Mr Darren F. Lui is fellowship trained in complex spinal surgery and works in London, UK. He deals with simple spinal problems such as back and leg pain (sciatica) as well as neck and arm pain (brachalgia/radiculopathy). He also deals with the entire breadth of complex spinal problems from deformity, trauma and cancer. He has been trained in navigation and robotic techniques to aid minimally invasive surgery where possible.

He has expertise to approach the spine in 360 degrees from anterior, lateral, oblique and posteriorly. This allows minimally invasive techniques to be optimally used to plan bespoke surgery to the patient’s sagittal and coronal parameters. Understanding the whole spine and pelvis, not just the singular areas of complaint, can help with difficult diagnoses that may not have been achieved.

He has a special interest in sacraliliac joint pathology, its pain management and fusion. He works closely with pelvic physios, orthotists and scoliosis speciailst physiotherapists to deliver maximum conservative management.

He utilises epidural and facet steroid injections widely to help avoid surgery. He uses radiofrequency ablation for rhizolysis of nerves for pain relief.

He has interests in non fusion technques for scoliosis patients and for degenerative cases. They have excellent medium term results for vertebral body tethering in scoliosis. He and his team have experience with cervical and lumbar disc replacement surgery.

He has a sub specialist interest in metastatic spinal cancer. New techniques now mean that oligometastatic disease, i.e. those with three or less metastases to the spine can avail of separation surgery followed by stereotactic ablative radiotherapy which can lead to complete remission of the local disease at the spinal site and influence prognosis in compliment with the systemic therapy. For rare cases Tomita En Bloc resection of metastases is possible.

He has expertise in radiofrequency ablation of metastatic tumours in conjunction with kyphoplasty.

He trained on three International Spinal Fellowships: Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin Ireland; Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong; Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore London.

He is very interested in medical research and teaching. He has a large research team at St. George’s Hospital and is an Honorary Senior Lecturer. He has a Masters Degree in Surgery and supervised four other Masters Degrees in Science and Surgery. He speaks regularly at interantional meetings with frequent invitations as faculty.

Areas of expertise

• Sciatica
• Brachalgia
• Radiculopathy
• Scoliosis
• Spinal oncology
• Spinal tumours
• Oligometastases
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Robotic spinal surgery
• Revision spinal surgery
• Spinal cancer
• Cervical and lumbar disc replacement surgery

Current and recent appointments

• St. George's Universtiy Hospital, London

Publications, lectures and teachings

• As of June 2023 - he and his research team have 57 peer reviewed publications
• 250 authored podium presetntations
• 54 authored posters, 10 prizes and 5 books
• He reviews for several peer reviewed journals and has several invited lectures 

Society memberships

• British Scoliosis Society (BSS)
• Fellow of The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)
• British Association of Spinal Surgeons (BASS)
• International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT)