Spine Dragon site logo: Michael J H McCarthy, Consultant Spinal Surgeon

Research Experience

AO Spine Fellow Brisbane, Australia 2010/11

A one year post working at the world renowned AO Spine Reference Centre in Brisbane, Australia. My main research projects were:

  1. Complications Of The Use Of BMP In A Single Surgeon Cohort Of 300 Patients: RhBMP2 Versus RhBMP7 A Survivorship Analysis In Lumbar Spinal Surgery
  2. A Radiological Analysis of Early Failure of Cervical Fixation for Trauma in the Subaxial Cervical Spine

MSc Orthopaedic Engineering with Distinction (Cardiff University)

A Biomechanical Comparison of the Synthes Dynamic Hip Screw, Dynamic Helical Hip Screw, Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) and the Stryker Gamma 3 Lag Screws. Supervised by Professor T. Miles and Mr J. Keenan. Centre for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bath University (2008).

Specialist Registrar Trauma and Orthopaedics

I set up the trial entitled: A Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Dynamic Hip Screw Versus The Dynamic Helical Hip Screw (DVD Trial). I gained experience in submitting and attaining full ethical approval from the UK REC. Synthes Ltd agreed to fund the trial by providing the surgical equipment, the new implants (at the same cost as the standard ones) and meeting the cost of follow up appointments and X-Rays for each patient (circa £200,000).

Clinical Research Fellow In Spinal Surgery

This was a one year post in the world renowned Department of Spinal Surgery and Studies at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham (February 2004-5). The on call commitment included cover of the neurosurgical wards. I was actively involved in the following research:

  1. Cauda Equina Syndrome:
    1. A study of the long term neurological and urological outcomes and
    2. MRI measurements reproducibility and prediction of clinical outcome.
  2. Comparison of the Neck Disability Index and the SF36 Health Questionnaires.
  3. The Injured Spine: A chapter in “An Introduction to Spinal Surgery” (AO publishing).
  4. Vertebroplasty – a review.
  5. A study of the long term outcome of infected spinal instrumentation left in-situ.
  6. The use of Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in patients with neck pain.

Completed Bachelor of Medical Sciences

The bilateral effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment on the number and mean cell volume of neurones in the tenth thoracic dorsal root ganglion of the rat: a stereological study. Supervised by Dr. C. Kent and Professor T. Mayhew. Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham (July 1996 – March 1997).

Current Research Interests

Spinal surgery outcomes

Implant biomechanics

Basic science research

Student Projects

A Service Evaluation To Determine If There Is A Correlation Between Ct Spect And Mri In Inflammatory End Plate Changes Of The Lumbar Spine - Sujan Patel

An Analysis Of Pedicle Screw Placement And Subsequent Return To Theatre Was The Intraoperative Imaging Adequate - Jessica Smith

An Audit of Elective Outpatient Spinal Surgery Referrals - Ashwin Bhadresha

Lumbar Facet Joint Cysts- Investigating Demographics and Evaluating Management Within CVUHB – A Retrospective Case Series - Jorge Carter

Patient Outcomes Following the Use of Methylprednisolone Acetate 40mg Particulate Steroid Versus Dexamethasone 2017 - Siobhan Child

Patient Outcomes Following the Use of Methylprednisolone Acetate 40mg Particulate Steroid Versus Dexamethasone 2018 - Nia Williams

Pilates for Low Back Pain - Moeez Karim

Radiological Evaluation of Cervcial Fusion Rates Stand Alone Cage versus Cage and Plate - Robin Aldrige

Septic Arthritis Of The Costovertebral Joint- A Unique Case Presenting As Renal Colic - Eleanor Taylor

Symptomatic Post-Operative Spinal Subdural Extra-Arachnoid Hygromas- Resolution With Conservative Management - Morgan Ruairidh

Questioning Nice Is There A Role For Foraminal Epidural Injections In Central Lumbar Canal Spinal Stenosis

A Comparison of the Spinal Teaching Provided to Undergraduate Medical Students Across the UK - Isabel Harris

Analysis of Pedicle Screw Placement in the Surgical Correction of AIS - Matthew Hegarty

Correlating Size Of Lordosis / Pelvic Incidence / Sacral Slope On Erect Xr To Types Of Lower Lumbar Facets Seen On CT/MRI - Hafsa Abbas

Do Lumbar Facet Joint Injections Provide Symptom Relief For Low Back Pain And Does This Relate To Patient Recorded Outcome Measures - Bethan Markall

Does Preoperative Depression and Anxiety Predict Outcomes of Lumbar Spinal Surgery - Emily Bentley

Expectations and Concerns of Patients in the Spinal OPD - Tyler Jones

Spinal Beliefs vs Outcomes - The Development of a Questionnaire - Isaac Hathaway

The SLR and XSLR PROMS and Disc Herniation - Alex Stanley

MRI Fat Measurements and PROMs - Samuel Chumley

Incidence Presentation and Management of Odontoid Peg Fractures in the Elderly - Brooke Nash

Pain Experienced During Nerve Root Blocks / Foraminal Epidurals and Outcome - Holly Keeling

CT Interpedicular Distance and Maximum Pedicle Screw Length - Laura Baxter

Five Year Mortality Following Central Cord Syndrome - Alexandra Stanley

Central Cord Syndrome Outcome Questionnaire - Tyler Jones

Radiological Analysis of Ellipse Lateral Mass Screws Using Modified Technique - Henry Breen

Pressure Sores in Spinal Patients on ICU - Sean Glossop

Risk Factors Spinal Cord Monitoring Changes in Paediatric Patients - Michelle Ying

Sacroiliac Joint Pain - Jeyin Chooi

Imaging and Return to Theatre for Malplaced Screws - Ella Clifford Spence

Thematic Analysis of Case 14 Feedback - Holly Keeling

Care Satisfaction Following Thoracolumbar Fractures Greater than 5 Years from Injury - Jacob Allman

Employment Outcomes Following Thoracolumbar Fractures Greater than 5 Years from Injury - Elliot Kimber

Patient Outcomes Following the Use of Different Doses of Steroid in Lumbar Nerve Root Blocks Foraminal Epidurals - Lesley Anne Fox

Student Perceptions of Video Modified Peytons 4 Step Technique - Ewan John