Core curriculum (CC) of spinal surgery: a step forward in defining our profession

The aim our study was to establish a core curriculum (CC) for spine surgery incorporating knowledge, skills and attitudes to help define spine surgery as a medical specialty and serve as a guide for specific spine surgery training.

A committee was established to prepare the CC. Five modules were established; Basic Sciences, Spinal Trauma, Degenerative Spine Diseases, Destructive Spine Pathologies and Spinal Deformity. Prepared CC modules were evaluated in a consensus meeting, translated and reevaluated in a second consensus meeting before being accepted as final.

In the five modules, 54 subject headings (19 for Basic Sciences, 10 for Spinal Trauma, 4 for Degenerative Spine Diseases, 4 for Destructive Spine Pathologies and 17 for Spinal Deformity) and 165 specific subjects (59 for Basic Sciences, 32 for Spinal Trauma, 10 for Degenerative Spine Diseases, 23 for Destructive Spine Pathologies and 41 for Spinal Deformity) were defined. Learning outcomes and entry and exit criteria were defined for all subjects.

This CC may form the basis of spinal surgery training, defining spinal surgery as a medical specialty and help us spine surgeons to develop better defined identities.