Book a consultationOnly when needed
We recommend surgery only when it offers you a clear benefit. Each decision draws on extensive experience and published research, and many people are treated successfully without an operation.
Backed by research
In theatre, we adopt technology such as intraoperative CT imaging and a robotic microscope only once its benefit is proven. Where evidence is lacking, we evaluate it in our research.
From diagnosis to recovery
We work directly with BackSpace, our own rehabilitation clinic, and with Axxon Pain Management, so that every stage of your care, from first consultation to recovery, is closely coordinated.
At Brisbane Private Hospital
Your consultation, imaging, pain management, surgery and rehabilitation all take place within the one building, so you can avoid the inconvenience of travelling between different locations.
Leg pain, sciatica
A herniated disc can press on a nerve in the lower back and cause sciatica. Many cases settle with time. Those that do not, or that show signs of nerve damage, are treated promptly by day-surgery microdiscectomy.
Learn more about lumbar disc herniation
Leg pain from spinal narrowing
Narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings can compress the nerves and cause leg pain, especially when walking. Surgery decompresses the nerves, sometimes with a fusion to realign or stabilise the spine.
Learn more about lumbar spinal stenosis
Neck and arm pain
Pressure on a nerve in the neck from a disc or bone spur can cause arm pain, numbness and weakness. If symptoms do not improve, or there are signs of nerve damage, surgery promptly relieves the pressure and stabilises the spine.
Learn more about cervical radiculopathy
Low back pain
Most back pain improves with time, rehabilitation and pain management. Surgery is reserved for the small number of people in whom these measures fail and where there is a clear surgically treatable cause.
Learn more about lumbar back painDr Licina directs the Brisbane Private Hospital Spine Research Group and its clinical studies.
Dr Licina has chaired education boards and taught surgeons in Australia and overseas.
Dr Licina teaches and supervises university students, from undergraduate to PhD level.
Dr Licina leads a team that includes an occupational physician, a pain specialist, anaesthetists, a surgical assistant, nurses and administrative staff, who work together on the care of each patient from the first contact onward.
Select a photo to read more.
Before we see you, we ask that you complete our . Our clinical team uses your answers to , so you see the right person within an appropriate timeframe. We then invite you to download , our patient app, which prepares you for your visit. On the day, allow , as scans or injections are often arranged straight after the consultation. Your first visit is charged at an , and later visits at a lower review fee.
Answers to the questions we are asked most often, from waiting times to where to stay.
Our clinical priority system ensures that people with urgent problems are seen quickly, usually within two weeks. Less urgent conditions may wait six weeks or more, as appointments with Dr Licina are limited.
We see patients with a WorkCover claim within six months of the claim, after a pre-assessment with Dr Angus Forbes. We do not see patients with an active legal claim.
Dr Licina operates at Brisbane Private Hospital on Mondays and alternate Wednesdays and Fridays. You are usually seen at SpinePlus shortly before surgery for a preoperative assessment, where the medical and administrative details are finalised. Depending on the time of your operation, you are admitted the night before or on the day. After surgery you are cared for on the spinal ward, where the BackSpace team begins your rehabilitation, which continues at BackSpace after you go home.
Hospital car park. Beneath Brisbane Private Hospital, entered from Birley Street or Lilley Street off Wickham Terrace. The car park lift goes straight to level 7. It can be full by 8.30 am, so please allow time.
Nearby car parks. Wilson Car Park, Bartley Street off Wickham Terrace (200 m); Wickham Terrace Car Park, corner of Upper Edward Street (500 m); Astor Terrace Car Park, 28 Astor Terrace (500 m).
Street parking. Metered parks surround the hospital. The CellOPark app lets you extend your time without returning to your car, in case your appointment runs longer than planned.
Hotels. Tower Mill Hotel, 239 Wickham Terrace (100 m); Soho Brisbane Hotel, 333 Wickham Terrace (150 m); Mercure Brisbane Spring Hill, 345 Wickham Terrace (150 m); Hotel Grand Chancellor, 23 Leichhardt Street (250 m); The Inchcolm, 73 Wickham Terrace (450 m).
