The Spine Atlas Initiative (SAI)

Making Spine Treatment Comparable Across Countries

Spine treatment strategies vary across healthcare systems, training traditions, reimbursement environments, and regulatory frameworks. Yet internationally harmonised data describing these variations have historically been limited.

The Spine Atlas Initiative, coordinated and funded by EUROSPINE, provides a structured framework for recurring international data calls. Each data call focuses on a defined pathology, applies a harmonised core dataset, and analyses pooled international data to visualise treatment strategies across countries.

SAI does not assess quality or rank institutions. Its purpose is to establish transparency and comparability of treatment strategies worldwide.

Why Spine Atlas Matters

Global Variation in Spine Treatment

Spine treatment strategies differ across healthcare systems, training traditions, and reimbursement environments.

Lack of Comparable Data

Until now, internationally harmonised datasets describing these variations have been limited.

Evidence Through Collaboration

Spine Atlas transforms anecdotal observations into structured international evidence through coordinated data calls.

The Spine Atlas Model

Each Spine Atlas data call follows a consistent structure designed to enable international comparison while keeping participation low-burden for contributors.

Pathology Focus
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Observation Period
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Core Dataset
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Data Collection by Contributors
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Central Pooled Analysis
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Publications & Dissemination

Contributors receive group authorship in publications, and results are disseminated through scientific journals, conferences, and Spine Atlas reports.

Strategic Objectives

Spine Atlas aims to build the first structured international reference for spine treatment epidemiology.

1. Global Epidemiology

Visualise demographics and treatment strategies across countries.

2. Cross-insitutional Insights

Enable hospitals and registries to compare treatment strategies internationally.

3. Research Infrastructure

Provide a foundation for health services research.

4. Guideline Development

Inform clinical guideline discussions and policy dialogue.

5. International Collaboration

Establish a long-term global spine epidemiology network.

Scientific Foundation

The methodological approach of the Spine Atlas Initiative is described in Herrmann et al., Brain & Spine, 2025.

The initiative is based on:

• International cross-sectional study design
• Harmonised variable definitions
• Anonymised data submission
• Defined governance and authorship structures

Long-Term Perspective

Spine Atlas is designed as a recurring international research framework based on thematic data calls.

2025

Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

2026

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Future Calls

Additional pathologies and outcome datasets

Expanding the number of participating countries and contributors remains a key priority for the coming years.

Governance & Coordination

The initiative is coordinated by EUROSPINE.

Principal Investigator
Christian Herrmann, PhD MSc

Steering Committee

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First Name	Name	Country	Affiliation	SAI-SC member since
Christian	Herrmann	Switzerland	EUROSPINE, the Spine Society of Europe, Uster, Switzerland	2024
Emin	Aghayev	Switzerland	EUROSPINE, the Spine Society of Europe, Uster, Switzerland Swiss Implant Registry SIRIS Spine, Bern, Switzerland Research Centre, Lindenhofgruppe AG, Bern, Switzerland	2024
Sabrina	Donzelli	USA	Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway National Scoliosis Center, Fairfax, VA, USA Auxologico IRCCS, Piancavallo, Italy	2024
Jarkko	Halme	Finland	Kuopion Yliopistollinen Sairaala (KYS), Kuopio, Finland European Spine Society Advisory Board (EuSSAB), Uster, Switzerland	2024
Sashin	Ahuja	UK	University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK British Spine Registry (BSR), London, UK	2024
Florian	Ringel	Germany	Neurochirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, LMU Klinikum, München, Germany European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS), Brussels, Belgium	2024
Tore	Solberg	Norway	Dept. of Neurosurgery and the Norwegian Spine Registry (NorSpine), University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway	2024
Jörg	Franke	Germany	Klinikum Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany EUROSPINE, the Spine Society of Europe, Uster, Switzerland	2025
Mark	Kotter	UK	Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Neurosurgery Unit, University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS), Brussels, Belgium AO Spine, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland	2025
Enrico	Gallazzi	Italy	UOC Patologie della Colonna Vertebrale, ASST G. Pini - CTO, Milano, Italy EUROSPINE, the Spine Society of Europe, Uster, Switzerland	2026

Former Members

First Name	Name	Country	Affiliation
Pierre	Coté	Canada	Ontario Tech University Research Excellence Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario, Canada

Country Lead Investigators

The Spine Atlas is supported by Country Lead Investigators who coordinate participation and contribute to the initiative across countries worldwide.

Austria
Daniel Ferraz-Leite

Belgium
Ricky Rasschaert

Chile
Ratko Yurac

Czechia
Lukas Capek

Germany
Florian Gessler

Greece
Alkinoos Athanasiou

Croatia
Darko Perovic

Ireland
Caroline Treanor

India
Bhavuk Garg

Italy
Filippo Maria Polli

Japan
Mitsuru Yagi

Moldova, Republic of
Mircea Junbei

North Macedonia
Aleksandar Dimovski

Mexico
José Carlos Sauri-Barraza

Malaysia
Eu Gene Teo

Nigeria
Olukorede Olabanji Adekunle

Nepal
Prashant Adhikari

Poland
Dominik Taterra

Portugal
Bruno Lourenço Costa
Paulo Cibrão Coutinho

Romania
Dan Negoescu

Russian Federation
Aleksandr Krutko

Saudi Arabia
Waeel Hamouda

Türkiye
Berkay Paker
Ismail Bozkurt

Taiwan
Meng-huang Wu

Ukraine
Dmytro Uleshchenko

Scroll to view all participating countries and Country Lead Investigators.

SAI Contributors

We gratefully acknowledge the SAI Contributors supporting the Spine Atlas Initiative.

