Mr Ian Harding

Ian Harding studied at Oxford University, obtaining 1st Class Honours at Worcester College, Oxford. He continued his basic surgical training in the same city, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. His higher surgical training was in the Oxford Region followed by Spine Surgery Fellowships at the Institut Calot, France and Seattle, USA.

Ian Harding has been a consultant since 2005 and has an extensive research portfolio in adult and paediatric spinal deformity and basic science. His work appears in 85 peer-reviewed publications and he has delivered over 100 invited lectures worldwide. 

Undertaking all aspects of spinal surgery, from microsurgery through to complex reconstruction, Ian Harding has considerable expertise.

You may want some reassurance or further explanation for a complex problem. Having a second opinion can help make your decision. 

GMC number 4119742

BA, BM, BCh, FRCS (Orth)

British Association of Spinal Surgeons
Fellow Royal College of Surgeons of England
British Scoliosis Society
Active Fellow Scoliosis Research Society.

Education

2005 CCST awarded February in Trauma and Orthopaedics 2003 FRCS (Tr and Orth)

Birmingham 1998 FRCS (CsiG) England 1996 FRCS (part 1) in Applied Basic Science

London 1994 BMBCh Oxford University Clinical School 1991 BA (Hons) in Physiological Sciences

1st Class 1990 1st BM (part 2) - distinction 1989 1st BM (part 1) – distinction

1988-94 Worcester College, Oxford University

Other professional activities

2017-20 Medicolegal negligence work – 50% claimant/50% defendant

2017-20 British Scoliosis Society Executive

2016-20 Deputy Editor, Spine Deformity Journal

2015-16 Chairman, Awards and Scholarships Committee SRS

2012-16 Associate Editor, Spine Deformity Journal

2012-17 Awards and Fellowship Committee SRS

2006-20 Training and Education Contract with Medtronic Europe

2006-09 Founding member of Spinal Deformity Study Group – European Section

2005-10 Medico-legal work – personal injury work

2005-20 Private practice at Spire and Chesterfield Hospitals, Bristol and Waterside Suite, Weston

2009-12 Member of Awards Committee, British Scoliosis Research Foundation

2006-09 Health Care Commission – clinical advisor to the Health Care Commission.

Activities and interests

Rowing 1990-94 Worcester College 1st VIII

1992-93 Henley Royal Regatta – Visitors and Temple Cups

1993 Oxford University Lightweight VIII (half blue)

1991-92 Captain of Boats, Worcester College

1991-99 Single Sculling

1995-00 Coaching Worcester College 1st VIII

2014-20 City Of Bristol Rowing Club, sculling/rowing

Soccer 1989-94 Worcester College 1st XI goalkeeper

1994-03 Regular 5-a-side football

Cricket 1986-88 Little Marlow CC

1989-90 Worcester College 1st XI

2000-03 Organised RNOH Stanmore v. NOC match

1998-03 Club cricket

2004-20 MCC membership

Running 1997 London Marathon completed for Red Cross

2001-20 Regular leisure pursuit

2009,14 Bath Half Marathon

2010,13 Bristol Half Marathon

2018 Cheltenham Half Marathon

Cycling 2002-20 Regular leisure pursuit

Triathlon 2002-16 Regular competitor in triathlons, sprint and Olympic

2003 London Triathlon

2003 Half Ironman UK Triathlon, Sherborne, Dorset - 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 22K run

St. John’s 1996-98 Medical assistance and 1st aid at major events

French 2003 Intermediate French Course at Oxford Brookes University

2004-20 French Speaking

Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon treating all aspects of Spinal Surgery (adult and paediatric) including deformity, degenerative, tumour and trauma at Southmead Hospital.

Awards and Bursaries

2013 ISSLS Best Special Poster Prize
2013 Runner up BSS best presentation
2012 Scoliosis Research Society International Travelling Fellowship
2008 Best presentation award at Britspine 2008, Belfast
2004 AO Spine Fellowship in Spine Trauma, Seattle, USA
2003 BOA/Zimmer European Travelling fellowship
2000 Prize for best presentation at COC meeting - Milton Keynes
1998 Course Prize Whipps Cross Advanced Surgery Course
1997 Dooley Prize in Anatomy for teaching and prosection
1993 Grenfell Elective Association award – Newfoundland & Labrador
1991 College Prize for 1st Class in Final Honours Schools
1990 College Prize for distinction 1st BM (part 2)
1989-94 Scholarship at Worcester College, Oxford
1989 College Prize for distinction 1st BM (part 1)

Identifying scoliosis in population-based cohorts: automation of a validated method based on total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans

Amir Jamaludin, Jeremy Fairbank, Ian Harding, Timor Kadir, Tim J Peters, Andrew Zisserman, Emma M Clark

January 2020 Calcified Tissue International 106(3)

Physical disruption of intervertebral disc promotes cell clustering and a degenerative phenotype

Lama P, Claireaux H, Flower L, Harding I, Dolan T, le Maitre C, Adams M

Cell  Death  Discovery (2019) 5:154

 

Spinal epidural lipomatosis following bilateral spinal decompression surgery

Greenish D, Watura K, Harding I

BMJ Case Reports CP 2019;12:e226985.