Apartments. Quest Spring Hill, 454 Upper Edward Street (150 m); Mantra on Edward, 166 Wickham Terrace (200 m); The Astor Apartments, 35 Astor Terrace (350 m).
Please do not enter personal health details.
Dr Licina provides medicolegal opinions to the Australian legal profession, specialising in complex spinal conditions and in claims with lengthy medical histories and multiple injuries. His areas of speciality include personal injury, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance and medical negligence claims. Video appointments are available for claimants living interstate or overseas.
Reports are prepared in accordance with the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld). A preassessment interview with his medicolegal assistant ensures that all necessary information is available on the day of the assessment, and a trained exercise scientist performs specialised testing of spinal function to supplement the examination. Reports are dictated on the day and finalised within two weeks.
Please direct enquiries about medicolegal assessments to medicolegal@spineplus.com.au.
Before an appointment is made, we ask you to complete a short online form about your symptoms and history. A staff member contacts you to discuss the next step. Your answers help our clinical team decide whom you should see first, and how soon.
If you are offered an appointment with another specialist, it is because our triage system has determined that your condition is unlikely to need surgery, and that you are best treated by a specialist with expertise in non-operative care. Rest assured that Dr Licina works closely with that specialist, and together they will discuss your case if needed. If surgery may be an option, a prompt appointment will be made with Dr Licina.
SurgiHUB is our patient education and communication platform. It gives you information about your own treatment, forms to complete on your phone, and messages from our team. We ask you to download it before your appointment, as it explains the consultation process and, should you need surgery, is already set up for booking it.
Dr Licina consults on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After check-in, his nurse or clinical assistant talks with you about your problem, and Dr Licina then reviews your history and scans before examining you. Further scans or injections are often arranged the same day, so an appointment can take from an hour to several hours, but it often saves a second visit. You may also be seen by the BackSpace rehabilitation team straight afterwards. Some consultations can be done by telehealth.
Your first appointment is charged at an initial consultation fee, which reflects the time needed to review your history, imaging and examination in full. Any later appointment is charged at a lower review fee. With a current referral from your doctor, Medicare refunds part of each fee.
Spine surgeon
MBBS(Hons) FRACS(Orth) FAOA, Adjunct Professor (QUT)
Dr Paul Licina is a spinal surgeon based at the Brisbane Private Hospital on Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. He qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon in Queensland and then undertook further spinal training under world-renowned spinal surgeon John Webb in Nottingham, England.
Upon his return, he worked in the public hospital system as a consultant surgeon in the Spinal Injuries unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and in the Scoliosis Unit at the Mater Childrens Hospital. He now works exclusively in private practice at the Brisbane Private Hospital.
Although his primary interest is degenerative spinal conditions, in particular back pain, he treats all conditions of the spine.
Despite his busy private practice, he devotes considerable time to research and education. He helped establish the AO Spine Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and oversaw its incorporation into the QUT Orthopaedic and Trauma Research Group, and has been granted the title of Adjunct Professor by the QUT. More recently he has established the Brisbane Private Hospital Spine Research Group.
Visiting occupational physician, Phoenix
MBBS, DRCOG, GDOEH, FRACGP, FAFOEM
Dr Angus Forbes is a Specialist Occupational Physician. He has more than 15 years experience in the field of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He started his medical career with the British Army where he initially qualified as a General Practitioner. He transferred to the Australian Army in 2008, before pursuing a specialist career in Brisbane.
Dr Forbes has provided medical care in a diverse range of settings, and in a number of different countries. He has always enjoyed being part of multidisciplinary medical teams, working closely with patients and their families as well as physiotherapists, rehabilitation providers and employers. He places a high value on working with his patients to assist them in understanding their diagnosis and treatment options as well as planning the management of their conditions into the future.
