A pioneering spinal surgery service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has become the first in Scotland to be recognised as an Endoscopic Spine Centre of Excellence.
The endoscopic spine surgery service at the Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS), on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, is only the fifth centre in the UK to achieve the status.
It marks a major milestone for a service which was introduced at the INS in November 2024 and has since expanded considerably in the range and complexity of procedures it can carry out.
Endoscopic spinal surgery uses a tiny incision and a camera to allow surgeons to reach and treat problems affecting the spine while minimising damage to surrounding muscle, bone and other tissue.
Mr Mohamed Abdelsadg, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Complex Spine Surgeon and Spine Neurosurgery Lead at the INS, led the introduction of the service.
He said: “To become Scotland’s first Endoscopic Spine Centre of Excellence less than two years after introducing the service is a hugely important milestone for the whole team.
“When we introduced the service we were careful about the cases we selected, but as our experience and expertise have grown, we have been able to take on increasingly complex surgery.”
When the service was first introduced, the team focused on operations involving the lower back. It has since expanded into other areas and is now carrying out highly complex endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine, behind the heart and lungs.
Mr Abdelsadg said: “Traditionally, this type of surgery could involve a major operation, including a large incision to the chest, followed by a lengthy recovery in hospital.
“We can now carry out some of these procedures through an incision of around 8mm, which means much less disruption for the patient and a fraction of the recovery time.”
The development of the service has allowed selected patients to leave hospital much sooner after surgery, with some able to be discharged in as little as four hours. It is also helping the INS treat more patients and support efforts to reduce waiting lists.
Mr Calan Mathieson, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Complex Spine Surgeon and Clinical Director for Surgical Services at the INS, said the Centre of Excellence recognition would now allow the team to build on what it has achieved and share its expertise much more widely.
He said: “This recognition is about much more than an award. It establishes Glasgow as a destination for clinicians from across the UK and internationally who want to learn these techniques.
“It creates new opportunities for training, research and international collaboration, and will help us continue to develop the service and improve the care we offer our patients.”
The award is the second major Centre of Excellence recognition for a team at the INS this month, after its adult neuro-oncology service was designated a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence in recognition of the treatment, care and research opportunities available to brain tumour patients.
The two accolades further cement the INS’s international reputation for highly specialised neurological and neurosurgical care and innovation.
Craig Broadfoot, Interim Director for Regional Services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team and recognition of the expertise, hard work and commitment which has gone into developing this service.
“What is particularly important is what that expertise means for our patients. The team has continued to push the boundaries of what can be achieved through minimally invasive spinal surgery, helping people recover more quickly while developing the range of procedures that can be carried out.
“To become Scotland’s first Endoscopic Spine Centre of Excellence is something everyone involved can be very proud of, and it further strengthens the reputation of the INS as a centre for innovation and specialist care.”
The Centre of Excellence status was presented by RIWOspine, a specialist provider of equipment and technology for endoscopic surgery, at a ceremony at the INS this week.
The INS team continues to work hard to develop the service they provide, and recently they have combined innovative Magic Leap augmented reality technology with the endoscopy spine surgery technique, allowing them to take on see highly accurate images of a patient’s spinal anatomy while they operate.
This combination of techniques is another national first for the INS, and it allows the team to take on even more complex cases.
Mr Mathieson added: “This isn’t the end of the journey. If anything, this recognition gives us even greater confidence and determination to keep innovating, keep learning and continue finding ways to improve the care we can offer our patients.”