Association between physical activity and scoliosis: a prospective cohort study

Tobias JH, Fairbank J, Harding I, Taylor HJ, Clark EM.

Int J Epidemiol. 2019 Dec 6. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyy268

Reduction of Deep Infections and Length of Stay in Paediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery After the Introduction of A Standardised Care Pathway

DC Lavelle, IJ Harding, MJ Hutchinson, M Katsimihas, PA Torrie, SAC Morris, J Sacree, IW Nelson

Int J Orthopaedics 2018 Vol 5(3) 2018

 

Nerves and blood vessels in degenerated intervertebral discs are confined to physically disrupted tissue.

Lama P, Le Maitre CL, Harding IJ, Dolan P, Adams MA.

J. Anat. 2018 Apr 30 233(6)

 

The relationship between sacral kyphosis and pelvic incidence

G Mckay, G Dempster, PATorrie, I Harding

Asian Spine Journal Feb 2018, 12 (1): 74-79

Myelography in the Assessment of Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis and Its Influence on Surgical Management

McKay G, Torrie PA, Bertram W, Landham P, Morris S, Hutchinson J, Watura R, Harding I

Korean J Spine 2017 Dec;14(4):133-138. doi: 10.14245/kjs.2017.14.4.133. Epub 2017 Dec 31.

Coping with the ageing spine

Ian J. Harding

Backbone, Spring 2017, SAUK journal

 

Active Treatment for Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis (ACTIvATeS): a feasibility study

Mark A Williams, Peter J Heine, Esther M Williamson, Francine Toye, Melina Dritsaki, Stavros Petrou, Richard Crossman, Ranjit Lall, Karen L Barker, Jeremy Fairbank, Ian Harding, Adrian Gardner, Anne-Marie Slowther, Neil Coulson, Sarah E Lamb; on behalf of the ACTIvATeS study group.

Health Technology Assessment, No. 19.55 NIHR Journals Library; 2015 Jul.

The role of transitional vertebrae in the pathogenesis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis: an in vitro study

A Torrie, I Harding, J Hutchinson, I Nelson, M Adams, P Dolan

The Spine Journal 15 (2015) 67S

Risk factors for the development of a mobile degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4/5.

S. Granuum, P.A.G Torrie, A. Miller, I..J Harding

Spine Deformity (3) 2015: 98-104

 

The influence of lumbar spine subtype on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in young and middle-aged adults.

P.A.G Torrie, G McKay, R Bryne, SJ Morris, I.J Harding

Spine Deformity  (3) 2015:172-179
Spine Deformity  (3) 2015:172-179 

 

Significance of cartilage endplate within herniated disc tissue.

Lama P1, Zehra U, Balkovec C, Claireaux HA, Flower L, Harding IJ, Dolan P, Adams MA.

Eur Spine J. 2014 Sep;23(9):1869-77

The role of the pelvic parameters and the lumbar spine subtype in the aetiology of degenerative scoliosis

PAG Torrie, R Purcell, SAC Morris, IJ Harding, P Dolan, MA Adams, IW Nelson, MJ Hutchinson.

Eur Spine J (2014) 23 (Suppl 1):S122.

The role of oblique (type 4) spinous process abutment in the aetiology of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

PAG Torrie, R Purcell, SAC Morris, IJ Harding, P Dolan, MA Adams, IW Nelson, MJ Hutchinson.

Eur Spine J (2014) 23 (Suppl 1):S123.

 

The influence of lumbar spine subtype on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration in young and middle-aged adults

PAG Torrie, G McKay, R Bryne, SAC Morris, IJ Harding

Eur Spine J (2014) 23 (Suppl 1):S131.

Reducing deep infections following paediatric spinal deformity surgery.

