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Neurosurgery · UK

Spinal neurosurgery - the right level, the right approach.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private spinal neurosurgery costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner UK units.

In short

£8,500–£13,500, home in 1–2 nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Single-level lumbar microdiscectomy £8,500–£13,500
Single-level lumbar decompression £10,000–£16,000
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF, 1 level) £14,000–£22,000
Posterior cervical decompression £13,000–£20,000
Instrumented lumbar fusion (per level) £16,000–£28,000
Revision spine surgery £18,000–£35,000+
Spinal cord or nerve tumour resection From £22,000
Neurosurgical spine consultation £300–£500

Prices vary by hospital, by consultant, by whether instrumentation is used, and by the number of levels. Complex revision, tumour and multilevel fusion sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right operation, on the right level, by a spine specialist.

Most bad spine outcomes are the wrong operation done well, not the right operation done badly. We insist on an imaging-led plan and a consultant who does this every week.

  • Imaging read before you consent

    MRI and where needed CT reviewed alongside your history - not simply reported.

  • Least surgery that fixes the problem

    Microdiscectomy or decompression when it will, fusion only when it must.

  • Rehab as part of the plan, not an afterthought

    Neurophysiotherapy booked before the operation, not chased for weeks afterwards.

When it helps

When spinal neurosurgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent review rather than a routine booking.

  • Sciatica from a disc prolapse

    Leg-dominant pain in a nerve distribution, MRI-matched, that has not settled with time and physiotherapy.

  • Neurogenic claudication

    Bilateral leg pain on walking from lumbar stenosis, limiting distance below what you can tolerate.

  • Cervical myelopathy

    Cord compression in the neck causing hand clumsiness, gait change or balance issues - typically a decompression.

  • Progressive weakness or foot drop

    Motor loss in a nerve distribution - a reason to bring surgery forward rather than wait.

  • Recurrent disc after previous surgery

    A second prolapse at the same level, matched by imaging, may need revision microdiscectomy or fusion.

  • Instability after prior decompression

    Mechanical back pain and slip on flexion-extension imaging - the classic indication for fusion.

  • Spinal cord or nerve tumour

    Intradural or extradural lesions on MRI - resection by a subspecialist team.

  • Red flag: cauda equina syndrome

    New saddle numbness, urinary retention or bilateral leg weakness is a same-day A&E emergency, not an outpatient booking.

Procedure options

Approach and extent depend on the pathology.

The main procedures our spinal neurosurgeons perform - what each one is, and when it fits.

  • Microdiscectomy

    Microscope-assisted removal of the offending disc fragment through a small midline incision. Day-case or one night, back to desk work in 1–2 weeks.

  • Lumbar decompression

    Laminectomy or laminoplasty to open the canal in stenosis. Often mono- or multi-level.

  • ACDF (cervical fusion)

    Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical disc disease with radiculopathy or myelopathy.

  • Cervical disc replacement

    Motion-preserving alternative to ACDF in selected single or two-level cervical disc disease.

  • Instrumented lumbar fusion

    Pedicle screws and rods with interbody cage for spondylolisthesis, instability or deformity.

  • Minimally invasive spine surgery

    Tubular retractor or endoscopic techniques for selected microdiscectomy and decompression cases.

  • Spinal cord tumour resection

    Intradural intramedullary and extramedullary tumours resected under neuromonitoring.

  • Revision spine surgery

    Adjacent segment disease, pseudarthrosis and hardware failure after earlier surgery.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established procedure in the right hands. The honest conversation is about recovery and expectations.

  • GA and standard risks

    Every procedure is under general anaesthetic with an anaesthetist experienced in spine work. Standard airway, cardiovascular and awareness risks apply.

  • Bleeding and infection

    Both are uncommon. Wound infection is under 2 percent for microdiscectomy and higher for instrumented multilevel fusion. Antibiotics and DVT prophylaxis are standard.

  • Dural tear and CSF leak

    A dural tear is repaired at the time. A persistent CSF leak causing a postural headache is uncommon and usually settles with bed rest ± blood patch.

  • Nerve injury

    The whole point of subspecialty surgery and neuromonitoring. Serious nerve injury is under 1 percent in elective spine work.

  • Failed back surgery syndrome

    Some patients have persistent pain despite technically successful surgery. Careful selection and honest expectations are how we avoid it.

  • Adjacent segment disease

    Fusion transfers load to neighbouring levels. Over 5–10 years a proportion of patients develop symptoms at the next segment.

  • Hardware complications

    Screw malposition, cage subsidence and pseudarthrosis are the classic fusion complications - monitored on postoperative imaging.

  • Recovery timeline

    Microdiscectomy: desk work at 1–2 weeks, driving at 2 weeks, gym at 6 weeks. Fusion: desk work at 4–6 weeks, no heavy lifting for 3 months.

  • Red flags after surgery

    New weakness, saddle numbness, urinary retention, uncontrolled fever or spreading wound redness need the on-call team or A&E the same day.

Reading your notes

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever approach was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant neurosurgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and approach

    Why the spinal operation was done, which side, and what approach was chosen.

  2. 02 Technique

    What was done

    The technique in plain terms - incisions, structures addressed, implants or fixation used.

  3. 03 Findings

    Findings and complications

    What was seen and whether anything unexpected happened during the procedure.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, restrictions and follow-up

    Read this first: recovery restrictions, rehab timeline, and when we look at you again.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Usually covered when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about spinal neurosurgery.

Quick answers on cost, recovery and what happens if it does not work.

  • Will I be able to walk after spine surgery?

    Yes. In almost every case you are mobilised on day one, often within hours. Microdiscectomy and decompression patients walk out at 1–2 nights. Fusion patients walk within a day and go home at 3–5 nights.

  • Do I need fusion, or is decompression enough?

    Decompression alone works when the problem is nerve compression without instability. Fusion is added when the segment is unstable, when there is spondylolisthesis, or when decompression would destabilise the level. It is the single most-asked-for extra that most patients do not need.

  • Is minimally invasive spine surgery better?

    For the right patient - a single-level disc, a focal decompression - MIS gives less blood loss and a shorter stay with equivalent outcomes. It is not universally better; the surgeon’s familiarity with the technique matters more than the label.

  • How much does private spine surgery cost in the UK?

    Roughly £8,500–£13,500 for a lumbar microdiscectomy, £10,000–£16,000 for a single-level decompression, £14,000–£22,000 for ACDF, and £16,000–£28,000 per level of instrumented fusion. Complex revision and tumour work sit above these.

  • Can I have it on the NHS?

    Yes, but waits for elective spine surgery run six to eighteen months in many regions. Urgent cases - myelopathy, progressive weakness, cauda equina - are prioritised. Private routes let you keep the same consultant across imaging, surgery and rehab.

  • How long is recovery from a microdiscectomy?

    Back to a desk in 1–2 weeks, back to driving at 2 weeks, gym and running at 6 weeks. Heavy lifting and contact sport at 12 weeks. Fusion adds roughly 3 months to each of those figures.

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