NeuroSpine Surgery Research Group

NeuroSpine Surgery Research Group (NSURG) is an independent, non-profit medical research group based in Sydney, Australia focusing on the surgical aspect of the brain and spine.

The chair of NSURG is Associate Professor Ralph Jasper Mobbs from the Neurosurgical Department of Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney. Notable affiliated surgeons and researchers include Professor Charlie Teo AM – Neurosurgeon Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney, and Professor William R Walsh – Professor of Surgical Orthopedic Research Laboratory (SORL), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

NSURG research focus is categorized into six categories:

• Using 3-Dimensional printing and technology, including patient-specific customized implants or surgical guides to improve surgical outcomes
• Morphometric and biomechanics analysis of the spine
• Medical wearable devices, using daily wearable devices (e.g. smartwatches, postural devices) to quantify patient progression/outcomes.
• New neurosurgical techniques, and systematic reviews/meta-analyses of current neurosurgical techniques; using systematic review and statistical meta-analyses to critically analyse the available literature.
• Stem cell studies of Spinal degenerative diseases
• Surgical techniques for brain tumors

• Lumbar interbody fusion: techniques, indications and comparison of interbody fusion options including PLIF, TLIF, MI-TLIF, OLIF/ATP, LLIF and ALIF (citation count up to Feb 2019: 160)
• Management of hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy in patients with myelomeningocele (citation count up to Feb 2019: 190)
• Spine interbody implants: material selection and modification, functionalization and bioactivation of surfaces to improve osseointegration (citation count up to Feb 2019: 77)
• Osteoinductive ceramics as a synthetic alternative to autologous bone grafting (citation count up to Feb 2019: 469)
• Plasma-sprayed titanium coating to polyetheretherketone improves the bone-implant interface (citation count up to Feb 2019: 53