The cervical spine – or neck – is responsible for very important functions. It allows movement of the head and acts as a passageway for important nerves that control both arm and leg function. The most common conditions in this region of the spine include disc herniation, disc degeneration, and spinal stenosis. Any one of these conditions can cause neck and/or shoulder pain, neck stiffness, numbness or tingling in the arms or fingers, and weakness.

We can treat most of these conditions without surgery. However, in the few conditions that do require surgery, Terence can perform:

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
• Cervical Disc Arthroplasty/ Cervical Disc Replacement
• Cervical corpectomy and reconstruction
• Cervical Laminectomy
• Cervical Lateral Mass Screw Fixation
• Cervical foraminotomy
• Cervical Spinal Tumour Removal

The thoracic spine is responsible for movement of the torso. It is also a pathway for some important nerves that affect balance and leg function. The most common conditions in this region of the spine include disc degeneration and thoracic spinal stenosis. Spinal tumours may also affect this region. Any of these conditions can cause mid back pain, flank pain, bowel or bladder conditions, or difficulty with balance and walking.

Fortunately, many of these conditions are treated successfully with minimally invasive and open surgery. Terence has particular skills to perform the following procedures:

• Thoracic Laminectomy & Discectomy
• Thoracic Pedicle Screw Fixation
• Thoracic Spinal Fusion
• Thoracic Spinal Tumour Removal

The spine can only function when all of its regions – cervical, thoracic and lumbar – are all in perfect harmony and alignment. The spinal bones or discs can develop structural conditions that disrupt this harmony, which can cause deformity of the spine. Most commonly this presents itself as abnormal curvature of the spine known as scoliosis, or as ‘hunching’, known as kyphosis.

Terence can successfully treat these conditions through open and minimally invasive deformity correction procedures.

Sometimes, abnormal growth of tumour cells can occur in the vertebral bones around the spinal cord or spinal nerves. This can lead to structural instability of the spine, spinal deformity, or spinal compression resulting in weakness, and loss of function. These tumours may arise from primaries from other organs of the body or originate in the vertebral bones themselves. Less commonly, tumours can arise from aberrant cells within the spinal cord or from the spinal nerves.

Terence is experienced in the surgical removal of all spine tumours and the restoration of the spinal column. He works in a multi-disciplinary manner with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists throughout Victoria to ensure the best treatment plan for patients during their oncological journey,

The lumbar spine – or lower back – is one of the most important regions of the spine. All of the body’s motion and forces are transmitted through this part of the spine to the pelvis. All the nerves that control leg function and bowel and bladder function travel through here. The lumbar spine also allows flexibility and the ability to twist and bend. The most common conditions include disc herniation, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, tumours and spinal fractures. Any of these conditions can cause stiffness, pain, numbness or tingling in the legs, difficulty walking and/or sitting, and even bowel or bladder issues.

Terence can treat all conditions through minimally invasive and open techniques such as:

• Lumbar Laminectomy
• Lumbar Microdiscectomy
• Lumbar spinal fusion
• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Correction of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
• Correction of Degenerative Kyphosis/Scoliosis
• Lumbar Spinal Tumour Removal