curRiculum vitae
Dr William sears  MB BS fracs

DATE:   19th December 2023
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
  • UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION          
                  The University of Sydney,
                       Faculty of Medicine, 1973-78
                       Sydney Hospital Clinical School
                       Graduated:  M.B., B.S. (Hons. II), October 1978
                                                           
  • POSTGRADUATE NEUROSURGICAL SPECIALIST TRAINING:
                  Guy’s Hospital, Maudsley Neurosurgical Unit,  London, UK, (Senior House Officer) 1981 & 1982
                  Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney,  (Registrar) 1983-85
                  The Children’s Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney,   (Registrar) 1986
                  Sunnybrook Medical Center, Toronto, Canada,  (Clinical Fellowship - Neurotrauma) 1986-87
CURRENT HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT:      
  • Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery)
               Sydney Adventist Hospital,
               Fox Valley Rd, Wahroonga, Sydney, NSW, 2076 Australia
​PREVIOUS SENIOR HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS:
  • 1988-1991                              Staff Specialist (Neurosurgery and Spinal Cord Injury) Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia                                                
  • 1991-October 2001               Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery and Spinal Cord Injury)  Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia.   Chairman, Section of Spinal Cord Injury 1999-2001             
  • October 2001-March 2006  Consultant neurosurgeon,  Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  • March 2006-2014                 Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery and Spinal Cord Injuries)  Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  • 1988-2000                            Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery)  Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga, Sydney
  • 1990-2010                             Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery)  Mater Misericordiae Private Hospital, Sydney
  • September 2012-July 2013  Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery)  Macquarie University Hospital, Sydney
  • 1990-2015                              Visiting Medical Officer (Neurosurgery)  Dalcross Private Hospital, Sydney
PREVIOUS ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT:      
  • 2007-2009   Associate Professor and Director of Spinal Surgery, School of Advanced Medicine,  Macquarie University.

CURRENT NON-CLINICAL APPOINTMENT:
  • 2016-present   Chairman Wyvern Health Pty Ltd (ABN 48 610 129 667) 
CURRENT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS:           
          National
  • Spine Society of Australia
  • Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
  • Australian Medical Association
  • NSW Neurosurgical Association
                                                           
          International
  • North American Spine Society
  • International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS)
PREVIOUS HONORARY SOCIETY POSITIONS:     
  • Honorary Secretary, NSW Neurosurgical Association, 1988-91
  • Younger Fellow (co-opted), NSW State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1990-91
  • Member, NSW State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1991-93
  • Member, NSW Road Trauma Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1990-92
  • President, NSW Neurosurgical Association, 1994-95
  • Chairman, Sydney Bid Committee, 2001 World Congress of Neurosurgical Societies
  • Chairman, Social Events Committee, 2001 World Congress of Neurosurgical Societies, Sydney
  • Convener, Australian Neurosurgical Association, 1999-2001
  • Member, International Steering Committee, World Spine II Congress, 2003
  • Hon. Treasurer, Spine Society of Australia, April 2005 – April 2010
  • Vice-president, Spine Society of Australia, April 2014- April 2016.
  • SAS10, 11 & 12 Basic Science Committee
  • Co-chair, 4th Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society Congress, Sydney, November 2010
  • 4th President, Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, 2010-2011
  • Asia-Pacific Spinal Neurosurgery Society: Member, International Executive Committee: 2009-2013
  • International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISSAS):
                - Chair IT Committee: 2010 – 2016
                - Member Research Committee: 2010 – 2016
​                - Annual Scientific Meeting Abstract Reviewer 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016
  • Asia Pacific Cervical Spine Society: Member, International Executive Committee:  2007-2018
  • Spine Society of Australia,
                - President:  April 2016 – April 2018
                - Past-President:  April 2018 – April 2020
                - Board member:  2005-2010 and April 2014 – April 2020
TEACHING ACTIVITIES:
     I. UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS
  • 1988 – 1999, Clinical examiner for undergraduate students in general surgery for the Department of Surgery, the University of Sydney.
  • 1988 – 2001, Undergraduate teaching in neurosurgery at Royal North Shore Hospital.

​     II. JUNIOR & SENIOR RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICERS
  • 1988 – 2001, 2004 – present: Royal North Shore Hospital
 
     III. R.A.C.S. NEUROSURGICAL ADVANCED TRAINEES
  • 1988 – 2001, 2004 – present: Royal North Shore Hospital. 
 
     IV. R.A.C.S. NEUROSURGICAL ADVANCED TRAINEES SPINAL RESEARCH ELECTIVE
  • 2006, 2007 & 2012
 
     V. COMPEX SPINE FELLOWSHIP SUPERVISION
  • 1994 Dr Gregory Aderholt, Royal North Shore Hospital  
  • 2010 Dr Michael Donnellan, Royal North Shore Hospital
  • 2011 Dr Yanni Sergides, Royal North Shore Hospital
  • Supervisor, PhD student at Macquarie University, Dr Sabarul Mokhtar, 2008-2011, Dalcross Hospital.
  • 2013, Dr Samson Gaddam, Macquarie University Hospital
 
     VI. INVITED EXAMINER
  • University of Adelaide, PhD thesis on Syringomyelia, 1995.
 
     VII. FACULTY – RACS NEUROSURGICAL TRAINEE SEMINARS (SPINE)
  • Brisbane 2004,
  • Melbourne 2010
  • Cairns 2015
 
     VIII. FACULTY – SOCIETY INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES/WORKSHOPS
  • North American Spine Society, Pre-Course PLIF Symposium, San Diego, October 2003
  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Instructional course on Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, San Diego, California, September 2008
  • Spine Society of Australia, Fundamentals of Spine Surgery, Brisbane, April 2009.
  • CNS Instructional course on Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, Orlando, Florida, September 2009
  • North American Spine Society. 25th Annual Meeting, Motion Technology pre-Course Symposium. Orlando, USA, November 2010
  • North American Spine Society. 26th Annual Meeting, Motion Technology pre-Course Symposium. Chicago, USA, November 2011
  • Spine Society of Australia, ‘Biomechanics in the Barossa’, South Australia, May 2016
  • Spine Society of Australia, Surgical Trainee Course in Biomechanics, Brisbane, Australia, June 2016
  • Spine Society of Australia, Surgical Trainee Course in Trauma, Adelaide, Australia, July 2017
  • Spine Society of Australia, Surgical Trainee Course in Trauma, Adelaide, Australia, November 2022
  • Neurosurgical Society of Australasia SET trainee spine seminar, Sydney, Australia, March 2023
 
