Study Tour to the Netherlands

Dr Ball has just returned from a trip to the Netherlands in Europe. One of the highlights of this trip was a visit to the St Elisabeth Hospital in Tilburg. He had the opportunity to perform minimally invasive spinal surgery with Dr C. Diekerhof (orthopaedic surgeon) and Dr J.C. de Nie (neurosurgeon).

Dr Ball subsequently attended a course on the Treatment of Adult Spinal Deformity held in Amsterdam and the University of Leiden. This course was held by Medtronic Academia. This course content covered the treatment of adult deformity and the challenges encountered in this difficult patient group. The program comprised of scientific lectures and dynamic clinical case discussions. Some surgical management techniques were highlighted in a hands-on anatomic workshop led by distinguished faculty.

Clinical Innovation Working Group

Dr Ball has being invited to join a Clinical Innovation Working Group for a project that looks to improve the care of spinal injuries.

The NSW Lifetime Care and Support Authority (LTCSA) provides care and support services for people who have experienced a severe injury in a motor vehicle accident. LTCSA have engaged Ernst and Young to undertake a project to review and identify best practices for delivery of spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury services in NSW so that the services deliver better lifetime outcomes for participants.

Dr Ball and his colleague Dr Bill Sears are the two neurosurgeons at the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS) Spinal Injuries Unit, providing services to spinal injured patients from the northern half of NSW. The RNS unit is the only NSW spinal cord injuries unit in a major Level 1 trauma centre. One of Dr Ball's key interests is the management of spinal cord injury and he is excited by the opportunity to be part of a project that will hoperfully lead to better outcomes.

Invited Lecture in February - Spinal Cord Injury

Dr Ball has spoken at the Royal North Shore Hospital's Spinal Injuries Unit “From Injury to Independence” course held at Royal North Shore Hospital in February, 2011.

Dr Ball's presentation focussed on the early medical and surgical management of spinal cord injuries.

A wide range of participants

who are involved in the management and care of individual’s with spinal cord injury across the continuum of care

attended this course. This included those

from both metropolitan and rural areas working in various clinical areas from a mix of disciplines including nursing, social work, physio and occupational therapy.

Dr Ball and his colleague Dr Bill Sears are the two neurosurgeons at the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS) Spinal Injuries Unit, providing services to spinal injured patients from the northern half of NSW. The RNS unit is the only NSW spinal cord injuries unit in a major Level 1 trauma centre. One of Dr Ball's key interests is the management of spinal cord injury and he is excited by the opportunity to share his passion for this area of his work.

Asia Pacific Cervical Spine Society & Spinal Trauma Techniques Course

Dr Ball attended these 2 back-to-back meetings in Sydney in early November.

The Spinal Trauma Techniques Course was hosted by Medtronic Australasia on November 1 - 2. This course focussed on management of spinal trauma conditions in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine with a guest presenster from Vancouver, Canada, Dr Marcel Dvorak.

The 4th Asia Pacific Cervical Spine Society Meeting was held from November 3 - 6 and focussed on a wide range of cervical spine topics including "myelopathy, OPLL,deformity, adjacent segment disease, rheumatoid disease, spinal cord injury, cervical spinal column trauma and tumour and on the underlying biomechanics in the emerging specialty of cervical motion preservation devices."

Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Meeting

Dr Ball has attended the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia's Annual Scientific Meeting.

Highlights of the meeting included a session on spinal surgery with the guest speaker being Dr John Hurlbert from the University of Calgary, with whom Dr Ball has studied previously. Dr Ball also attended a valuable seminar on patient centred practice.

The NSA is committed to the study and advancement of the art and science of neurosurgery and its membership includes over 95% of all Australasian neurosurgeons. Its annual scientific meeting is the peak neurosurgical meeting in Australasia.

First Case in North Shore Private Hospital Expansion

North Shore Private Hospital, where Dr Ball works, has opened its redevelopment and expansion. The neurosurgical ward has moved to a new ward where all patients now have private single rooms, all with ensuites.

The redevelopment includes a new neurosurgical operating theatre with enhanced capabilities for image guided and minimally invasive surgery. It is a fully equipped Stryker iSuite digital operating room with state of the art equipment including Zeiss microscope and BrainLab BrainSuite equipment.

Dr Ball was honoured to perform the first operations in this new operating room and looks forward to continue to provide the very best of surgical care in this exciting environment.

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.