Austria
Mr. Daniel Ferraz-leite
Mr. Josef Georg Grohs

Czech
Mr. Lukas Capek

Czech Republic
Mr. Gábor Geri
Mr. Jan Stulik

Egypt
Mr. Waeel Hamouda

Germany
Mr. Eleftherios Archavlis
Lydia Mahler
Mr. Martin Stangenberg
Sae-Yeon Won
Milos Arsenovic
Mr. Florian Geßler
Jorg Franke
Ms. Anne Wustmann
Ehab Shiban
Andy Ottenbacher
Nicolas Molho

Greece
Mr. George Psihidis
Mr. Ioannis Magras
Mr. Alkinoos Athanasiou
Mr. Ioannis Mavridis
Mr. KONSTANTINOS VLACHOS
Mr. Panagiotis Nomikos
SYRMOS THESSALONIKI

India
Mr. Bhavuk Garg

Italy
Mr. Carlo Brembilla
Generoso Farinaro
Mr. Andrea Casella
Mr. Giorgio Lofrese
Sokol Trungu

Malaysia
Mr. Eu Gene Teo

Nigeria
Nurudeen Adeleke
Abdullahi Suleiman
Mr. Olukorede Adekunle

North Macedonia
Dr. Aleksandar Dimovski

Norway
Elisabet Danielsen
Mr. Tore Solberg

Poland
Sławomir Zacha
Mr. Bartosz Limanówka

Portugal
Mr. Paulo Cibrão Coutinho
Paulo Gil Ribeiro
Pedro Varanda
Mr. Bruno Direito-Santos
Bruno Augusto Lourenco Costa

Russian Federation
Aleksandr Krutko
Evgeniy Baykov
Ms. Olga Leonova

Serbia
Mr. Jovan Ilić
Ms. Valerija Teodosic

Sweden
Ms. Zehra Nazar
Victor Staartjes
Ms. Zehra Nazar

Switzerland
Mr. Stefan Motov
Mr. Enrico Gallazzi
Mr. Julien Dimitriou
Alberto Vandenbulcke
Mr. Emanuele Quarto
Ms. Anaïs Luyet
Mr. Nader Hejrati
Mr. Martin N. Stienen

Türkiye
Mr. Inan Uzunoglu
Mr. Berkay Paker
Mr. Mehmetzeki Yıldız
Deniz Konya

Turkey
ISMAIL BOZKURT

United Kingdom
Mr. Ashley Cole

Scroll to view all SAI Contributors.

Participating Institutions

The Spine Atlas Initiative brings together participating institutions, hospitals, registries and professional organisations from across the international spine community.

European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS)

European Spine Societies Advisory Board (EuSSAB)

International Spine Registries (ISR) working group

NEC Software Solutions

AO Spine

Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Almana General Hospital

Andreasklinik Zug

Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

ASST G. Pini – CTO, Milan

AZ Rivierenland, Bornem

Bahçeşehir University

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin

Bethesda Spital, Basel

BG Klinikum Bergmannstrost Halle

Blackrock Health Galway Clinic

Braga University Hospital

British Spine Registry (BSR)

Bürgerspital Solothurn

Capio Spine Center Stockholm, Löwenströmska Hospital

Cardinale G. Panico Hospital, Tricase

Christian Doppler Klinik, Uniklinikum Salzburg

CHUV, Lausanne

Clinica Ars Medica

Clinique Générale Ste-Anne

Clínica Alemana de Santiago / Universidad del Desarrollo

EHC Hôpital de Morges

Elisabethen-Krankenhaus Frankfurt

European Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome

HAMS Hospital

Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, Lucerne

Hirslanden Klinik Stephanshorn

Hirslanden Salem-Spital

Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona

Hygeia Hospital

Hôpital de la Providence

Hôpital Riviera-Chablais

Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chișinău

International University of Health and Welfare, Narita

Ippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki

IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan

IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan

IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa

Jagiellonian University Medical College, Zakopane

Kantonsspital Aarau

Kantonsspital Baden

Kantonsspital Frauenfeld

Kantonsspital Olten

Kantonsspital St. Gallen

KAT Hospital

Klinikum Magdeburg

Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder Trier

Kuopio University Hospital

Loretto-Krankenhaus Freiburg

M. Bufalini Hospital

Maria Cecilia Hospital – GVM Care & Research

Medical Center Saarbrücken

Medical Park Ankara Hospital / Yüksek İhtisas University

Medical Park Göztepe Hospital, Istanbul

Medical University Lausitz – Carl Thiem, Cottbus

Medical University of Vienna

MedLife Medicis Hospital

National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, NAMS of Ukraine

Norwegian Spine Registry (NORspine)

Orthopaedic Clinic Markgröningen

Pomeranian Medical University

Priorov National Medical Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Moscow

RECOSAN / ESTENOCOL registry

Regional Hospital Liberec

Regionalspital Surselva

Rostock University Medical Center

Réseau hospitalier neuchâtelois, Pourtalès

Sarawak General Hospital

Security Forces Hospital, Dammam

SIRIS Spine (Swiss Implant Registry)

Sonnenhofspital, Lindenhofgruppe, Bern

Spine Tango (EUROSPINE registry)

Spitäler Schaffhausen

Tabea Hospital Hamburg

Taipei Medical University Hospital

The Beacon Hospital

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

ULS Cova da Beira

ULS São João, Porto

University Clinic for Surgical Diseases St. Naum Ohridski, Skopje

University Clinic Orthopedics, Ljubljana

University Clinical Center Niš

University Clinical Center of Serbia

University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis

University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb

University Hospital Motol, Prague

University Hospital St. Pölten

University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Scroll to view all participating institutions and organisations.