dr. ferran pellisé urquiza

Orthopedic surgery and traumatology
Spine surgery

Dr. Ferran Pellisé trained as an orthopaedic surgeon at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona and obtained a doctorate “cum laude” in 1994. Since 1995 he has been fully dedicated to the surgical treatment of spinal pathologies, with special focus and interest in scoliosis and other spinal deformities. He is the Head of the Spine Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Director of the Spine Unit (Barcelona Spine Institute – BSI) at Quirónsalud Barcelona Hospital and Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Dr. Pellisé is a regular reviewer of the highest impact journals in the speciality and was deputy editor of the European Spine Journal between 2005 and 2015. He has served on the boards of several medical associations dedicated to spinal diseases, including the Spanish Spine Society-GEER (President), the Spine Society of Europe (President) and the Scoliosis Research Society (Director at large and Secretary).

In 2017, after having created and directed the Pellisé Spine unit at Hospital Quirónsalud Barcelona ten years earlier, he founded the Barcelona Spine Institute (BSI) also at the same hospital, which belongs to the leading group in healthcare provision and quality care in Spain. Barcelona Spine Institute (BSI) was created with the aim of bringing together a highly qualified, multidisciplinary team focused on the specific care of spinal pathologies throughout patients’ lives.

In 2011, Dr. Pellisé founded the European Spine Study Group (ESSG) together with other renowned researchers in the field of adult spine deformities. Today, the ESSG is the leading platform for the analysis and evaluation of adult spinal deformities in Europe.

Areas of expertise

• Scoliosis, kyphosis and spinal deformities
• Canal stenosis
• Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis
• Lumbar and cervical disc herniation
• Cervical myelopathy
• Vertebral fractures
• Tumours and metastases in the spine

• 1987: Degree in Medicine (MD) from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
• 1992: Specialist Doctor in Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital de Traumatología y Rehabilitación Vall d’Hebron.
• 1994: Doctor of Medicine (PhD).

Professional career

• 1995-present: Assistant Doctor – Spine Surgery at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital.
• 2007-2017: Founder and director of the Dr Pellisé Spine Unit at Dr Pellisé Spine.
• 2014-present: Head of the Spine Unit – Spine Surgery at Hospital Universitari de la Vall d’Hebron.
• 2017-present: Director of the Barcelona Spine Institute (BSI) Spine Unit at Hospital Quirónsalud Barcelona.

Teaching activity/ Societies to which he belongs to

• 1993: Secretary of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SECOT).
• 2001-2005: Member of the Program Committee at Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2003-2004: Chairman of the Program Committee at Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2006-2009: Secretary of the Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2000-2007: Member of Task Force on Clinical Outcomes in Low Back Pain at the Society for the Study of Spine Diseases (GEER).
• 2007-2011: Board of Directors of the Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2009-2011: Member of Membership Committee of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine.
• 2011-2012: Vice-President of the Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2011-2013: Vice-President of the Society for the Study of Spine Diseases (GEER).
• 2012-2013: President of the Spine Society of Europe (EUROSPINE).
• 2012-present: Member Global Outreach Committee of the Scoliosis Research Society, Director at large and Secretary since 2020.
• 2013-present: Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at UAB – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
• 2013-2015: President of the Society for the Study of Spine Diseases (GEER).

Publications and conferences

• More than 165 international publications including: “Spine”, “The Spine Journal”, “Journal of Neurosurgery”, “European Spine Journal”, “Journal of Spinal Disorders” and “The Lancet”.
• More than 150 participations in national and international courses and congresses.
• Author of several national and international book chapters on spinal pathology.
• Author of the Clinical Practice Guide of the Institut Català de la Salut dedicated to adult low back pain.
• Principal investigator of several research projects financed with public and private, national and international funds.
• Regular reviewer of “Spine” and “European Spine Journal”.
• 1995 – 1997 Editorial Committee of Surgical Techniques in Orthopaedics and Traumatology.
• 2002 – 2004 Member of the Advisory Board of the “European Spine Journal”.
• 2004 Member of the Editorial Board of the “European Spine Journal”.
• 2005 Deputy Editor of the European Spine Journal.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Ferran Pellisé has received numerous prestigious research awards, as author or co-author, highlighting among others: the EuroSpine Best Paper Award 2014, the SRS Whitecloud Award for Best Clinical paper 2015 and 2016, the Best Podium Presentation EANS(European Association of NeuroSurgeons) 2018, the Best Paper Award GEER 2019 and the SRS Russell Hibbs Award 2013 and 2021.

Languages

Spanish, Catalan, English, French.