     IX. FACULTY – INDUSTRY INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES/WORKSHOPS
  • Medtronic & Spinal Dynamics, Bryan Disc instructional course, Sydney, September, 2001
  • Medtronic Australian surgeons instructional course, Memphis, March 2002
  • Medtronic, Advanced techniques in Spinal Surgery Course, CTEC, Perth, July, 2002.
  • Medtronic Complex Spinal Reconstruction Symposium, November 2003.
  • Advanced Techniques in Spinal Instrumentation, Brisbane, September, 2004
  • Convener and co-chair, BBraun Spinal Instrumentation Instructional Course, Sydney, 2006
  • Convener, Aesculap Academy, 2nd Annual Scientific Meeting, St Helens, Tasmania, April, 2007
  • Co-chair & faculty, Medtronic: Fundamentals of Spine Trauma, Registrar Instructional course, Sydney, October 2008
  • Co-chair & faculty, Medtronic: Australian Contemporary Spinal Trauma Techniques Course, Sydney, October 2008
  • Medtronic Sagittal Balance Course, Sydney, December 2009
  • Co-chair & faculty, Medtronic: Korean Spine Surgery Course, Memphis, February 2010
  • Stryker, Deformity for Neurosurgeons Course, Melbourne, April, 2011
  • Medtronic Sagittal Balance Master Course, Thailand, August 24-25, 2012
  • Convener and co-chair, LifeHealthcare Motion Preservation Seminar, Sydney, November 2012.
  • Medtronic Ageing Spine Symposium, Melbourne 2014. ​
  • Medtronic Winter University seminar, Melbourne, August 2019
PEER REVIEW POSITIONS:
  • Reviewer for: Acta Neurochirurgica, 2002 – 2009
  • NHMRC grant application review: “Investigations of CSF flow in post-traumatic syringomyelia”, May 2003
  • Member of Basic Sciences abstract review committee for world SAS 9, 10, 11 and ISSAS 11, 12, 13, 15 & 16 conferences 
  • Reviewer for: ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2014 - present
  • Reviewer for: International Journal of Spine Surgery, 2017 - present
  • Reviewer for: BMJ Open, 2022-present 
CURRENT RESEARCH;
  • Clinical observational research on lumbar post fusion adjacent segment disease (ASD) and effects of pedicle screw based flexible stabilising devices.
  • Kinematics, balance and optimal design of thoraco-lumbar posterior dynamic stabilising devices - clinical, observational research (prior laboratory in vitro biomechanical).​
PRIOR LABORATORY RESEARCH;
  • Development of an in vivo porcine model of closed head injury. Model developed as part of Neurotrauma Fellowship, Sunnybrook Medical Center, Toronto, Canada (July 1986 – June 1987)
  • Experimental research into the possible role of Omentum in a sheep model of acute spinal cord injury. Wellcome Animal Lab, Royal North Shore Hospital, 1988/89.
  • In vitro study of shear force on interbody implants – joint supervision of MBiomedE graduate student research project on porcine spinal segments in Prof W. Walsh’s biomechanics lab, Univ of NSW, 2005.
  • In vitro biomechanical testing of cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty prototypes. VA Hines Memorial Biomechanics Lab with Dr A Patwardhan, Chicago. November 2006 and January 2009)
  • Atlantoaxial fixation with C1 Posterior Arch Screws: In vitro Biomechanical Comparison with Transarticular and C1 Lateral Mass Screw Techniques – joint supervision of project by Complex Spinal clinical & research Fellow, with A/Prof Richard Appleyard at Royal North Shore Hospital. 2010.
  • In vitro biomechanical study of the segmental biomechanics of motion segments above 1-, 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Fusions and ‘Topping-Off’ 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Spinal Fusions with Pedicle Screw Based, Flexible Couplers of Different Stiffness at VA Hines Memorial Biomechanics Lab with Dr A Patwardhan, Chicago. February 2014
INDUSTRY CONSULTANCIES
  • Consultant to Medtronic, Memphis, TN, USA, 2000-2018
  • Consultant to Paradigm Spine GmbH, Wurmlingen, Germany, 2010-2019
  • Consultant to LifeHealthcare, Sydney, Australia, 2013-Present
  • Consultant to NuVasive, San Diego, CA, USA, 2013-2017
NAMED INVENTOR ON U.S PATENTS. (US Patent numbers & Titles)
  • 10,226,354                  Prosthesis
  • 9,375,322                    Vertebral disc prosthesis
  • 9,283,090                   Spinal construct and method
  • 9,138,329                    Vertebral disc prosthesis
  • 9,095,445                   Vertebral interbody spacer
  • 8,613,769                    Apparatus and method for supporting vertebral bodies
  • 8,591,589                    Interbody fusion device
  • 8,109,976                    Systems and methods for vertebral stabilization
  • 8,062,368                   Expandable vertebral implants and methods of use
  • 8,012,213                    Apparatus and method for supporting vertebral bodies
  • 7,951,203                    Interbody fusion device
  • 7,806,933                   System and method for stabilizing a prosthetic device
  • 7,563,281                    Apparatus and method for supporting vertebral bodies
  • 7,326,251                    Interbody fusion device
PUBLICATIONS:
          I.   PEER REVIEWED ORIGINAL ARTICLES - JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS:
          (PA-denotes Principal Author; SRI-Senior Responsible Investigator; CPA-Co-Principal Author; C-Collaborator)
  1. Grant JM, Yeo JD, Sears WR. Copeman MC. Arterial Brown-Sequard's syndrome after a penetrating injury of the spinal cord at the cervicomedullary junction.  (C) [Journal Article] Medical Journal of Australia. 143(2):84-5, 1985 Jul 22.
  2. Grant JM. Sears WR. Spinal injury and computerized tomography: a review of fracture pathology and a new approach to canal decompression. [Journal Article] Australian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 56(4):299-307, 1986 Apr.  (CPA)
  3. Kohout MP. Percy J. Sears W. Yeo JD. Tiger mauling: fatal spinal injury. [Journal Article] Australian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 59(6):505-6, 1989 Jun.  (C)
  4. Sears W. Fazl M. Prediction of stability of cervical spine fracture managed in the halo vest and indications for surgical intervention. [Journal Article] Journal of Neurosurgery. 72(3):426-32, 1990 Mar.  (CPA)
  5. Ferch RD, Morgan MK, Sears WR. Spinal arteriovenous malformations: a review with case illustrations. [Review] [28 refs] [Journal Article. Review. Review of Reported Cases] Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 8(4):299-304, 2001 Jul.  (C)
  6. Sears WR, Francis IC. Use of the ophthalmic phacoemulsification instrument for tumors of the spinal cord. Report of seven cases. [Journal Article] Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. 17(1):41-43, 2004   (PA)
  7. Grauer JN, Vaccaro AR, Beiner JM, Kwon BK, Hilibrand AS, Harrop JS, Anderson G, Hurlbert J, Fehlings MG, Ludwig SC, Hedlund R, Arnold PM, Bono CM, Brodke DS, Dvorak MF, Fischer CG, Sledge JB, Shaffrey CI, Schwartz DG, Sears WR, Dickman C, Sharan A, Albert TJ, Rechtine GR.  Similarities and differences in the treatment of spine trauma between surgical specialties and location of practice. [Journal Article] Spine. 2004 Mar 11; 29(6):685-96.  (C)
  8. GE Pickett, DK Mitsis, LH Sekhon, WR Sears, N. Duggal. Effects of a cervical disc prosthesis on segmental and cervical spine alignment. [Journal Article] Neurosurgery Focus. 17(3):E5, 2004  (C)
  9. Sears W.  Posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: restoration of sagittal balance using insert-and-rotate interbody spacers. [Journal Article]  Spine J. 2005 Mar-Apr;5(2):170-9.   (PA)
  10. Sears W.  Posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: restoration of sagittal balance using insert-and-rotate interbody spacers. [Journal Article]  Spine J. 2005 Mar-Apr;5(2):170-9.  (PA)
  11. Sekhon LHS, Sears W and Duggal N: Cervical arthroplasty after previous surgery: results of treating 24 discs in 15 patients. [Journal Article] Journal of Neurosurgery Spine. 3(5):335-41.2005 Nov.  (C)
  12. Pickett G, Duggal N, Sekhon LHS and Sears W. Complications with cervical arthroplasty. [Journal Article] Journal of Neurosurgery Spine. 4(2):98-105. Feb 2006.  (CPA)
  13. Hitchcock R, Sears W, Gillies R, Milthorpe B, Walsh W. In vitro study of shear force on interbody implants. [Journal Article] Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. 19(1):32-36. Feb 2006.  (CPA)
  14. Sears WR, Sekhon LH, Duggal N, Wiliamson, OD. Sagittal malalignment with the Bryan cervical disc prosthesis: does it occur? [Journal Article] Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques 20(1):1-7. Feb 2007.  (PA)
  15. Sears WR, Duggal N, Sekhon LH, Williamson, OD. Segmental malalignment with the Bryan cervical disc prosthesis – contributing factors. [Journal Article] Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. 20(2):111-118. Apr 2007   (PA)
  16. Sekhon LHS, Sears W, Lynch JJ: Surgical management of traumatic thoracic spondyloptosis: review of 2 cases. [Journal Article] J Clin Neuroscience 14(8):770-5, Aug 2007.  (C)
  17. Davis G, Hamlyn P, Sears WR, McCrory P. Clinics in neurology and neurosurgery - cervical disc prolapse. [Journal Article] Br J Sports Med. 2009;43:455-459.  (C)
  18. Donnellan MB, Sergides IG, Sears WR: Atlanto-axial stabilization using multi-axial C1 posterior arch screws. [Journal Article] J Neurosurg Spine. 2008 Dec;9(6):522-7.
  19. Hirst JE, Torode H, Sears W, Cousins MJ. Beware the Tarlov cyst. [Journal Article] J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2009 Jan-Feb;16(1):78-80   (C)
  20. Davis G, Johnson E, McCormick PC, Roger EP, Ugokwe K, Benzel EC, Sears WR, McCrory P. Clinics in neurology and neurosurgery of sport: lumbar spine. Sequestrated disc prolapse and disc bulge. [Journal Article] Br J Sports Med. 2009 Oct;43(10):796-801. Epub 2009 May 20.   (C)
  21. Mokhtar SA, McCombe PF, Williamson OD, Morgan MK, Sears WR. Health related quality of life: A comparison of outcomes following lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis with large joint replacement surgery and population norms [Journal Article] Spine J. 2010 Apr;10(4):306-12.  (SRI)
  22. Fehlings MG, Rabin D, Sears W, Cadotte DW, Aarabi B. Current Practice in the Timing of Surgical Intervention in Spinal Cord Injury. [Journal Article] Spine 2010; 35: S166-S173   (C)
  23. Fairhall JM, Reddy R, Sears W, Wenderoth JD, Stoodley MA. Successful endovascular and surgical treatment of spinal extradural metameric arteriovenous malformation. Case report. J Neurosurg Spine. 2010 Dec;13(6):784-8.  (C)
  24. Sears WR, Sergides IG, Kazemi N, Smith M, White GJ, Osburg B.  Incidence and prevalence of surgery at segments adjacent to a previous posterior lumbar arthrodesis.  [Journal Article] The Spine Journal 11 (2011) 11–20.  (PA)
  25. Sergides IG, McCombe PF, White G, Mokhtar S, Sears WR. Lumbo-pelvic lordosis and the pelvic radius technique in the assessment of spinal sagittal balance: strengths and caveats. Eur Spine J. 2011 Sep;20 Suppl 5:591-601  (SRI)
  26. Sergides IG, Saravanja DD, Sears WR. Monitoring Image Guidance System Accuracy during Spinal Surgery with Mini-screw Fiducials - Technical Note. [Journal Article] Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. 2013 Apr;26(2):E75-9   (SRI)
  27. Patwardhan AG, Havey RM, Khayatzadeh S, Muriuki MG, Voronov LI, Gerard Carandang G, Nguyen NL, Ghanayem AJ, Schuit D, Patel AA, Smith ZA, Sears W. Postural Consequences of Cervical Sagittal Imbalance. A Novel Laboratory Model. [Journal Article] Spine. 2015 Jun;40(11):783-92. (C)
  28. Robertson PA, Sears WR, Cunningham JE. Comment on Delitto et al. Surgery Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. [Letter to the Editor] Ann Intern Med. 2015;163(5):396-7. (C)
  29. Patwardhan AG, Khayatzadeh S, Ngoc-Lam Nguyen NL, Havey RM, Voronov LI, Muriuki MG, Carandang G, Smith ZA, Sears W, Lomasney  LM, Ghanayem AJ. Is Cervical Sagittal Imbalance an Independent Risk Factor for Adjacent Segment Pathology After Multilevel Fusion? [Journal Article] Spine 2016;10:E580-8. (C)
  30. Patwardhan AG, Khayatzadeh S, Havey RM, Voronov LI, Smith ZA, Kalmanson O, Ghanayem AJ, Sears W. Cervical sagittal balance: abiomechanical perspective can help clinical practice. [Journal Article]​ Eur Spine J. 2018 Feb;27(Suppl 1):25-38.  (C) 
  31. Sears, W.R., Solterbeck, A.C. & Kos, J.A. Risk of adjacent segment disease after ‘topping-off’ multi-level lumbar fusions with posterior dynamic stabilisers: an observational cohort study. Eur Spine J. 2021 Jan;30(1):181-190.  (PA)
  32. Trang J, Kos J, Sears W. Experience with Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Review of 1019 Procedures. Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Feb;17(1):86-94.  (SRI)
 