Dr Forbes holds Fellowships with the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine, and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He also holds qualifications in both Aviation and Dive Medicine.
Visiting specialist pain physician, Axxon
AM, MBBS, FFARCSI, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA, Honorary Associate Professor (HKU)
Dr Brendan Moore is a specialist pain medicine physician and anaesthetist. His practice provides comprehensive, individualised care, including assessment of the role of pain medications, physical therapies, and psychological assessment and support. He is a leading expert in interventional spinal therapies, including radiofrequency ablation, steroid injections, spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug therapy.
With Dr Licina, he founded BackSpace. He maintains an active interest in research and education, and continues his leadership role in the Faculty of Pain Medicine, particularly in advancing the standards, training and endorsement of expertise in procedures in pain medicine in Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Moore has consulted for the Hong Kong Health Authority and holds an Honorary Associate Professor position in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. He has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to anaesthesiology and to pain medicine.
Anaesthetist
MBBS, FANZCA, FRACGP, Grad Dip Rural, C. Dec
Dr David Hill graduated from medicine at the University of Queensland in 1989. He worked in North Queensland for 7 years, which included time as a GP Anaesthetist and time with the Royal Flying Doctors Service. Dr Hill works with Dr Licina for half of his surgeries and has done so for the past 20 years.
Anaesthetist
MBBS, FANZCA, Bachelor of Engineering (First Class Honours)
Dr Alvin Obed completed his graduate medical training at Flinders University in South Australia in 2011. He commenced training as an anaesthetist in 2013 in Queensland and completed his Provisional Fellowship at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Prior to medicine, Dr Obed trained as an Engineer and has an on-going interest in the clinical application of new and emerging technologies and its application to anaesthesia.
Prior to medicine, Dr Obed trained as an Engineer and continues to have an interest in the field of virtual reality and its clinical applications in anaesthesia.
Dr Obed’s practice includes a wide range of anaesthesia for most surgical specialties, including ENT, macillofacial, general, orthopaedic, obstetrics and neurosurgery.
Surgical assistant
MBBS (Qld)
Dr Mark Munro is a graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School. Following graduation, he spent three years at the Royal Brisbane Hospital undertaking further training, during which time he also served as Acting Superintendent in regional Queensland hospitals.
Dr Munro and Dr Licina have worked together doing spine surgery for over 20 years and make a formidable surgical team. Dr Munro’s extensive knowledge and understanding of all spinal procedures makes him a valued member of Dr Licina’s surgical team.
Practice manager
Bachelor of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Jo’s role involves communicating with GP practices and managing all patient appointment requests, assisting the clinical team with the triaging process, ensuring that clinics run smoothly and that the appointment schedule is on time. She is also tasked with the responsibility of analysing the patient experience and making administrative and schedule changes accordingly.
Jo has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney in 2022. She comes to SpinePlus with experience as a Clinic Coordinator in the fertility sector where she was tasked with the continuous analysis and improvement of the patient experience. Jo’s ability to nurture team members and create a collaborative and productive work environment means that patients feel welcome, respected and supported from their first contact with SpinePlus.
HR manager
Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resources), Griffith University
With the ever-evolving nature of how Dr Licina practices medicine to care for his patients, Tanya’s role involves facilitating patient service improvement programmes and designing and implementing new administrative and management systems. Together with the administrative team, Tanya strives to create a productive, welcoming and nurturing environment for patients and their health providers. Tanya ensures optimal staff performance and efficient administrative systems to provide superior patient services.
With a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (majoring in Human Resources) from Griffith University and over 25 years of experience in the Human Resources field, Tanya also oversees staff recruitment, training, professional development, and counselling in the practice.
Finance manager
Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Queensland University of Technology
As a management team member, Manuela is an integral part of Dr Licina’s vision of a multidisciplinary practice. She is responsible for the design and management of all financial systems in the practice to maximise the efficiency of patient care by the SpinePlus health professionals. She is also entrusted with auditing and reviewing all accounting procedures.
