Prof. Dr. med. Jürgen Harms

Prof. Dr. med. Jürgen Harms is regarded as one of the internationally most influential pioneers of modern spine surgery. Over several decades, he has played a defining role in the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities, scoliosis, spinal tumors, and spinal instability through the development of innovative surgical techniques, approaches, and implant systems. Many of the concepts and techniques associated with his work have become established elements of contemporary spine surgery worldwide.

Since the foundation of the INI – International Neuroscience Institute® Hannover, Prof. Harms has operated at the INI on patients with complex spinal deformities and highly demanding disorders of the spine. Since August 1, 2024, he has worked exclusively at the INI Hannover.

His principal clinical focus is complex spinal deformity surgery, particularly scoliosis and kyphosis as well as congenital and acquired spinal deformities. He also has exceptional experience in the surgical treatment of complex spinal tumors, instability, congenital abnormalities, and revision surgery.

Prof. Harms initiated or substantially advanced several important developments in modern instrumented spine surgery. These include concepts in scoliosis and deformity correction, spinal tumor surgery, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), posterior hemivertebra resection, and stabilization of the atlantoaxial C1–C2 complex. Several of these techniques have subsequently become widely adopted in international spine surgery.

His name is particularly closely associated with the development of modern spinal implants. The Harms titanium cagebecame an internationally established implant concept for vertebral body reconstruction. Prof. Harms was also instrumental in the development and clinical introduction of polyaxial screw systems, which have become a fundamental design principle of modern spinal instrumentation.

The Harms technique for posterior C1–C2 fixation, using C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw fixation, became an internationally established method for stabilization of the atlantoaxial region. The neurosurgical literature specifically recognizes the technique described by Jürgen Harms in 2001 as an important advance in C1–C2 stabilization.

Prof. Harms also made important contributions to the treatment of congenital spinal deformities. Posterior hemivertebra resection with transpedicular instrumentation, particularly for congenital scoliosis, was introduced by him in the early 1990s and significantly influenced the surgical management of these complex deformities.

Throughout his career, Prof. Harms has continuously combined clinical surgery with the development of new surgical techniques, implants, instruments, and biomaterials for spine surgery. This close interaction between surgical experience and technological innovation has been a defining feature of his work.

His expertise in spinal deformity surgery is also reflected in the authoritative textbook Modern Management of Spinal Deformities, co-authored with Prof. Robert A. Dickson. The publisher Thieme explicitly describes the two authors as world-renowned pioneers in the field of spine surgery.

Prof. Harms has an exceptional operative experience and has performed or led more than 10,000 spinal proceduresduring his career, placing him among the most experienced spine surgeons of his generation.

His international standing is further reflected by extensive scientific collaborations, visiting surgical appointments, and lectures at major international congresses. Prof. Harms is an Honorary Member of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), one of the leading international scientific societies dedicated to spinal deformity.

At the INI, Prof. Harms contributes extraordinary international surgical experience and decades of pioneering work in the development of modern spine surgery. His particular focus is on patients with complex spinal deformities and disorders requiring the highest level of expertise in reconstructive and instrumented spine surgery.