D. Lavelle, S.A.C. Morris, A. Torrie, M. Katsimihas, J. Hutchinson, I.J. Harding, and I. Nelson

Bone Joint J 2014 96-B: (SUPP 6) 28

The use of intra-operative monitoring during spinal deformity surgery

S.A.C. Morris, H. Marriott, P. Walsh, N. Kane, I.J. Harding, J. Hutchinson, I.W. Nelson

Bone Joint J 2014 96-B: (SUPP 6) 28, 29-29

 

Anatomic risk factors for mobile degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4/5

S Grannum, A Miller, I Harding

Bone Joint J 2014 96-B: (SUPP 6) 28, 12-12

 

Abnormal cell metabolism in degenerated intervertebral discs: a response to matrix swelling following focal damage?

P Lama, HA Claireaux, L Flower, IJ Harding, P Dolan, MA Adams

Bone Joint J 2014 96-B:(SUPP 4) 18

The significance of cartilage endplate within herniated disc tissue

P Lama, IJ Harding, P Dolan, MA Adams

Bone Joint J 2014 96-B:(SUPP 4) 19

 

The role of lumbar spine subtype and pelvic incidence in the aetiology of degenerative scoliosis.

P. Torrie, R. Purcell, S. Morris, I. Harding, P. Dolan, M. Adams, I. Nelson, and J. Hutchinson  
Bone Joint J (2014) 96-B: (Supp 6) 11.

 

A Radiological Evaluation of Lateral Vertebral Subluation Associated With Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Spine in Degenerative Scoliosis
Richard O.E. Gardner, Peter A.G. Torrie, Wendy Bertram, Richard P. Baker, Ian J. Harding
Spine Deformity 1 (2013) 365-370

Association Between Components of Body Composition and Scoliosis: A Prospective Cohort Study Reporting Differences Identifiable Before the Onset of Scoliosis.
Clark EM, Taylor HJ, Harding I, Hutchinson J, Nelson I, Deanfield J, Ness AR, Tobias JH.
J Bone Miner Res. 2014 Feb 24 [Epub ahead of print]

Non-pharmacological management of the vertebral fracture

E Clark, I Harding and R Lewis

Osteoporosis Review, EWinter 2013 Volume 21, Number 3

Radiological Evaluation of Lateral Vertebral Subluxation Associated With Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Spine in Degenerative Scoliosis

Richard O.E. Gardner, Peter A.G. Torrie, Wendy Bertram, Richard P. Baker, Ian J. Harding

Spine Deformity 1 (2013) 365-370

 

Admission inflammatory markers and isolation of a causative organism in patients with spontaneous spinal infection

PAG Torrie, A Leonidou, IJ Harding, G Wynne Jones, MJ Hutchinson, IW Nelson

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2013; 95

Do intervertebral discs degenerate before they herniate, or after?

P. Lama, C. L. Le Maitre, P. Dolan, J. F. Tarlton, I. J. Harding, M. A. Adams

Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1127–33

 

Identifying scoliosis in population-based cohorts: development and validation of a novel method based on total body dual-energy X-ray absortiometric scans

Taylor HJ, Harding I, Hutchinson J, Nelson, I, Blom A, Tobias JH, Clark EM

Calci Tiss Int 2013 Feb 28 (Epub ahead of print)

Annulus fissures are mechanically and chemically conducive to the ingrowth of nerves and blood vessels.

Stefanakis M, El-Abbasi MMS, Harding I, Pollintine P, Dolan P, Tarlton F, Adams MA

Spine (Phila PA 1976) 2012 37(22):1883-91

 

Eur Spine J 2012 Supp 2 May 2012 s232-233

Can intervertebral discs degenerate after herniation rather than before?

P Lama, CL LeMaitre, J Tarlton, P. Dolan, IJ Harding, MA Adams

J Bone Joint Surg Br 2013 Vol 95-B Supp 17,29

Annular fissures are mechanically and chemically conducive to the ingrowth of nerves and blood vessels. 

Stefanakis M, El-Abbasi MMS, Harding I, Pollintine P, Dolan P, Tarlton F, Adams MA
Spine 2012 (accepted for publication April 2012)

A slip above a slip: A retro-listhesis above a lytic spondylolisthesis
J.S. Mehta, S. Kochhar, I. Harding
Eur Spine J. 2012 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print]
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012 94-B:(SUPP X) 093

 

Myelography in the assessment of adult degenerative scoliosis
W. Bertram, M. Katsimihas, I. Nelson, J. Hutchinson, I. Harding
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012 94-B:(SUPP X) 022.
Spine: Affiliated Society Meeting Abstracts: 2010 - Volume - Issue - p 72–73 

 

Complications of Spinal Deformity and Spinal Stenosis surgery in adults greater than 50 years old
W. Bertram, I. Harding
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012 94-B:(SUPP X) 105.

