Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Teaching

Dr Ball has given an invited presentation on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Techniques at the Approaches to Lumbar Spine Course held by DePuy Spine at the Macquarie University Hospital.

Speaking to a group of spine surgeons, Dr Ball shared his experience of minimally invasive spine surgery techniques in a lecture followed by instructing in a practical hands-on workshop.

Dr Ball is honoured to have been recognised for his experience in this area and the opportunity to share his thoughts and ideas with his colleagues.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Presentation

Dr Ball has given a presentation on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) to the Cerebrospinal Forum (CSF) - a group of allied health staff from Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital with an interest in neurosurgical care.

The presentation outlined the principles behind the philosophy of MISS and highlighted the challenges and limitations, as well as the expected benefits of these approaches.

Minimally invasive spine surgery describes a philosophy of spine surgery where minimising damage to the normal spinal structures is a key goal of surgery. This goal can apply to both the surgical approach to the spine and the intervention on the spine itself. The potential benefits of this philosophy are less pain, quicker recovery, shorter hospital stay and fewer long term complications. Minimally invasive spine surgery is also known as minimal access spine surgery or less invasive spine surgery. It is an emerging specialised area, which requires specific training in instrumentation and techniques. Dr Ball has had specilaised training in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Surgical Education Courses

Dr Ball recently attended 2 courses held by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Newcastle, NSW. The Supervisors and Trainers for Surgical Education and Training (SAT SET) course covered how to effectively fulfill the responsibilities expected as a surgical educator under the new Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. The Surgical Teachers Course emphasised improving educational skills, which were further developed during the course through practical application.

7th Asia Pacific Spine Symposium

Dr Ball has attended the 7th Asia Pacific Spine Symposium held in Brisbane, QLD by Stryker Spine. This meeting gathered "global opinion leaders ..... to focus on minimally invasive spine interventions and emerging cervical spine surgical techniques".

Dr Ball attended sessions on cervical arthroplasty (disc replacement) and spine navigation technology. He is now accredited to use the Cervicore disc replacement prosthesis.

Elevating Best Practice in Spine

Dr Ball has attended an course on spinal osteotomy held as part of the Elevating Best Practice in Spine program offered by DePuy Spine.

Osteotomies are an advanced spine surgery technique that allows correction of complex deformities of the spine. The course brought together complex spine surgeons from around Australia to extend their skills in this area of surgery.

Dr Ball also spoke on anterior cervical spinal surgery (through the front of the neck) as part of the same education series.

Sydney Neurospine is Moving to a New Location

Sydney Neurospine, the practice of Dr Jonathon Ball is moving to a new office in the North Shore Medical Centre from June 10, 2010.

We are staying in the same building but moving to a newly renovated office on Level 6. This larger office will allow us to provide the same service in a space specially designed for the needs of our patients and practice.

Our phone number and contact details remain the same and Sydney Neurospine will continue as normal during this period.

Our new address is

Suite 1, Level 6

North Shore Medical Centre

66 Pacific Highway

St Leonards NSW 2065

Spine Cancer Presentation

Last week, Dr Ball was invited to speak to the NSW Radiation Oncology Training Program held at Royal North Shore Hospital about the role of surgery and radiation treatment for spinal metastases. Invited attendees included all members of the training program from NSW.

As treatment of cancer improves, metatstatic cancer in the spine is an increasingly common condition which, in some cases, can be helped with surgery. Working together with the other specialists involved, such as radiation oncologists, can lead to improved outcomes for patients.