In addition to Manuela’s core financial responsibilities, she consults on all aspects of the medical practice; helping to resolve issues and streamline administrative processes, to enhance the patient experience.
Manuela joined SpinePlus in 2013 with 21 years of experience in the corporate banking sector behind her. Graduating with a Bachelor of Business (majoring in Accountancy), Manuela worked primarily in Suncorp’s Accounting Operations Division where she maintained the fixed asset register, payroll system, and fulfilled aspects of taxation requirements for the company.
Clinical nurse
Bachelor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology
Isabella is the clinical nurse for SpinePlus, working directly with Dr Licina. She is involved in assessing patients’ conditions, supporting patients through their surgery, and liaising with other specialists and the hospital.
Isabella joins SpinePlus with years of clinical nursing experience. She is skilled in surgical preparation, aseptic technique, and post-anaesthesia care.
She possesses strong clinical judgement, calmness under pressure, compassion, and a very caring nature.
Isabella’s problem-solving abilities and patient-centred approach to care enhances the patient experience across the perioperative journey and aligns perfectly with Dr Licina’s philosophy as a practicing surgeon.
Rehabilitation nurse
Bachelor of Nursing, University of the Sunshine Coast
Calli joined BackSpace in the clinical nurse role after 12 months working for Dr Paul Licina as his clinical assistant. The training and experience she gained in that role have given her a thorough knowledge of the management of back and neck pain.
Calli's primary role is to identify concerns, and to coordinate and facilitate the best options for treatment.
Receptionist
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Honours in Veterinary Nursing, University College Dublin
Zoe works with Joanne coordinating patient appointment requests, assisting the clinical team with the triaging process, and gathering information required for patients’ appointments with Dr Licina. She is the first point of contact for most patients who are greeted by her beautiful Irish accent.
Zoe completed a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing degree at University College Dublin, Ireland in 2021. She undertook roles in her chosen profession as well as management of veterinary practices with the responsibilities of arranging appointments, liasing with clients about the care of their beloved furry family members, and of course caring for furry in-patients. Zoe is an integral part of the SpinePlus administration team and is an enormous support to the management team.
Medicolegal coordinator
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Exercise Science, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland
Xanthe is responsible for the coordination and management of all the medicolegal appointments, processes and documents at SpinePlus. She works closely with legal professionals and insurers to ensure that Dr Licina’s medicolegal appointments and reports are prepared and completed in a timely and efficient manner.
Xanthe graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours 2B) in 2016. After making a decision to change her career and enter the health services sector, Xanthe also completed a Bachelor of Exercise Science and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Xanthe also works as a physiotherapist at Dr Licina’s rehabilitation clinic, BackSpace. Her role at SpinePlus provides a unique opportunity to nurture her dual skill set in the field of law and injury rehabilitation.
Research coordinator
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, Australian Catholic University; Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours), University of the Sunshine Coast; Graduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation, Australian Catholic University; Doctor of Philosophy candidate, The University of Queensland
Patrick leads and coordinates the research projects run jointly by SpinePlus and the BackSpace Clinic. He is finishing his PhD, which looks at how the deep muscles of the lower back change after restorative neurostimulation (ReActiv8), and how those changes relate to changes in pain. Beyond his PhD, he wants to keep exploring what shapes a person's recovery from pain, and what can be done to help, before or after surgery, or without surgery at all.
He works closely with surgeons, allied health professionals, patients taking part in the team's studies, university research departments and spinal implant companies, and enjoys supervising the research students who complete placements with the team. He also presents the team's research to medical colleagues at conferences in Australia and internationally.
Clinical assistant
Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Griffith University
Eden is Dr Licina’s clinical assistant at SpinePlus, supporting the clinical and administrative teams with clinic coordination, patient care and surgical bookings.
She holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Griffith University and has previous experience as a histology scientist. Her scientific background, attention to detail and clear communication help ensure patients feel informed and supported throughout their journey with SpinePlus.