 

Psychosocial considerations for children undergoing growing rod treatment for scoliosis: a review of the literature
W. Bertram, M. Katsimihas, I. Harding, I. Nelson, J. Hutchinson
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2012 94-B:(SUPP X) 109. 

Annulus fissures: An ideal microenvironment for the ingrowth of nerves and blood vessels into human intervertebral discs
MStefanakis, J Lou, I Harding, P Dolan, MA Adams
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, 2012 94-B(SUPP I) 28

In the growth of nerve and blood vessels into painful intervertebral discs
M. Stefanakis, I. Sychev, B.A. Summers, P. Dolan, I. Harding, M.A. Adams.
Spine 2012, Affiliated Society Meeting abstracts supplement October 2011 

 

The healing potential of intervertebral discs
M Stefanakis, MA Adams, M Sharid, R Gordon, GC Desmond, A Ritchie, A Kay and I Harding
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, 2011 93-B(SUPP IV) 488-48

 

Abnormalities of the lumbar spine in the coronal plane on plain abdominal radiographs
RPBaker, M Kilshaw, R Gardner, S Charosky, and IJHarding
Eur Spine J. 2011 Mar;20(3):429-33. Epub 2010 Nov 11.
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, 2011 93-B(SUPP I) 3
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceeding, s2011 93-B:(SUPP I) 27
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceeding, s2009 91-B(9SUPP III) 484

The use and abuse of abbreviations in the orthopaedic literature.

Kilshaw MJ, Rooker J, Harding IJ.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010 Apr;92(3):250-2. Epub 2010 Mar 10
 

Understanding sagittal balance with a clinical perspective
Harding IJ.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2009 Dec;45(4):571-82. Review
 

Motor and sensitive axonal regrowth after multiple intercosto-lumbar neurotizations in a sheep model.
Vialle R, Lacroix C, Harding I, Loureiro MC, Tadié M.
Spinal Cord. 2009 Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print]
 

An analysis of the appearance on supine MRI of open and closed subluxations of the lumbar spine

R. Gardner, E. Chaudhury, R. Baker, and IJ Harding
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Sep 2009; 91-B: 494 - 495

J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, May 2009; 91-B: 358
 

Surgical treatment of severe thoracic scoliosis in skeletally mature patients.
Vialle R, Mary P, Harding I, Tassin JL, Guillaumat M.

Orthopedics. 2008 Mar;31(3):218

Lumbar disc degeneration below a long arthrodesis (performed for scoliosis in adults) to L4 or L5
Harding IJ, Charosky S, Vialle R, Chopin DH
- Eur Spine J. 2008 Feb;17(2):250-4. Epub 2007 Nov 8.

Transpedicular osteotomy in revision scoliosis surgery S Charosky, I J Harding, R Vialle, and D Chopin
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Aug 2008; 90-B: 450
 

An audit of early results of monaxial verus polyaxial screw only constructs in the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
G Wynne-Jones, N Manidakis, I Harding, J Hutchinson, and I Nelson
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Aug 2008; 90-B: 477
 

Can the Perdriolle method of apex rotation be reliably applied in the presence of pedicle screw instrumentation?

M Ockendon, ROE Gardner, S Khan, I Harding, MJ Hutchinson, and IW Nelson
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Aug 2008; 90-B: 479

The paraspinal splitting approach: a possible approach to perform multiple intercosto-lumbar neurotizations: an anatomic study
Vialle R, Harding I, Charosky S, Tadié M
- Spine. 2007 Oct 15;32(22):E631-4

 

Treatment of knee flexion contracture due to central nervous system disorders in adults
Martin JN, Vialle R, Denormandie P, Sorriaux G, Gad H, Harding I, Dizien O, Judet T

- J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Apr;88(4):840-5

Multiple lumbar plexus neurotizations of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh intercostal nerves
Vialle R, Court C, Harding I, Lepeintre JF, Khouri N, Tadie M.
- Clin Anat. 2006 Jan;19(1):51-8.

Long term follow up of pulmonary function and rib hump following Schollner Costoplasty
I J Harding, S Charosky, D Carrizo, C Delecourt, D Chopin
- Spine 2005 Jul 15;30(14):1627-31

The symptom of night pain in a back pain triage clinic
I J Harding, E Davies, E Buchanan, J Fairbank
- Spine 2005 Sep 1;30(17):1985-8
 

Measurement of the Cobb Angle using the Oxford Cobbometer. Intraobserver variation
M Rosenfeldt, I Harding, J Hauptfleisch, J Fairbank
- Spine 2005 Feb 15;30(4):440-3.
 

