Hospitals:

Dr Cain, Dr Hall and Professor Fraser perform the majority of their private operating at St Andrew's Hospital www.stand.org.au. which is also affiliated with the University of Adelaide. 

All members of the clinic also work at the Royal Adelaide Hospital www.rah.sa.gov.au where there is a weekly public outpatient clinic for the assessment of both acute and chronic spinal complaints.  There are also weekly elective operating lists and access to well equipped emergency operating theatres 24 hours per day, seven days per week.   

The States only spinal injury unit is located at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.  Patients with trauma involving the spinal cord are initially nursed on the Spinal Injuries Unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital before undergoing inpatient rehabilitation at the Hampstead Center. www.rah.sa.gov.au/hampsted/hampsted.htm  

Dr Cain also visits The Women's and Children's Hospital where paediatric spinal disorders are assessed and managed.  www.wch.sa.gov.au

Radiology:

Radiology plays a large role in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions.

There is a wide range of radiological investigations and procedures available that may be appropriate in the investigation of spinal conditions.   Plain x-rays will usually be performed, but more detailed information may also be required and obtained with the use of CT, MRI or bone scans.  In certain cases injection procedures may be beneficial.  Injections may be undertaken as a purely diagnostic procedure, but may also have potential therapeutic benefit. Some radiological procedures may involve the injection of a contrast medium, and in some cases you may need to be admitted to hospital for the investigation to be carried out.

It is important to remember that a scan may reveal a disc bulge or other degenerative changes, which are in fact common, and which may not be the cause of your leg, arm, back or neck pain.  It is also important to remember that your surgeon is treating your symptoms and not just your x-rays.

Most of our radiological investigations will be carried out by either;

Pathology:

Blood tests may be requested to provide information to assist in the diagnosis of your complaint or as a routine preoperative investigation.  The majority of these tests will be processed by;

Physiotherapy:

Muscle strengthening is an important part of spinal care and you may be directed to obtain the assistance of a physiotherapist to supervise and assist in your rehabilitation.