Spinal conditions

NICE Pathways

Interactive topic-based flowcharts that allow you to navigate our recommendations on any subject.  Find out more about NICE Pathways.

• Low back pain and sciatica

• Trauma

NICE guidelines

Review the evidence across broad health and social care topics. 

• Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59)

  Id:

  NG59

  Published date:

  November 2016

• Spinal injury: assessment and initial management (NG41)

  Id:

  NG41

  Published date:

  February 2016

Technology appraisal guidance

Review clinical and cost effectiveness of new treatments.

• Percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (TA279)

  Id:

  TA279

  Published date:

  April 2013

• TNF-alpha inhibitors for ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (TA383)

  Id:

  TA383

  Published date:

  February 2016

Diagnostics guidance

Review new diagnostic technologies for adoption in the NHS.

• The EOS 2D/3D imaging system (DG1)

  Id:

  DG1

  Published date:

  October 2011

Interventional procedures guidance

Assessments of whether procedures are safe enough and work well enough for wider use in the NHS. 

• Automated percutaneous mechanical lumbar discectomy (IPG141)

  Id:

  IPG141

  Published date:

  November 2005

• Direct C1 lateral mass screw for cervical spine stabilisation (IPG146)

  Id:

  IPG146

  Published date:

  December 2005

• Endoscopic laser foraminoplasty (IPG31)

  Id:

  IPG31

  Published date:

  December 2003

• Epiduroscopic lumbar discectomy through the sacral hiatus for sciatica (IPG570)

  Id:

  IPG570

  Published date:

  December 2016

• Insertion of an annular disc implant at lumbar discectomy (IPG506)

  Id:

  IPG506

  Published date:

  November 2014

• Interspinous distraction procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis causing neurogenic claudication (IPG365)

  Id:

  IPG365

  Published date:

  November 2010

• Intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure caused by high spinal cord injuries (IPG594)

  Id:

  IPG594

  Published date:

  September 2017

• Lateral interbody fusion in the lumbar spine for low back pain (IPG574)

  Id:

  IPG574

  Published date:

  February 2017

• Percutaneous coblation of the intervertebral disc for low back pain and sciatica (IPG543)

  Id:

  IPG543

  Published date:

  January 2016

• Percutaneous electrothermal treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus for low back pain and sciatica (IPG544)

  Id:

  IPG544

  Published date:

  January 2016

• Percutaneous endoscopic laser cervical discectomy (IPG303)

  Id:

  IPG303

  Published date:

  June 2009

• Percutaneous endoscopic laser thoracic discectomy (IPG61)

  Id:

  IPG61

  Published date:

  May 2004

• Percutaneous insertion of craniocaudal expandable implants for vertebral compression fracture (IPG568)

  Id:

  IPG568

  Published date:

  November 2016

• Percutaneous intradiscal laser ablation in the lumbar spine (IPG357)

  Id:

  IPG357

  Published date:

  September 2010

• Percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency treatment of the intervertebral disc nucleus for low back pain (IPG545)

  Id:

  IPG545

  Published date:

  January 2016

• Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy for sciatica (IPG556)

  Id:

  IPG556

  Published date:

  April 2016

• Prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement in the cervical spine (IPG341)

  Id:

  IPG341

  Published date:

  May 2010

• Prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement in the lumbar spine (IPG306)

  Id:

  IPG306

  Published date:

  July 2009

• Therapeutic percutaneous image-guided aspiration of spinal cysts (IPG223)

  Id:

  IPG223

  Published date:

  June 2007

• Transaxial interbody lumbosacral fusion for severe chronic low back pain (IPG620)

  New

  Yes

  Id:

  IPG620

  Published date:

  July 2018

Medical technologies guidance

Review new medical devices for adoption in the NHS.

• iFuse for treating chronic sacroiliac joint pain (MTG39)

  New

  Yes

  Id:

  MTG39

  Published date:

  October 2018

• The MAGEC system for spinal lengthening in children with scoliosis (MTG18)

  Id:

  MTG18

  Published date:

  June 2014

Medtech innovation briefings

Review the evidence and likely costs of medical devices and technologies.

• Ekso exoskeleton for rehabilitation in people with neurological weakness or paralysis (MIB93)

  Id:

  MIB93

  Published date:

  January 2017

• Mobi-C for cervical disc replacement (MIB70)

  Id:

  MIB70

  Published date:

  June 2016

• Neo Pedicle Screw System for spinal fusion surgery (MIB108)

  Id:

  MIB108

  Published date:

  June 2017

• The PediGuard for placing pedicle screws in spinal surgery (MIB26)

  Id:

  MIB26

  Published date:

  March 2015

In development

• Nusinersen for treating spinal muscular atrophy ID1069

  New

  Yes

  Programme:

  Technology appraisal guidance

  Expected publication date:

  TBC

• Senza spinal cord stimulation system for delivering HF10 therapy to treat chronic neuropathic pain

  New

  Yes

  Programme:

  Medical technologies guidance

  Expected publication date:

  October 2018

Proposed

• Onasemnogene abeparvovec for treating spinal muscular atrophy type 1 [ID1473]

  Programme:

  Technology appraisal guidance

  Expected publication date:

  TBC

New guidance and advice

Guidance and advice added since April 2018

• iFuse for treating chronic sacroiliac joint pain (MTG39)

  New

  Yes

  Id:

  MTG39

  Programme:

  Medical technologies guidance

  Published date:

  October 2018

• Nusinersen for treating spinal muscular atrophy ID1069

  New

  Yes

  Programme:

  Technology appraisal guidance

  Expected publication date:

  TBC

  Status:

  In development

• Senza spinal cord stimulation system for delivering HF10 therapy to treat chronic neuropathic pain

  New

  Yes

  Programme:

  Medical technologies guidance

  Expected publication date:

  October 2018

  Status:

  In development

• Transaxial interbody lumbosacral fusion for severe chronic low back pain (IPG620)

  New

  Yes

  Id:

  IPG620

  Programme:

  Interventional procedures guidance

  Published date:

  July 2018