specialised in spinal surgery, and are Fellowship trained, which means that they have taken additional training to become specialised in this area. They are all also heavily involved in research and education, often giving talks themselves, as well as receiving and developing further training.​

  • Spinal injections
  • Anterior and posterior instrumentation 
  • Discectomy and Decompressive surgery 
  • Disc replacements 
  • Fusions 
  • Scoliosis surgery 
  • Keyhole surgery 
  • Surgery for fractures and tumours 
  • Links to counselling services​

Spinal emergencies and trauma is admitted predominantly to this ward 226 – telephone 01782 676226

This ward is staffed by our dedicated team of nurses, doctors, therapists and nurse practitioners who provide care for all our general trauma ranging from simple trauma to severely injured patients, spinal injuries and emergencies.

This ward is led by ward manager Katie Shaw.

​Our Acute Rehabilitation and Trauma Unit (ARTU) is based on ward 227 – telephone 01782 767227

This new unit, led by ward manager Becky Marsh, provides specialised acute rehabilitation care to patients with multiple trauma affecting limbs, spines and heads that require extra monitoring and input. The team consists of Physios, Occupational Therapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and rehabilitation consultants.

The Spinal service as part of the Trauma and Orthopaedics trials team takes an active part in research and development (R&D).

Working closely with the trust Research and Development department and the Research and Design service at Keele University, we run and review trials to develop different and better care for patients with spinal problems.

We also have close links with Staffordshire University and the Gait lab located in the Fracture clinic at Royal Stoke.

Some of trials that we have been involved with at the hospital include:

MAPP trial – This multi-centre feasibility trial is looking at whether a brace can be effective in controlling back pain and long-term disability in patients with multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer) affected with spinal fractures. UHNM is the primary sponsor of this trial, which has been funded by National Institute of Health Research. Please call Katrina Parkinson at 01782 672621 if you need more information with regards to this trial.

Bone regeneration – This is currently lab based research project done at the Guy Hilton centre to grow bone from stem cells with a potential use for bone graft in spinal surgery. ​

Consultants and secretaries:

Mr Mark Brown

Ms Sara Boyles     sara.boyles@uhnm.nhs.uk   ext 679864

Mr  El Nasri Ahmed 


Ms  Jenny Plant 
  jenny.plant@uhnm.nhs.uk    ext: 679862

Mr  Vinay Jasani 


Ms  Fiona Arnold 
   Fiona.arnold@uhnm.nhs.uk ext 679868

Mr  Sandeep Konduru 


Ms  Paula Virgo 
 paula.virgo@uhnm.nhs.uk  ext 679863

Mr  Nikoloas Tzerakis 


Ms  Gail Harrison 
  gail.harrison@uhnm.nhs.uk  ext: 679867

Mr  Konstantinos Starantzsis 


Ms  Jenny Plant 
 jenny.plant@uhnm.nhs.uk    Ext: 679862

Mr  Nick Rouholamin 


Ms  Fiona Arnold 
   fiona.arnold@uhnm.nhs.uk Ext: 679868

Mr  Papanikolaou Panteleimon 


Ms  Paula Virgo 
 paula.virgo@uhnm.nhs.uk        Ext: 679863 ​

Advanced Nurse​ Practitioners

Ms Laura Rouholamin (Adult Spine) Ms Sam Smith (Adult Spine)

pager 15887

Ms Andrea Chatterley (Malignant bone disease and MSCC)  pager 07623603966

Ms Michelle Green (Malignant bone disease and MSCC) pager 15431

Ms Stephanie Brown (Paediatric and Deformity Spine) pager 07623605125

Ms Sarah Allen (Paediatric and Deformity Spine) pager 07623605125 ​

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