          II. BOOK CHAPTERS:
  1. Sears WR. Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): Spinal Stabilization, Clinical Results and References. Spine Universe. Oct 2005
  2. Sekhon LHS, Sears W and Yeo J: "Epidemiology, Demographics and Principles of Pre-Hospital Care" in Rengachary SS, Macuinas RJ and Wilkins RH (Eds): Neurosurgery, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2003
  3. Sears WR, McCombe PF, Sasso RC. Kinematics of cervical and lumbar total disc replacement. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 18(2):117-129. Jun 2006
  4. Sasso RC, Sears WR, McCombe PF. Cervical motion in arthroplasty and arthrodesis: evaluation with digital image analysis. Roundtables Spine Surg - Recent Adv Cervical Arthroplasty. 2007;2:35-43
  5. Scheer JK, Ha Y, Deviren D, Lee Sang-Hun, Sears WR and Ames CP: "Cervical Deformity and Treatment Algorithms" in Shenn HS, Samartis DS and Fessler RG (Eds): The Textbook of the Cervical Spine, Elsevier Saunders, Missouri, 2015

          III. DRAFT BOOK CHAPTERS: 
  1. Sears WR: "Natural Evolution of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis" in Jung Keun Suh, MD, Daniel H. Kim, MD, and Se-Hoon Kim, MD (Eds): Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. 
  2. Sears WR: "Biomechanics and Lumbar Adjacent Segment Pathology…
    Risk Factors for Adjacent Segment Pathology" draft for ISSLS - Lumbar Spine Online Textbook.

