Dr David Nielsen Is an Australian trained Orthopaedic Surgeon, with specialist knowledge and training in adult spine conditions.

Dr Nielsen completed five years of orthopaedic surgical training in metropolitan and regional Queensland hospitals, through the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

He has been awarded a subsequent subspecialty-certified fellowship in spine surgery. The 12-month fellowship was under the guidance of Professor Matthew Scott-Young with a particular focus on anterior reconstruction of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as posterior spine reconstructive surgery.

Dr Nielsen holds a public position as a specialist orthopaedic spine surgeon at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, and has led the expansion of public outpatient spine services to Redlands Hospital. He is involved in the spinal trauma team and treats a wide range of elective spinal conditions.

Along with his passion for spine care, Dr Nielsen also enjoys teaching and education. He presents at national and international medical conferences, and tailors engaging education material to share knowledge across clinical speciality domains and attendee experience levels.

Qualifications & Education.

  • Pindara Private Hospital Spinal Fellowship 2020

  • Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2020

  • Bachelor of Surgery & Bachelor of Medicine, Griffith University 2008

  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Griffith University 2005

Publications.

  • Scott-Young M, Nielsen D, Riar S. Fundamentals of Mechanobiology and Potential Applications in Spinal Fusion. Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Dec 27;17(S3):S61-S74. doi: 10.14444/8562

  • Rathbone J, Rackham M, Nielsen D, Lee SM, Hing W, Riar S, Scott-Young M. A systematic review of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF). Eur Spine J. 2023 Jun;32(6):1911-1926. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07567-x.

  • Scott-Young M, McEntee L, Rathbone E, Nielsen D, Grierson L, Hing W. Single-Level Total Disc Replacement: Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes. Int J Spine Surg. 2022;16(5):847-858. doi:10.14444/8330

  • Scott-Young M, McEntee L, Rathbone E, Nielsen D, Grierson L, Hing W. Single-Level Total Disc Replacement: Index-Level and Adjacent-Level Revision Surgery Incidence, Characteristics, and Outcomes. Int J Spine Surg. 2022;16(5):837-846. doi:10.14444/8331

  • Scott-Young M, Lee SMS, Nielsen D, Rathbone E, Rackham M, Hing W. Comparison of Mid- to Long-term Follow-up of Patient-reported Outcomes Measures After Single-level Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty, Multi-level Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty, and the Lumbar Hybrid Procedure for the Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022;47(5):377-386. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000004253

  • Scott-Young M, McEntee L, Rathbone E, Hing W, Nielsen D. Clinical Outcomes of Cervical Hybrid Reconstructions: A Prospective Study. Int J Spine Surg. 2020;14(s2):S57-S66. doi:10.14444/7092

  • Scott-Young M, McEntee L, Schram B, Rathbone E, Hing W, Nielsen D. Concurrent Use of Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty and Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: The Lumbar Hybrid Procedure for the Treatment of Multilevel Symptomatic Degenerative Disc Disease: A Prospective Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018;43(2):E75-E81. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000002263

  • Scott-Young MN, Lee MJ, Nielsen DEA, Magno CL, Kimlin KR, Mitchell EO. Clinical and Radiological Mid-Term Outcomes of Lumbar Single-Level Total Disc Replacement. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018;43(2):105-113. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182345aa2

Awards.

  • The Spine Society of Australia Alistair Robson Award 2021 “Index Level and Adjacent Level Revision Spine Surgery Following Single Level Lumbar Total Disc Replacement”

  • Australian Orthopaedic Association Don Tuffley Award 2018 “Clinical and Radiological Mid-Term Outcomes of Lumbar Single-Level Total Disc Replacement”


A note from Dr Nielsen:

I discovered my passion for spine care while working as a research assistant during university. Speaking to patients in the months and years following their operations, they shared with me how spine surgery had not just improved their health, but had a positive impact on their happiness, relationships, and quality of life.

Let’s work together to get you back to doing the things that are most important in your life.