SPIRIT organises and supports international conferences focused on advancing best practice in the management of spinal cord injuries. These events bring together clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and health professionals to share knowledge, research, and clinical experience.
These events provide an opportunity to share clinical experience, research findings, and best practice across disciplines, with the aim of improving standards of care and outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury worldwide.
SPIRIT Conference 2026 – Provisional Programme
Friday 2nd October – Keele University
The International Conference on Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord & Cauda Equina (ATSCI) – in celebration of SPIRIT’s 30th Anniversary and in memory of SPIRIT co-founder Keith Kushner.
| Time | Details |
|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome |
Session 1: Overview – Management of Effects of ATSCI
Chair: Martin McClelland |
| 09:15 – 09:45 | WEM – Keele University
Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries – Pathophysiological Effects Relevant to Management and Outcomes |
| 09:45 – 10:10 | N. Kumar, RJAH
Pitfalls in the management of patients with ATSCI |
| 10:10 – 10:35 | Chakri Budithi, RJAH
Principles of management of pressure sores in patients with acute and long-term TSCI |
| 10:35 – 11:00 | Professor Karina Wright
Current research in ATSCI |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Discussion |
| 11:15 – 11:45 | Refreshments
Visit to sponsors |
Session 2: Management of the Injured Spine in Patients with ATSCI
Chairs: Graham Flint and Nick Birch |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Mr Jay Trivedi, Senior Spinal Surgeon, RJAH
Rationale and outcomes of surgical stabilisation of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 12:15 – 12:45 | Mr Nishri Srikandarajah, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Walton Hospital
Rationale and outcomes of surgical stabilisation of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 12:45 – 13:15 | WEM – Keele University
Rationale and outcomes of active physiological conservative management of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 13:15 – 13:30 | Discussion
Discussion of the morning |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch
Visit to sponsors and possible presentation by platinum sponsors |
|
Session 3: Management of Elderly & Upper Limb Restoration Specific Conditions in ATSCI |
| 14:30 – 14:55 | Avi Ohry, Israel
Management of elderly patients with ATSCI |
| 14:55 – 15:20 | Simon Pickard
Upper limb functional restoration in a spinal injuries setting. What is there to be afraid of? |
| 15:20 – 15:30 | Discussion |
Medico-legal Aspects
Chair: Jonathan Fogerty |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Nick Todd
Informed consent in the choice of management of spinal injury with neurological damage |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Gerard McDermott KC
Medico-legal aspects of ATSCI |
| 16:30 – 16:50 | Discussion |
| 16:50 | Closure |
SPIRIT Conference 2024 – Conference Recordings
The SPIRIT Conference 2024, held on Friday 18 October 2024 at Keele University, UK, focused on the management of acute traumatic spinal cord injuries.
The conference brought together leading experts from across the spinal cord injury field to explore clinical management, surgical decision-making, rehabilitation, medico-legal considerations, and emerging research.
The full conference has been recorded and is available below in four parts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
SPIRIT organises and supports international conferences focused on advancing best practice in the management of spinal cord injuries. These events bring together clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and health professionals to share knowledge, research, and clinical experience.
These events provide an opportunity to share clinical experience, research findings, and best practice across disciplines, with the aim of improving standards of care and outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury worldwide.
SPIRIT Conference 2026 – Provisional Programme
Friday 2nd October – Keele University
The International Conference on Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord & Cauda Equina (ATSCI) – in celebration of SPIRIT’s 30th Anniversary and in memory of SPIRIT co-founder Keith Kushner.
| Time | Details |
|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome |
Session 1: Overview – Management of Effects of ATSCI
Chair: Martin McClelland |
| 09:15 – 09:45 | WEM – Keele University
Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries – Pathophysiological Effects Relevant to Management and Outcomes |
| 09:45 – 10:10 | N. Kumar, RJAH
Pitfalls in the management of patients with ATSCI |
| 10:10 – 10:35 | Chakri Budithi, RJAH
Principles of management of pressure sores in patients with acute and long-term TSCI |
| 10:35 – 11:00 | Professor Karina Wright
Current research in ATSCI |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Discussion |
| 11:15 – 11:45 | Refreshments
Visit to sponsors |
Session 2: Management of the Injured Spine in Patients with ATSCI
Chairs: Graham Flint and Nick Birch |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Mr Jay Trivedi, Senior Spinal Surgeon, RJAH
Rationale and outcomes of surgical stabilisation of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 12:15 – 12:45 | Mr Nishri Srikandarajah, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Walton Hospital
Rationale and outcomes of surgical stabilisation of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 12:45 – 13:15 | WEM – Keele University
Rationale and outcomes of active physiological conservative management of the injured spine of patients with ATSCI |
| 13:15 – 13:30 | Discussion
Discussion of the morning |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch
Visit to sponsors and possible presentation by platinum sponsors |
|
Session 3: Management of Elderly & Upper Limb Restoration Specific Conditions in ATSCI |
| 14:30 – 14:55 | Avi Ohry, Israel
Management of elderly patients with ATSCI |
| 14:55 – 15:20 | Simon Pickard
Upper limb functional restoration in a spinal injuries setting. What is there to be afraid of? |
| 15:20 – 15:30 | Discussion |
Medico-legal Aspects
Chair: Jonathan Fogerty |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Nick Todd
Informed consent in the choice of management of spinal injury with neurological damage |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Gerard McDermott KC
Medico-legal aspects of ATSCI |
| 16:30 – 16:50 | Discussion |
| 16:50 | Closure |
SPIRIT Conference 2024 – Conference Recordings
The SPIRIT Conference 2024, held on Friday 18 October 2024 at Keele University, UK, focused on the management of acute traumatic spinal cord injuries.
The conference brought together leading experts from across the spinal cord injury field to explore clinical management, surgical decision-making, rehabilitation, medico-legal considerations, and emerging research.
The full conference has been recorded and is available below in four parts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