PRESENTATIONS:
          I.  PEER REVIEWED PAPERS READ - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY MEETINGS:
  1. Single Stage Posterior Decompression and Fusion for Thoracolumbar Trauma, XIIth International Congress of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Sydney, Australia, September 2001.
  2. Micromotion of Vertebral Interbody Implants Subjected to an Anterior Shear Force: An in vitro Porcine Study, IMAST, Montreux, Switzerland, May 2002
  3. Design Rationale & Clinical Results for a new Insert & Rotate Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Spacer – the R90.  IMAST, Montreux, Switzerland, May 2002
  4. Complete Reduction and PLIF Using Insert and Rotate Interbody Spacers for Spondylolisthesis: A Review of 125 Patients. World Spine II, Chicago, USA, August 2003
  5. Post-operative kyphosis & segmental imbalance with a partially constrained, variable I.A.R. cervical disc prosthesis. Spine Arthroplasty 5, New York, USA, May 2005
  6. Post-operative kyphosis & segmental imbalance with an unconstrained, variable I.A.R. cervical disc prosthesis. NorthAmericanSpineSociety 20th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, USA, September 2005
  7. Comparison of health-related quality of life following fusion for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with hip and knee joint replacement surgery and with population norms, NorthAmericanSpineSociety 23rd Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, October 2008
  8. Independence of Spinal Surgery Clinical Outcome Measurement Instruments - An Analysis of 9,600 Paired Outcome Measures, NorthAmericanSpineSociety 24th Annual Meeting, SanFrancisco, USA, November 2009 – (Senior co-author)
  9. Incidence and Prevalence of Surgery at Segments Adjacent to a Previous Posterior Lumbar Arthrodesis. Eurospine2010, Vienna, September 17, 2010 (Winner: Prize for Best Podium Presentation, EuroSpine 2010)
  10. Adjacent Segment Disease Following 1049 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusions - A Retrospective Review. NorthAmericanSpineSociety 25th Annual Meeting, Orlando, USA, November 2010
  11. Compensatory Mechanisms and the Effect of Age on Sagittal Balance in Spondylolisthesis: An analysis using the Pelvic Radius Technique. ISASS 12, Barcelona, Spain, March 23rd, 2012
  12. The Coflex® vs. Fusion U.S. FDA I.D.E. Trial – An in vivo Biomechanical Study of Adjacent Segment Motion following Fusion.  NorthAmericanSpineSociety 27th Annual Meeting, Dallas TX, USA, October 25th 2012. (Senior co-author)
  13. Progressively increased Mechanical Burden on Adjacent Levels after 1-, 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Fusions. ISASS 2015, San Diego, USA, April 17th 2015
  14. Sears WR. Does Advancing Age Adversely Influence Clinical Outcomes following Lumbar Fusion Surgery? A Retrospective Cohort Study. NorthAmericanSpineSociety 30th Annual Meeting, Chicago IL, USA, October 17th 2015
  15. Sears WR, Maislin G, Davis R, Errico T, Bae H. Lumbar Spinal Fusion as a Risk Factor for Adjacent Segment Degeneration - Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter RCT. ISASS 2016 Las Vegas, USA, April 7th 2016
  16. Sears WR, Maislin G, Davis R, Errico T, Bae H. Lumbar Spinal Fusion as a Risk Factor for Adjacent Segment Degeneration – Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. EuroSpine 2016, Berlin, October 7th 2016.
 
          II. PEER REVIEWED PAPERS READ - NATIONAL SOCIETY MEETINGS:
  1. Sequential calf compression for DVT prophylaxis in Neurosurgical patients, Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, May 1985
  2. Cerebral Abscess.  Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, May 1985
  3. Predicting the stability of cervical spine fractures managed in the halo vest and indications for surgical intervention – a review of 273 patients, Canadian Neurosciences Meeting, Vancouver, 1987
  4. Cervical Spinal Injury: Predicting the Success or Failure of Management in the Halo Vest. Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, 1989.
  5. Posterior Vertebrectomy for Thoracic Vertebral Malignancy, Combined Neurosurgical Society of Australasia and Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Broome, September 1995
  6. Surgical Management of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis using Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion – Evolution of a technique. Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Fraser Island, August 2000
  7. Posterior Vertebrectomy for High Thoracic and Cervico-thoracic Tumours. Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, April 2001
  8. PLIF and Correction of Sagittal Deformity for Spondylolisthesis – Evolution of a Technique.  Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, April 2001
  9. Posterior Decompression and Vertebral Reconstruction for Thoraco-lumbar Burst Fractures.  Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, April 2002.
  10. Vertebral Interbody Implant Surface Serrations and Shear Forces: An in vitro Porcine Model, Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, April 2002
  11. Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion – A Review of 362 Patients, Spine Society of Australia, Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, April 2002
  12. Bryan Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: 12 month minimum follow-up in 10 patients. Neurosurgical Society of
    Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting    , Queenstown, NewZealand, August 2003.
  13. Bryan Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: 12 month minimum follow-up in 14 patients. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Hyatt Coolum, Australia, April 2004.
  14. Post-operative kyphosis with the Bryan Cervical Disc prosthesis – contributing factors and the influence of change in disc space height. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, April 2005.
  15. PLIF for Adult Scoliosis. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia, April 2006.
  16. Comparison of health-related quality of life following fusion for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with hip and knee joint replacement surgery and with population norms. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia, April 2008.
  17. Health-related quality of life following further surgery for ‘failed back surgery’. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, April 2009.
  18. Incidence and prevalence of surgery at segments adjacent to a previous posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010.
  19. Preoperative Health-Related Quality of Life scores as predictor of clinical outcome after degenerative lumbar surgery. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010. (Senior co-author)
  20. Comparison of a new technique of atlantoaxial fixation using multi-axial C1 Posterior Arch screws with Magerl-Gallie and Harms techniques: a cadaveric biomechanical study. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010. (Senior co-author)
  21. Atlanto-axial stabilization using multi-axial C1 Posterior Arch screws. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010. (Senior co-author)
  22. Compensatory Mechanisms & the Effect of Age on Sagittal Balance in Spondylolisthesis: An Analysis Utilizing the Pelvic Radius Technique. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia, April 2012. (Senior co-author) (Winner: 2012 Alastair Robson Memorial Prize for Best Presentation for research in clinical practice)
  23. The Coflex® vs. Fusion U.S. FDA I.D.E. Trial – An in vivo Biomechanical Study of Adjacent Segment Motion following Fusion. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia, April 2012. (Senior co-author)
  24. Reverse Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy – Rationale and early experience of a novel PSO technique. Sears WR & Kos JA. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, SpineWeek, Melbourne, Australia, May 2023. (Senior co-author)
 