Outcome of Copeland Surface Replacement Shoulder Arthroplasty
Thomas S, Chambler A, Wilson A, Harding I, Thomas M
- J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2005 Sep-Oct;14(5):485-91
 

Long term effect of costoplasty on pulmonary function and rib hump deformity in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
I. Harding, D Carrizo, S Charossky, and D Chopin
- J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings  Sep 2005; 87-B: 237
 

Is the symptom of night pain important in the diagnosis of serious spinal pathology in a back pain triage clinic?
I. Harding, E. Davies, E. Buchanan, and J. Fairbank
J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings Sep 2005; 87-B: 239
 

Osteonecrosis in retrieved femoral heads after failed resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip
CP Little, A Ruiz, IJ Harding, P McLardy-Smith, R Gundle, DW Murray, N Athanasou
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005 Mar;87(3):320-3
 

Histological findings in retrieved femoral head remnants following revision of hip resurfacing arthroplasty for early failure I Harding, C Little, A Ruiz, D Murray, P McLardy-Smith, N Athanasou
J Bone Joint Surg 86-B: Supp III, p366, 2004
 

The aetiology and outcome of 170 electrophysiologically proven symptomatic ulnar nerve lesions
Harding IJ and Morris IM
Acta Orthop Belg 69(5), 2003
 

The Serum Level of Cobalt and Chromium in a Dynamic Total Hip System
V Psychoyios,  I Harding, R Crawford, P McLardy-Smith, D Murray
J Bone Joint Surg 85-B: Supp III, p225, 2003

 

The aetiology and outcome of 170 electrophysiologically proven symptomatic ulnar nerve lesions
Harding IJ and Morris IM
J Bone Joint Surg 85-B: Supp II, p96, 2003

Copeland Hemiarthroplasty of the Shoulder
A Wilson, A Chambler, S Thomas, I Harding,  M Thomas
J Bone Joint Surg 85-B: Supp I, p69, 2003
 

The Serum Level of Cobalt and Chromium in a Dynamic Total Hip System
I Harding, R Crawford, V Psychoyios, T Bonomo, T Delves, P McLardy-Smith, D Murray
Journal of Arthroplasty 17(7), 893-895, 2002

 

The Importance of Colour and Number Coding of Radiographs in Clinical Practice
Harding IJ and Pearce O
International Journal of Clinical Practice 56(4) 247-248, 2002

 

The aetiology and outcome of 152 electrophysiologically proven symptomatic ulnar nerve lesions at the elbow
Harding IJ and Morris IM
J Bone Joint Surg 84-B: Supp II, p190, 2002

 

The aetiology and outcome of 170 electrophysiologically proven symptomatic ulnar nerve lesions
Harding IJ and Morris IM
Rheumatology 40 (supp I) p133, 2001
Abstract published in J Bone Joint Surg. Orthopaedic Proceedings

The Use Of A Moulded Metacarpal Brace versus Neighbour Strapping For Fractures Of The Little Finger Metacarpal Neck.
I J Harding, D Parry, R L Barrington
Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European volume) 26B(3) 179-180, 2001
 

The Importance Of Intramedullary Entry Point For Total Knee Arthroplasty
I J Harding, R Crawford, P McLardy-Smith, D Murray
The Knee 6 (1999) 207-210

 

8 to 10-year Radiological Review of Polished and Matt Exeter Stems
R Crawford, G Gie, I Harding, R Ling
J Bone Joint Surg  81-B: Supp III, p300, 1999

A Long-term Survivor with Bladder Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma
Harding I J, Cranston D
Int J Clin Practice 1998; 52(7):522 

Feedback from recent patients

"There are no words that can describe how amazing this man and his team at the Spire are. My daughter had an operation to correct her scoliosis on the 3rd of December 2019. She's is doing amazingly well, so much more confident and happy. Would highly recommend him and the Spire Bristol if you need any medical advice or procedures."

"Really nice Consultant, down-to-earth and easy to talk to. I have absolutely no regrets about choosing Mr Harding for my disc surgery and after 12 years of pain I woke up pain-free. Took a few months for my sciatic nerve to calm down but looking back I cannot believe what a difference it has made to my life. Thank you so much."

"The surgeon that changed my life! He fused my spine & corrected my scoliosis 4 months ago and it went better than expected! Informative & helpful at every stage."

"He did our daughter’s scoliosis surgery back in 2014 amazing surgeon."

"This man changed my world. I went to sleep in pain - a pain I’d endured for around 15 years. When I came round I didn’t have any pain. Never looked back since. Mr Harding is a miracle worker."

"This is my specialist who gave me back my life. Thank you again."

"Mr Harding helped me no end with nerve injections last year, the pain relief was unbelievable."