Our Insights

Active participation in sport confers many benefits: it improves physical health, enhances overall wellbeing, and fosters social interaction and a sense of belonging. However, it carries an inherent risk of injury, of which one of the most feared is spinal trauma, due to the high degree of associated morbidity and mortality. The sports-related spinal injuries […]

Chronic pain is often linked to depression and anxiety. Treatments must address both physical and psychological symptoms, as co-occurring conditions worsen prognosis. Dr Kent explores treatment options and discusses how to help people with chronic pain achieve better quality of life.

The four key elements of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery multimodal approach are comprehensive preoperative evaluation of the patient, optimum anaesthesia and minimally invasive surgery with the aim of reducing patient response to surgical stress, adequate postoperative management of symptoms such as pain to allow early mobilisation, and prompt reintroduction of an adequate diet.

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) causes nerve compression leading to pain and mobility issues. While conservative treatments are preferred, surgery is an option for severe cases but carries notable risks. From a medicolegal perspective, informed consent, clear communication of risks and benefits, and proper patient selection are essential to prevent litigation over poor outcomes.

Robotics confer several advantages when used in spinal surgery. First, the accuracy of screw placement is enhanced compared to those inserted freehand, with some studies reporting a misplacement rate approaching zero. Second, exposure to fluoroscopy is significantly reduced, benefitting not only the patient but also the surgeon and other operating theatre personnel.

Chronic back pain affects a significant portion of the population and can lead to lasting physical, psychological, and financial challenges. Its complex causes—ranging from structural issues to psychological factors—make diagnosis and management difficult, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex condition involving episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. It is often misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, leading to delayed treatment and poorer outcomes. Accurate diagnosis and early intervention are key to improving long-term management.

Spinal tumours are rare but serious, often causing pain and neurological decline. Most are secondary cancers from other sites. Early MRI is crucial due to vague symptoms. Treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, aiming to relieve symptoms and preserve function. Despite risks, rehab can significantly improve quality of life.

Depression is a recognised consequence of traumatic injury, however it is a complex condition and many factors can contribute to its development, which can complicate personal injury claims.

Breast surgery, encompassing both augmentation and reduction techniques, is one of the commonest procedures performed by cosmetic surgeons. As with all surgical procedures, there are risks, and there are also some issues specific to individual procedures that both surgeons and patients should be aware of.

The concept of causation is central to every medicolegal case. Even if duty of care and breach can be demonstrated, causality still needs to be proven. A doctor may admit to a breach of care, but if it can be successfully argued that this did not alter the outcome of treatment, the case will fail.

Back pain is extremely common; only the common cold occurs more frequently (1, 2). The annual incidence of back pain is around 15–20%, and up to 85% of people will be affected at some point during their lifetime (1, 3-7). It has an enormous physical and financial cost, as it restricts function, participation in daily […]