Mr Neil Orpen

Mr Orpen is a fellowship trained spinal surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques and disc replacement surgery. He works in a private medical practice where a full complement of non operative injection techniques are offered as alternative options to spinal surgery for the management of back and neck pain and radicular nerve pain. Mr Orpen has significant experience with cement augmentation techniques such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, for the treatment of spinal fractures and tumours of the spine.

As spinal surgery has advanced, techniques have developed that are specifically aimed at minimizing unnecessary trauma which may be caused by the surgery itself. Minimally invasive surgical and micro-surgical techniques are a major principle behind the approach offered by Mr Orpen. These techniques can shorten the time spent in hospital, enhance recovery, and decrease surgical risk. All Mr Orpen's surgical procedures are offered as minimally invasive / keyhole techniques. Mr Orpen has over 12 years experience using navgation surgery for spinal fusions and has the longest and largest  follow up cohort on the British Spinal Registry for any surgeon. 

Mr Orpen is able to offer both operative and non-surgical options in the diagnosis, management and treatment of back, neck and sciatic pain. A full complement of nonsurgical procedures such as nerve blocks in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine can be offered as well as other treatments aimed at managing back pain such as facet joint injections and facet joint rhizolysis procedures.

Mr Orpen has been involved in the development of specialist surgical procedures and spinal instrumentation to improve the options available to patients. He remains actively involved in the training of junior and other consultant spinal surgeons and theatre operating teams in the development of advanced spinal surgical techniques. As a result, he has extensive experience in the use of cement augmentation techniques such as kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. He is involved in the development of these techniques, as well as those associated with micro-decompression of the lumbar spine for the treatment of spinal stenosis.