          III. PEER REVIEWED POSTER PRESENTATIONS - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY MEETINGS:
  1. Sekhon LHS, Sears W and Duggal N: Cervical arthroplasty after previous surgery: report of 15 cases. SA5- Global Symposium on Motion Preservation Technology,  New York, U.S.A., 2005
  2. Sekhon LHS, Sears WR. Cervical arthroplasty: Beyond the European and United States FDA Study. Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting, Vienna 2004.
  3. Sears W.  Single-stage posterolateral transpedicular circumferential decompression, realignment and fusion for thoracolumbar burst fractures. World Spine II, Chicago IL, August 2003.
  4. Sears W, Rouleau J. Avoidance of post-operative kyphosis and correction of sagittal alignment with the Bryan® cervical disc prosthesis. Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting 7, Berlin 2007.
  5. Sears W, McCombe P, Sasso R. A Kinematic Classification System for Total Disc Replacements. Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting 8, Miami 2008
  6. McCombe P, Sears W, Robertson P. A self stabilizing sliding core disc prosthesis. Spine Arthroplasty Society Meeting 9, London, April 2009
  7. McCombe P, Sears W, Robertson P. A self stabilizing sliding core disc prosthesis. ISSLS, Miami, May 2009
  8. Sears W, Mokhtar S. Health Related Quality of Life following revision surgery for ‘Failed Back Surgery’ - NorthAmericanSpineSociety 24th Annual Meeting, SanFrancisco, USA, November 2009
  9. Auerbach JD, Sears WR. A Comparison of Short Form-12 Health-Related Quality of Life Improvements following coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization, Lumbar Spinal Fusion with and without Cages, and Total Joint Arthroplasty. IMAST 2011, openhagen, Denmark, July 2011.
  10. Sears W, Sergides I. Posterior arch screw fixation in C1-2 fusion for painful atlantoaxial osteoarthritis. ISASS 12, Barcelona, Spain, March 2012
  11. William Sears, Ryan Sullivan, Leonard Voronov, Robert Havey, Gerard Carandang, Muturi Muriuki, Saeed Khayatzadeh, Stephan Eckhof, Detlev Ganter, Avinash Patwardhan. ‘Topping-Off’ 2- And 3-Level Lumbar Spinal Fusions With Pedicle Screw Based, Flexible Couplers Of Different Stiffness. ISASS 2015, San Diego, USA, April 17th 2015
 
          IV. PEER REVIEWED POSTER PRESENTATIONS - NATIONAL SOCIETY MEETINGS:
  1. Complete reduction and PLIF using an insert and rotate technique for spondylolisthesis – a review of 35 patients. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra ACT, April 2003.
  2. Comparison of unicortical vs. bicortical Harms techniques with non-destructive biomechanical testing: a cadaveric biomechanical study. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010. (Senior co-author)
  3. Dos and don’ts of cervical spine testing: a biomechanical study using human cadaveric tissue. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, April 2010. (Co-author)
  4. William Sears, Ryan Sullivan, Leonard Voronov, Robert Havey, Gerard Carandang, Muturi Muriuki, Saeed Khayatzadeh, Stephan Eckhof, Detlev Ganter, Avinash Patwardhan. ‘Topping-Off’ 2- And 3-Level Lumbar Spinal Fusions With Pedicle Screw Based, Flexible Couplers Of Different Stiffness. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra ACT, April 2015
  5. William Sears, Ryan Sullivan, Leonard Voronov, Robert Havey, Gerard Carandang, Muturi Muriuki, Saeed Khayatzadeh, Avinash Patwardhan. Progressively increased Mechanical Burden on Adjacent Levels after 1-, 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Fusions. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra ACT, April 2015
  6. William Sears, Ryan Sullivan, Leonard Voronov, Robert Havey, Gerard Carandang, Muturi Muriuki, Saeed Khayatzadeh, Avinash Patwardhan. Progressively increased Mechanical Burden on Adjacent Levels after 1-, 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Fusions. Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, Sep 29th 2015

          V.  PRESENTATION AWARDS RECEIVED
  1. EuroSpine 2010: Prize for Best Podium Presentation:  Incidence and Prevalence of Surgery at Segments Adjacent to a Previous Posterior Lumbar Arthrodesis. Eurospine 2010, Vienna, September 17, 2010
  2. SSA 2012 ASM: Alastair Robson Memorial Prize for Best Presentation for research in clinical practice:  Compensatory Mechanisms & the Effect of Age on Sagittal Balance in Spondylolisthesis: An Analysis Utilizing the Pelvic Radius Technique. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia, April 2012. (Senior co-author)
  3. SSA 2015 ASM: Best Poster Award: William Sears, Ryan Sullivan, Leonard Voronov, Robert Havey, Gerard Carandang, Muturi Muriuki, Saeed Khayatzadeh, Avinash Patwardhan. Progressively increased Mechanical Burden on Adjacent Levels after 1-, 2- and 3-Level Lumbar Fusions. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra ACT, April 2015
 
