Spinal surgery

The spinal service at The Walton Centre is one of the most active in the country and was named as a Spinal Centre of Excellence by Eurospine in 2019. The service delivers thousands of elective and emergency spinal procedures each year with audited, high-quality outcomes.

Operating takes place at The Walton Centre which is co-located with the Major Trauma Centre in Aintree University Hospital. Outpatient clinics are held within the unit along with satellite regional sub-specialist clinics in Whiston, Wigan, Chester, Southport, the Isle of Man, North Wales and the Wirral.

The Walton Centre spinal service also provides the region with 24/7 emergency on-call support.

A multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, orthopaedic spinal surgeons, radiologists, microbiologist, neurologists, pain specialists, physiotherapists and specialist nurses work together in treating all types of spinal pathology, including simple and complex disorders.

Adult degenerative spinal disease:

Sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation
Sciatica secondary to bone wear and tear changes
Lower back pain
Neck pain and referred arm pain due to disc herniation
Cervical spinal myelopathy
Lumbar canal stenosis
Cauda equina syndrome
Osteoporotic spinal insufficiency fracture

Adult degenerative deformity:

Sagittal plane imbalance such as spondylolisthesis
Coronal plane deformity such as degenerative scoliosis

Spinal tumours including:

Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) for which The Walton Centre is the regional treating centre
Neurofibromas
Schwannomas
Tumours of the spinal cord, such as intrinsic gliomas, ependymomas and haemangioblastomas
Primary bone tumours of the spine

Other conditions treated include:

Spinal trauma
Chiari malformations
Syringomyelia
Calcified giant thoracic discs
Vascular malformations of the spine

We have a weekly multidisciplinary meeting, covering spinal disorders with neuroradiology support and a second meeting covering complex spinal deformity.

Spinal Nursing Team

Inpatients

The Spinal Nursing Team provide regular assessments for inpatients, managing bladder, bowel and specialised care for spinal cord injury patients. The spinal nursing team work closely with the whole clinical team within The Walton Centre and external organisations, arranging scans, medications and interventions as needed. There is a spinal nurse on the morning ward rounds Monday to Friday and if you would like to speak to one of the team while you are an inpatient, please ask the ward staff.

Outpatients

The Spinal Nursing Team provide pre-operative advice and support via telephone clinics and provide follow-up clinics to review patients after surgery and/or discharge.

The Spinal Nursing Team also provide specialist clinics for those requiring OPAT (outpatient antibiotic treatment), patients requiring support with bladder and bowel management problems, fracture clinics for those who need review for a spinal fracture and orthotics support for patients in braces or collars.

The team also has emergency access review clinic appointments, so if you have symptoms that are assessed as requiring urgent review then the spinal nursing team can see you in clinic at short notice.

You are able to contact us via 0151 556 3424 for clinical advice and support, for queries related to your condition only. If you have symptoms you are concerned about then please leave a message with your name, date of birth and contact number and we will get back to you.

Please be aware the spinal nursing team work Mon- Fri 8am-6pm and answer the calls once daily, for emergency advice outside of the hours please contact your GP or your local A+E Department.

For queries concerning clinic appointments, referrals, clinic letters etc. please contact the secretary for your consultant via the hospital switchboard 0151 525 3611.

Same day surgery

If it has been agreed that your surgical procedure is suitable for same day discharge you will come into the hospital in the morning, have your procedure and go home on the same day. We have prepared a short video which gives further information to help you prepare, including what and what not to bring with you, any special arrangements to make at home, medication information and physio support.

VIDEO

Leaflets

Cauda equina syndrome

Cervical (neck) spine surgery

Cervical collar

Cervical fractures

Cervical thoracic orthosis

Cervical vista collar - clinician fitting video

Endoscopic spinal surgery

Halo jacket system

LSO (Lumbosacral orthosis)

Lumbar fractures