Your Solution in Complex Spine Surgery
"Challenges have always driven me to find solutions"
"If you're seeking a thorough assessment or a second opinion regarding your complex spinal challenge, you´ve come to right place."
- Jarkko Halme -
​
Looking back on more than 15 years of experience with spinal pathologies, I’ve gained a deep understanding of both the possibilities and the limitations of modern spine surgery. Pushing the boundaries has taught me that the limits of yesterday may well become the standards of tomorrow.
​
In reality, only a small percentage of elective patients with back pain - or even nerve root pain - truly require surgical intervention, and pain cannot always be fully resolved through surgery alone.
​
However, in some non-urgent cases, surgery can be the most effective - and sometimes the only reasonable option for alleviating pain. This is especially true for complex adult spinal deformities and certain sequelae following previous spinal surgeries.​
About Jarkko Halme
My story
I did my medical studies in Heidelberg, Stockholm, and Helsinki. My specialization in orthopaedics and traumatology took place at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, then in Basel, where I learned the solid foundation of spine surgery with Professors Walter Dick, Bernhard Jeanneret and Stefan Schären. I completed my spine fellowship primarily in Kuopio under the mentorship of Dr. Veli Turunen, with additional training periods in Bologna with Professor Stefano Boriani and in New York with Professor Lawrence Lenke. Spine surgery, however, is a constantly evolving field, and it is imperative that surgeons evolve with it. To remain at the forefront of advancements, I actively engage with leading international societies, including Eurospine, the Nordic Spinal Deformities Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society.
My promise
I will take the time to assess your spinal condition individually and with the utmost attention to detail. Necessary examinations will be arranged promptly, and I will discuss all findings with you thoroughly. Surgical treatment is not always the best option; however, if it appears to be appropriate, I will coordinate all necessary preparations and consultations to help minimize risks and ensure the safety of the procedure. The surgical plan will be tailored to your specific needs and I will explain it to you in detail. I will perform the procedure in accordance with the latest scientific evidence and the highest medical standards, together with a team specialized in the treatment of complex spinal pathologies. I will generally oversee your care and follow-up after the operation. Every operation I perform is registered in FinSpine - the Finnish National Spine Surgery Registry - for full transparency and follow-up.
​
A problem
Adult spine deformities can have various backgrounds. You might have developed a scoliosis already in your childhood or youth, which then has progressed during the adulthood. Or perhaps you have a degenerative scoliosis due to the ageing of the spine? Other usual reasons for spinal deformities in the adulthood:
- ancylosing spondylitis (Bechterew´s disease)
- Scheuermann´s disease
- instabilities of the spine, due to degeneration, spondylolysis, infections and previous surgeries
- previous fusion surgery
- osteoporotic fractures
- traumatic fractures
- neuromuscular diseases, such as Parkinson´s disease, multiple sclerosis, and CMT
Appointments
President of the Nordic Spinal Deformities Society (NSDS) since 2024
FinSpine - the National Finnish Spine Registry - task force member since 2016
Consulting spine surgeon at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland since 2012
Blog/News
How to contact?
Jarkko Halme works at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. If you would like to schedule an appointment with him, a referral to the Kuopio University Hospital Spine Center (Rankakeskus) is required. The referral should specifically state that you wish to see Jarkko Halme. We will do our best to honor your request, although unfortunately, we cannot guarantee it.
​
Jarkko Halme does not hold office hours elsewhere and does not operate a private practice.
The complex spine surgery he performs is only possible in a specialized institution such as Kuopio University Hospital Spine Center.