          VI.  INVITED PODIUM PRESENTATIONS - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY MEETINGS
  1. Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.  9th Asian-Australasian Congress of Neurological Surgery, Taipei, Taiwan, 1995
  2. Anomalies of the Cranio-vertebral Junction.  9th Asian-Australasian Congress of Neurological Surgery, Taipei, Taiwan, 1995
  3. Lumbar Disc Surgery.  XIIth International Congress of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Sydney, September 2001.
  4. PLIF for Spondylolisthesis: Evolution of a technique.  XIIth International Congress of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Sydney, September 2001.
  5. The Surgical Management of Spinal Injury. ICRAN 2002 - International Conference on Recent Advances in Neurotraumatology, Bali, August 2002
  6. New Instrumentation for Spinal Cord Injury.  ICRAN 2002 - International Conference on Recent Advances in Neurotraumatology, Bali, August 2002
  7. Innovative Minimal Access Solutions in Lumbar Interbody Support and Posterior Pedicle Screw Fixation. The 46th Annual Commemorative Meeting of the Yonsei
    Neurosurgery University    , Seoul, Korea, May 2003
  8. Radiology of Acute Cervical Spine Trauma. Pre-course meeting - Cervical Spine Trauma, World Spine II, Chicago, USA, August 2003.
  9. Cervical Arthroplasty: Early clinical experience with the Bryan Cervical Disc System. The 4th Biennial Korea-Japan Conference on Spinal Surgery. Gyeongju, Korea, September, 2003
  10. PLIF in the Pacific Rim/Australasia. Pre-Course PLIF Symposium, North American Spine Society Meeting, San Diego, October 2003
  11. High Grade Spondylolisthesis – Reduction vs. In situ Fusion. ISSICon – 2006, New Delhi, India, March 2006
  12. Management of Cervical Spine Deformities. ISSICon – 2006 Pre-Conference Workshop on “Surgical Management of Cervical Spine Ailments”, New Delhi, India, March 2006
  13. Dilemmas in Lumbosacral Fixation. ISSICon – 2006, New Delhi, India, March 2006
  14. Lumbar spinal imbalance – should and can we correct it?  15th Japanese Spinal Instrumentation Society Meeting. Osaka, Japan, October 2006
  15. Cervical arthroplasty with the Bryan cervical disc prosthesis: rationale and clinical results. 15th Japanese Spinal Instrumentation Society Meeting. Osaka, Japan, October 2006
  16. Keynote speech on: ‘Kinematics of cervical and lumbar disc replacement.’ CNS/AANS Joint section of spine and peripheral nerve, Phoenix, Arizona, March 2007
  17. Disc arthropasty for cervical myelopathy, Pre-meeting course on Cervical disc arthroplasty. Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2007 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, September, 2007.
  18. Disc arthroplasty for cervical myelopathy. 1st Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society Meeting, Seoul, Korea.  November, 2007.
  19. Biomechanics of Cervical Arthroplasty. 1st Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society Meeting, Seoul, Korea.  November, 2007.
  20. Disc arthroplasty for cervical myelopathy, Pre-meeting course on Cervical disc arthroplasty. Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2008 Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, USA, September, 2008.
  21. The case for disc arthroplasty. 2nd Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Seoul, Korea, November, 2008.
  22. C1/2 Stabilization challenges – a new fixation technique using C1 Posterior arch screws. 2nd Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Seoul, Korea, November, 2008.
  23. 2009 Fundamentals of Spine Surgery
  24. Posterior vertebrectomy for high thoracic metastatic tumors.  AANS International Spine Symposium, AANS Annual Meeting, San Diego, May 2, 2009
  25. Atlanto-axial stabilization using C1 posterior arch screws – intermediate            clinical results & biomechanical evaluation. 3rd Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Beijing, China, November, 2009.
  26. Incidence and prevalence of surgery at segments adjacent to a previous posterior lumbar arthrodesis. 1st Jeju Spine Symposium – Asia Pacific, Jeju Island, Korea, June 12, 2010.
  27. Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: Biomechanics and Early Clinical Results. 6th World Congress on Biomechanics - Motion Preservation Symposium, Singapore, August 6th, 2010
  28. Surgical Management of Cervical Spine Deformity. Asia Spine 1, Incheon, Korea, September 10, 2010
  29. Lumbar Total Disc Replacement. Motion Technology pre-Course Symposium. NorthAmericanSpineSociety 25th Annual Meeting, Orlando, USA, November 2010
  30. Rationale for Motion Preservation: Theory & Clinical Evidence. Motion Technology pre-Course Symposium. NorthAmericanSpineSociety 26th Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, November 2011
  31. Posterior Arch Screw Fixation for Painful Atlantoaxial Osteoarthritis. 5th Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Bali, Indonesia, November, 2011.
  32. Cervical Laminoforaminotomy for degenerative radiculopathy – a comparison with published results following ACDF & TDR. 5th Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Bali, Indonesia, November, 2011.
  33. Cervical spinal sagittal balance – an analysis of normal volunteers. 6th Asia-Pacific Cervical Spine Society, Chiang Mai, Thailand, November, 2012.
  34. Spinal Neurosurgery in Australia.  International Symposium II: Australia-Asia Neurosurgical Summit, 82nd American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting. San Francisco, April 8th 2014
  35. Lumbar adjacent segment disease – Aetiology and Mtigation. 4th Annual NeuroSpine Meeting, Jeju Island, Korea November 1st 2014
  36. The Surgical Challenge of Cervical Sagittal Balance. 46th Annual Meeting, Cervical Spine Research Society. Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, December 7th 2018 
 
          VII. INVITED PODIUM PRESENTATIONS - INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY SPONSORED MEETINGS:
  1. Posterior Vertebrectomy for Metastatic Thoraco-lumbar tumours.  Techniques and Concepts of Spinal Surgery. Phuket, Thailand, 1997
  2. PLIF for Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis.  Techniques and Concepts of Spinal Surgery. Phuket, Thailand, 1997
  3. Classification of Cervical Spinal Trauma.  Global Spine, Hawaii, July 2000
  4. PLIF for Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis.  Global Spine, Hawaii, July 2000
  5. Detethering of the Spinal Cord.  International Medical Society of Paraplegia, Sydney, October 2000
  6. PLIF for Spondylolisthesis: Evolution of a technique.  Current Spine, Malaysia, January 2001
  7. Cervical Metastatic Disease.  Current Spine, Malaysia, January 2001
  8. Posterior Vertebrectomy for High Thoracic and Cervico-thoracic Metastatic Vertebral Tumours. Current Spine, Malaysia, January 2001
  9. Posterior en bloc multi-level Vertebrectomy and Reconstruction for Primary Spinal Tumours.  International Spine Symposium, Perth, Australia, May 2001.
  10. Evolution of PLIF in Spondylolisthesis.  International Spine Symposium, Perth, Australia, May 2001.
  11. Single Stage Posterior Decompression and Fusion for Thoracolumbar Trauma.  International Spine Symposium, Perth, Australia, May 2001.
  12. Spondylolisthesis Reduction Options. Global Spine, California, October 2002
  13. Artificial Cervical Discs: Indications, Techniques and Early Results. Current Spine, Malaysia, November, 2002
  14. Fundamental Concepts of Thoraco-lumbar Surgery. Current Spine, Malaysia, November, 2002
  15. PLIF: Indications and Techniques. Current Spine, Malaysia, November, 2002
  16. Cervical Disc Replacement. Advanced Techniques of Spine Instrumentation, Brisbane, Australia, September 2004.
  17. Insert and Rotate PLIF: Surgical Technique and Early Results. China International Spine Conference, Brisbane, Australia, January 2004.
  18. Endoscopic PLIF: A new approach with Metrx & R90. China International Spine Conference, Brisbane, Australia, January 2004.
  19. R90 Surgical Techniques and Clinical Results. Advanced Techniques of Spine Instrumentation, Brisbane, Australia, September 2004.
  20. Bryan Disc Balance Study. International Bran Disc User Group Meeting. New York, USA, May 2005
  21. Optimizing spinal alignment with Gen 1 Bryan Disc instrumentation. International Cervical Arthroplasty User Group Meeting. Miami, USA, May 2008
  22. Design Features and Initial Experience DSS HP system.  Lunchtime Industry Workshop. EuroSpine 2011, Milan, Italy
  23. Adjacent Segment Disease – Myth or Fact? Follow-up of 1,000 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusions. Paradigm Spine Users Meeting. Berlin, Germany. March 16, 2012.
  24. Early Experience with the new HPS System. Paradigm Spine Users Meeting. Berlin, Germany. March 17, 2012.
  25. Adjacent Segment Disease – Myth or Fact? Follow-up of 1,000 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusions and Early Experience with the new HPS System. Lunchtime Industry Workshop presentation. ISASS 12, Barcelona, Spain, March 21, 2012
  26. Introductory Biomechanics of Spinal Balance. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Master Course, Bangkok, Thailand, August 2012.
  27. Kyphosis. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Master Course, Bangkok, Thailand, August 2012.
  28. Tips and Tricks – Kyphos-scoliosis Surgery. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Master Course, Bangkok, Thailand, August 2012.
  29. Introductory Biomechanics of Spinal Balance and Sagittal Balance Compensation Mechanisms. Medtronic China Master Courses, Guangzhou, August 17th 2016
  30. Adult Degenerative Kypho-scoliosis: Surgical Challenges. Medtronic China Master Courses, Wuhan, August 18th 2016
  31. Adjacent Segment Degeneration – Disease or natural history? Medtronic China Master Courses, Shanghai, August 19th 2016
  32. Evolution of Cervical Discs - A Clinical Overview. Spinal Kinetics 4th International Symposium for Cervical and Lumbar Arthroplasty. Berlin, October 7th 2016.
  33. Can lumbar Adjacent Segment Disease be reduced by ‘topping-off’ with pedicle-screw-based, dynamic stabilizers? – an observational study. Paradigm Spine HPS2.0 meeting, Helsinki,  October 15th 2019
 
