Hendon Hospital
46/50 Sunny Gardens Road, Hendon, London, NW4 1RP DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
Outpatient department
Monday - Friday: 8am - 9pm
Car parking
Free parking
At Hendon Hospital in North London, we offer a range of successful spinal treatment options. Our team is dedicated to making you better, faster.
Spine health is extremely important to maintain a full and active life. The complex nature of your spine means that there are a variety of different issues that can affect it. Many of these can have a direct impact on your quality of life if they aren't treated promptly, and some will require surgery to resolve them.
"The patients that I see have symptoms such as back pain, sciatica, and neck pain," explains Mr Jaykar Panchmatia, consultant spine surgeon for Circle Health Group's Hendon Hospital.
We understand that the prospect of treatment for a spine condition can be daunting. Having as much information about as possible about what to expect from your care from our dedicated spinal surgery team at Hendon Hospital can help provide the reassurance that you need.
Hendon Hospital provides day case and outpatient treatments and services for people living in Hendon, North London, and beyond. Our hospital does not undertake complex spinal surgery's, however our consultants who have outpatient clinics may be able to offer this service at another Circle Health Group hospital site. A smaller Circle Health Group hospital, Hendon Hospital has a particularly warm, friendly and compassionate feel and approach to care that puts people at ease from the moment they arrive.
Despite its smaller size, Hendon Hospital still has a full complement of healthcare professionals to support the spinal surgery team, including rheumatologists, geriatricians, and physiotherapists. Physiotherapy is now performed at the new, state-of-the-art physiotherapy centre within the hospital, and plays a vital role in patient recovery and rehabilitation.
Some of the most common spinal disorders seen at Hendon Hospital include the following:
This condition occurs when one or more intervertebral discs slip out of place and extend outwards toward the surrounding nerves and tissues. Not only does this make the disc less effective at protecting your spine from impact, but the protrusion can also irritate the nerves and cause pain and weakness. A slipped disc can be a common cause of a particular type of spinal disorder called sciatica.
Sciatica is characterised by sharp, shooting pains and weakness that extends from your buttocks down into your legs, usually only on one side of your body. It is caused by irritation of one of the sciatic nerves, and can be triggered by a herniated disc, poor posture and degeneration of your spine. It is also very common in pregnant women.
Many people are surprised to learn that neck pain can often result from an issue with your spine, with a slipped disc and osteoarthritis being the most common causes. Neck pain can vary in severity, cause stiffness, and spread down into your shoulders and arms. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and neurological effects such as tingling and numbness.
There are many different types of abnormalities in the structure of your spine. Referred to as spinal deformities or abnormal curvatures, they can have a significant effect on your ability to live a full and active life.
Some types of spinal deformity can lead to other problems, such as development issues with your heart, kidneys or urinary tract (in children with congenital spinal deformities) and breathing and mobility difficulties. Some of the most common spinal abnormalities include degenerative scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis.
When you are referred to the specialist spinal team, you will be invited to attend a consultation appointment to discuss your spine health issues. It is important to find out exactly what is causing your symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis, so your consultant will ask you about:
After an accurate diagnosis has been made, your treatment can be tailored to your specific needs.
Your consultant spine surgeon will advise you if any tests need to be undertaken, such as CT or MRI scanning, and will create a bespoke treatment plan for you based on your individual requirements.
"I work closely with the team at Hendon to make sure that all investigations, including scans, are performed promptly. The result is that patients receive their diagnosis early, and a personal treatment plan can be put in place. This service is available to people who have health insurance, and also people who do not have health insurance", explains Mr Panchmatia.
One of the main concerns of those with spine conditions is that surgery will be their only treatment option. However, this is rarely the case.
"95% of our patients won't need surgical intervention," states Mr Panchmatia. "Other avenues of treatment include pain management, physiotherapy and other conservative therapies."
Surgery is only recommended where other treatment options have been exhausted.
If you've been diagnosed with a degenerative condition affecting your spine, such as osteoarthritis, or you've got another issue that is causing you discomfort, your consultant will talk to you about your options for pain management.
These are usually prescription oral medications that must be taken exactly as directed and are stronger and more effective than over-the-counter alternatives.
If pain medication isn't providing enough relief from your discomfort, you may be recommended nerve root injections. This involves a combination of steroid and local anaesthetic injected into a specific nerve root in your spine. This injection blocks pain signals and eases your discomfort.
The effects of nerve root injections can last up to several months depending on the person.
You'll also have the opportunity to ask any questions. You'll be advised how to prepare, what to expect from your recovery and the risks are involved.
Please note that Hendon Hospital can only accommodate day surgery cases. If you require more complex surgery, your consultant surgeon will still perform the surgery, but at an alternative Circle Health Group hospital.
Spinal fusion surgery can effectively treat chronic pain in your lumbar (lower) spine by mimicking the natural healing process of broken bones.
The procedure involves fusing together two or more of your vertebrae (the bones that form your spinal cord) using a bone graft. This helps your spine heal as a solid unit, helping reduce pain and restore function to your back.
Lumbar spinal decompression is performed to treat compressed nerves. These happen as a result of a range of spinal issues. For example, a spinal injury, or a slipped disc in your back.
There are three common forms of this procedure:
During lumbar laminectomy, your consultant orthopaedic surgeon will remove part or all of the vertebral bone in your spine. The procedure helps ease pressure on your spinal cord and nerve roots, reducing pain and improving your mobility.
A lumbar laminectomy may be performed along with spinal fusion to help your spine heal as a solid unit.
If you think you might need spinal surgery or non-surgical treatment for back pain, please get in touch with the spinal surgery team at Hendon Hospital today. Call us on 0141 300 5009 or make a booking online.