Spine

Neurosurgery residents will graduate with a the following proceedural skills:

• Patient positioning, prepping, and draping for anterior and posterior spine surgery
• Proficiency in applying external fixation devices for cervical traction.
• Bone graft harvesting techniques
• Posterior spinal approaches
• Recognize and manage common post-operative complications and initiate treatment

Neurosurgery Residents will also be able to:

• Recognize emergency conditions (specifically acute cauda equina syndrome, acute
  neurological deterioration, acute traumatic spinal cord injury) with accurate prioritization
• Recognize the significance of injury in high-risk spinal conditions such as osteoporosis,
  inflammatory arthropathies, DISH and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Record a complete, accurate, well-organized history specific for disorders involving the
  spinal column and associated neurological conditions with an emphasis on understanding
  the patient’s context and preferences. In addition, appreciate the impact of the spinal
  disorder on the patient's quality of life, and function.
• Perform a specific and complete physical exam for the entire spinal column and
  associated neurological structures with an emphasis on the assessment of deformity and
  dysfunction for the individual patient.
• Develop an effective differential diagnosis based on information gathered on history and
  physical examination.
• Understand and advise patients regarding non-surgical treatment options.
• Formulate a management plan including appropriate frequency and goals of outpatient
  follow-up for patients managed surgically and non-surgically.
• Participate in pre-operative planning for patients scheduled for surgery.
• Understand the indications for spine surgery relative to the affecting pathophysiology.
• Understand the risks, complications and expected outcomes of common spine procedures.

Neurology residents will develop an approach to the assessment, investigation, and emergency management of patients presenting with:

• Back pain
• Orthopedic trauma
• Spinal cord injury

Learn more about CNS Residency programs.

Dr. Duggal and Dr. Ng both supervise undergraduate medical students, graduate students, residents and fellows in each of their areas of research. CNS offers training opportunities for residents in spine and peripheral research. Opportunities for MSc, PhD, and Postdoctoral candidates are also available upon request. Most recently, Dr. Duggal has acted as a primary supervisor to a resident conducting research on DTI of spinal cord compression and to a PhD candidate conducting research on spinal cord compression using fMRI.