          VII.  INVITED PODIUM PRESENTATIONS – NATIONAL/REGIONAL/LOCAL SOCIETY MEETINGS:
  1. Spinal Fusion? - When and how are crucial. Kuring-gai District Medical Association Annual Scientific Conference, Fiji, June 2003
  2. Cervical Disc Replacement. Australian Orthopaedic Association New Technologies in Orthopaedics COE Meeting, Brisbane, August 2004
  3. Managing the ‘malignant spine’. Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, May 2006.
  4. The Failed Back. Ku-ring-gai District Medical Association Bi-monthly clinical meeting, Sydney, July 2007
  5. Degenerative spondylolisthesis and scoliosis. Fundamentals of Spine Surgery Course, Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, April 2009
  6. Introductory Biomechanics. NSA Registrar Training Seminar, Melbourne, April 2011
  7. EOS @ Dalcross Adventist Hospital.  Melbourne Spinal Surgeons. Epworth Hospital. November 2011
  8. Guidewire complications. Surgical Wisdom Session – Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, Western Australia, April 2013.
  9. Cervical laminoforaminotomy – a similar cohort comparison with published results following ACDF & TDR. Neurosurgery Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Coolum, Qld, October 5th 2013.
  10. Adjacent Segment Disease: Natural History or Preventable Complication? Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, Sep 29th 2015
  11. Disc Arthroplasty Can be Used Despite Kyphotic Angulation. Cervical Kyphosis and Disc Disease: Disc Arthroplasty vs Fusion. A debate and expert opinion – Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 1st 2015
  12. High Grade Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: Surgical Management. Complex and Challenging Spine Case Breakfast Session - Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 1st 2015
  13. Adjacent Segment Degeneration – Disease or Natural History. Spine Society of Australia Seminar: Biomechanics in the Barossa. South Asutralia, May 27th 2016
  14. Cervical Spinal Sagittal Balance – An Analysis of Asymptomatic Volunteers. Spine Society of Australia Seminar: Biomechanics in the Barossa. South Australia, May 27th 2016
  15. Adjacent Segment Disease following Lumbar Spinal Fusion. Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting. Adelaide, September 1st 2017.
  16. Introduction to Improving Spinal Patient Surgical Outcomes. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, April 28th 2018.
  17. Adjacent Segment Disease following Lumbar Spinal Fusion. Sydney Spinal Symposium. Sydney, September 6th 2018
 
          VIII.  INVITED PODIUM PRESENTATIONS – NATIONAL INDUSTRY SPONSORED MEETINGS:
  1. PLIF and Sacral Fixation Techniques.  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, CTEC Perth, July 2002.
  2. Posterior Vertebrectomy for High Thoracic and Cervicothoracic Metastatic Vertebral Tumors.  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, CTEC Perth, July 2002.
  3. Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis – Attempted Total Correction with PLIF. Elevating Best Practice. Australia, November, 2003.
  4. Lytic Spondylolisthesis – They should all be reduced!? Elevating Best Practice. Australia, November, 2003.
  5. Segmental Balance in Total Disc Arthroplasty. Elevating Best Practice. Melbourne, Australia, November, 2004.
  6. Anterior approach for facet dislocations, Advances in Spine. Port Douglas, August 2005
  7. Posterior Transpedicular Vertebrectomy for Thoraco-lumbar Tumor and Trauma.  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, CTEC Perth, July 2002.
  8. PLIF for Adult Scoliosis. Advances in Spine. Port Douglas, August 2005
  9. Front vs. Back for Facet dislocation and Fractures: Posterior. Elevating Best Practice. Brisbane, Australia, November, 2005.
  10. Predictors of Bracing Failures for Cervical Spinal Injuries. Elevating Best Practice. Brisbane, Australia, November, 2005.
  11. PLIF for Degenerative Scoliosis. Elevating Best Practice. Sydney, Australia, November, 2006.
  12. Cervical Spinal Balance.  BBraun 2nd Scientific Meeting, Tasmania, April, 2007.
  13. Bryan Disc Arthroplasty for Cervical Soft Disc Herniation. Advances in Spine II. Port Douglas, August 2007
  14. Correction of spondylolisthesis. Advances in Spine II. Port Douglas, August 2007
  15. Techniques of Posterior Thoracolumbar fracture Fixation: tips and techniques. Medtronic Australian Contemporary Spinal Trauma Techniques Course, Sydney, October 2008.
  16. Bridging the cervico-thoracic junction. Medtronic Australian Contemporary Spinal Trauma Techniques Course, Sydney, October 2008.
  17. C1/ C2 Stabilisation challenges. Medtronic Australian Contemporary Spinal Trauma Techniques Course, Sydney, October 2008.
  18. PLIF: Advanced Deformity Correction. Medtronic ANZ Interbody Meeting, Melbourne, March 20th, 2009
  19. Clinical Relevance of Sagittal Balance - Flat Back Deformity. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Course, Sydney, December 2009.
  20. Introductory Biomechanics of Spinal Balance - Centre of Gravity. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Course, Sydney, December 2009.
  21. Spino-pelvic parameters - Pelvic parameters. Medtronic Sagittal Balance Course, Sydney, December 2009.
  22. Spinal Sagittal Balance: Clinical Relevance & Assessment. DePuy Osteotomy Masterclass. Sydney. June 2010.
  23. C1/2 stabilisation challenges. Medtronic Spinal Trauma Techniques Course, Sydney, November 2010
  24. Spinal deformity & Sagittal balance. Stryker - Deformity for Neurosurgeons Course. Melbourne. April 13, 2011.
  25. Complications of Deformity Surgery. Stryker - Deformity for Neurosurgeons Course. Melbourne. April 13, 2011.
  26. Osteotomy options in spinal deformity.  Medtronic Deformity Symposium 2012. Sydney, August 10-11th 2012
  27. Treating adjacent level disease in elderly patients.  Medtronic Deformity Symposium 2012. Sydney, August 10-11th 2012
  28. Biomechanics of Spinal Motion Preservation devices – Spinal kinematics, quality of motion and sagittal balance. LifeHealthcare Motion Preservation Seminar, Sydney, November 16-17th 2012
  29. The current role of pedicle screw based motion preservation devices. LifeHealthcare Motion Preservation Seminar, Sydney, November 16-17th 2012
  30. Adjacent segment disease & “topping off” – does it really work? LifeHealthcare Motion Preservation Seminar, Sydney, November 16-17th 2012
  31. PLIF and Sagittal Balance. Stryker L4/5 360degree Thought Leader Forum. Sydney, June 22nd 2013
  32. High-grade Isthmic Spondylolisthesis Surgical Management. Medtronic – The Ageing Spine Symposium. Melbourne, Victoria. November 21st 2014. 
  33. Practical Tips for PedicleSubtractionOsteotomy. Medtronic –The Ageing Spine Symposium.  Melbourne, Victoria. November 21st 2014.
  34. Patient Outcomes in the Balance: Spinal Surgery in the Next 10 Years. Lifehealthcare Breakfast Symposium Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Canberra, April 2015
  35. The Journey to Safety… Which Partners Do You Need? DePuySynthes – The Art of Fusion, Sydney, May 23rd 2015.
  36. Proximal Junctional Kyphosis. NuVasive Complex Spine Discussion Group. Sydney, February 18th 2017.
  37. Cervical Spinal Sagittal Balance – An Analysis of Asymptomatic Volunteers. NuVasive Complex Spine Discussion Group. Sydney, February 19th 2017.
  38. Proximal Junctional Kyphosis. Medtronic Ageing Spine Conference. Sydney, August 18th 2017
  39. RCTs are not an appropriate Gold Standard for determining the effectiveness of  Surgical Treatment. Medtronic Ageing Spine Conference. Sydney, August 18th 2017
  40. Proximal Junctional Kyphosis. Can Titanium Provide a Softer Landing? Medtronic Winter University Conference. Melbourne, August 9th 2019
  41. Prosthetic Cervical Discs. What can go wrong? Medtronic Winter University Conference. Melbourne, August 9th 2019
  42. Can lumbar Adjacent Segment Disease be reduced by 'topping-off' with pedicle-screw-based, dynamic stabilisers? - an observational study. LifeHealthcare Defority Downunder Symposium, August 10th 2019.
  43. Reducing Adjacent Segment Disease by ‘topping-off’ with HPS™ 2.0 Dynamic Stabilization System.  Surgalign HPS2.0 Vietnamese surgeon tele-meeting, April 9th 2022.
  
IX. ABSTRACTS/PROCEEDINGS

  1. Sears W, McCombe P. PLIF and correction of sagittal deformity for spondylolisthesis - evolution of a technique. In: Proceedings of Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, 2000; J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2001;83:365
  2. Sears W. Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion–A Review Of 362 Patients. In: Proceedings of Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, 2001; J Bone Joint Surg [Br]  2002;84 (Supp III):343-344
  3. Sears WR and Sekhon LHS: Surgical management of spinal injury. In: Proceedings of ICRAN 2002: International Conference on Recent Advances on Neurotraumatology, Bali, Indonesia, 2002.
  4. Sekhon LHS and Sears W: Cervical Arthroplasty: Beyond the European and United States FDA Study. In: Proceedings of SAS4- Global Symposium on Intervertebral Disc Replacement & Non-Fusion Technology, Vienna, 2004
  5. Sekhon LHS, Sears W and Duggal N: Cervical arthroplasty after previous surgery: report of 15 cases. In: Proceedings of SA5- Global Symposium on Motion Preservation Technology, p.65, New York, U.S.A., 2005
  6. Sears W, Sekhon L, Duggal N and Williamson O: Post-operative kyphosis and segmental imbalance with an unconstrained, variable IAR cervical disc prosthesis. Proceeds of SA5- Global Symposium on Motion Preservation Technology ,p.42, New York, U.S.A., 2005
  7. Duggal N, Sekhon LHS and Sears W: Early complications with cervical arthroplasty. Proceeds of SA5- Global Symposium on Motion Preservation Technology, p.118, New York, U.S.A., 2005
  8. Sekhon LHS, Sears W and Duggal N: Cervical arthroplasty after previous surgery: report of 15 cases. Proceeds of 12th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Technologies (IMAST),#218,, Banff, Alberta Canada, 2005
  9. Sears W, Sekhon L, Duggal N, McCombe, P, Williamson O: Post-operative kyphosis with the Bryan cervical disc prosthesis- contributing factors and the influence of disc space height. In: Proceedings of Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, 2004; J Bone Joint Surg (Br) Sep 2005; 87-B: 411.
  10. Sears W, McCombe P. PLIF for adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis. In: Proceedings Spine Society Of Australia ASM, Sydney, 2005; J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 2006;88-B:453.
  11. Sears W, McCombe P, Williamson O, White G. Comparison of Health-Related Quality of Life Following Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis with Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery and with Population Norms. In: Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2008 October; Toronto, Canada; The Spine Journal 2008; 8(5):7S-8S
  12. Sears W, Mokhtar S, Williamson O, White G. Health-Related Quality of Life Following Further Surgery for ‘Failed Back Surgery’–A Comparison with Results Following Primary Spinal Fusion and Large Joint Arthroplasty. In: Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2009 October; San Francisco, CA, USA; The Spine Journal 2009; 9(10):145S
  13. WR Sears, N Kazemi, IG Sergides, M Smith, GJ White. Incidence and Prevalence of Surgery at Segments Adjacent to a Previous Posterior Lumbar Arthrodesis. In: Proceedings of the EuroSpine 2010; 2010 September 17th; Vienna, Austria; EurSpineJ 2010;19 (Suppl 3):S263
  14. WR Sears, N Kazemi, IG Sergides, M Smith, GJ White. Adjacent Segment Disease Following 1049 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusions-A Retrospective Review. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2010 October; Orlando, FL, USA; The Spine Journal 2010;10(9):S71-S72
  15. Donnellan MB, Appleyard R, Sergides I, Sears W. Comparison of Unicortical vs. Bicortical Harms Techniques with Non-destructive Biomechanical Testing: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2010 October; Orlando, FL, USA; The Spine Journal 2010;10(9):S147
  16. Sergides I, Donnellan M, Appleyard R, Sears W. Atlantoaxial Stabilization Using Multi-axial C1 Posterior Arch Screws. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2010 October; Orlando, FL, USA; The Spine Journal 2010;10(9):S125
  17. Donnellan MB, Appleyard R, Sergides I, Sears W. Comparison of a New Technique of Atlantoaxial Fixation Using Multi-Axial C1 Posterior Arch Screws with Magerl-Gallie and Harms Techniques: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Model. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2010 October; Orlando, FL, USA; The Spine Journal 2010; 10(9):S79-S80
  18. Mokhtar SA, Sears WR. Preoperative Health-Related Quality of Life Scores as Predictor of Clinical Outcomes after Degenerative Lumbar Surgery. In: Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2010 October; Orlando, FL, USA; The Spine Journal 2010;10(9):S97-S98
  19. Appleyard R, Donnellan M, Sears W. Evaluation Of A Novel Cervical Spine Posterior Fixation Technique Using C1 Arch Screws: An In-Vitro Cadaveric Biomechanical Study. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2011;93(Supp II):195-195
  20. McCombe P, Mernagh P, Sears W. Cost-Effectiveness of Single-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty. In: Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2011 October; Chicago, IL, USA; The Spine Journal 2011;11(10):S16
  21. Sears WR, Davis RJ, Auerbach JD. The Coflex® Versus Fusion US FDA IDE Trial: An In Vivo Biomechanical Study of Adjacent Segment Motion Following Fusion. In: Proceedings of the 27th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2012 October 24-27; Dallas, TX, USA; The Spine Journal 2012;12(9):S29
  22. Appleyard R, Donnellan M, Sears W. Biomechanical Evaluation Of A Novel Cervical Spine Fixation Technique Using C1 Posterior Arch Screws: A In-Vitro Cadaveric Study. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2012;94 (Supp XXIII):168-168
  23. Sears WR. Does Advancing Age Adversely Influence Clinical Outcomes following Lumbar Fusion Surgery? A Retrospective Cohort Study. In: Proceedings of the 30th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society; 2015 October 14-17; Chicago, IL, USA; The Spine Journal 2015;15 (10):S180-S181
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