The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to clinically review 62 children who underwent orthopaedic surgery as a “precautionary measure” following the completion of an independent, external report on the service.
On Wednesday, the Health Service Executive (HSE) held a briefing in which it announced the completion of the first phase of the report by Prof Selvadurai Nayagam, a retired consultant in orthopaedics and trauma in Liverpool.
The review was commissioned in 2023 after concerns about high rates of post-operative complications, infections in orthopaedic surgeries and the use of unapproved springs in surgeries.
The first phase of the review looked into the work of orthopaedic surgeon Connor Green, who has been on extended leave since 2023. Green has been contacted for comment through his solicitor.
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Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer at the HSE, said there were three reasons why the HSE has decided to review 62 of the 91 patients who were examined as part of the review.
The first reason was that it “wasn’t clear” at the time of the review what the clinical outcome had been. The second reason was the intended outcome had been achieved but there might have been continued clinical issues. The final reason was that the intended outcome was not achieved or a different outcome had occurred.
“The purpose of follow-up clinical review is to ensure a child is progressing as expected,” Henry said, adding that his intention is for these reviews to be completed by the end of March.
Letters were sent to families on Tuesday evening, informing them they were being contacted as a precaution. A contact number was also provided to them.
The HSE also announced it will carry out a wider look at Green’s practice, reviewing patients whose surgeries were carried out between 2016 and 2023 and including all spinal, limb reconstruction and surgical dislocation of the hip surgeries.
In a joint statement, the spina bifida and hydrocephalus paediatric advocacy group and the scoliosis advocacy network, which represent affected families, said it was “deeply disappointing” that 2.5 years after the report was commissioned, they have only received a “holding position rather than meaningful action”.
“Today’s briefing did nothing to reassure families about changed culture within CHI. In fact, it reinforced our concerns and the concerns of other advocates in the room,” they said.
“It is still unclear how many children’s care has been impacted and further unclear why some children are included and some not because the phase of the report that is cloaked behind legal curtains.”
Henry declined to outline the findings or conclusions of the first phase of the report, and said these will be shared upon completion of the second phase, which will focus on systems of governance, capacity and accessibility.
[ Spinal surgeries report: The story behind the springs used on childrenOpens in new window ]
The chief clinical officer said there were “protracted legal issues” in relation to the completion of the first phase of the report due to it focusing on one individual. However, he said the second phase could be completed by the end of this year.
He said there is “substantially safer governance in place in the hospital than when the concerns were raised”.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the HSE received the independent, external report in September 2025 and was prevented from sharing it because of High Court proceedings.
“The first time they were in a position to share that with me was last week,” she told the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday.
Carroll MacNeill said she would like the first phase of the report to be published but legal issues will have to be examined before that can happen.
The Government has pledged to hold an inquiry into spinal care for children. Carroll MacNeill said they have identified a mediator, agreed terms with this person and a business case is with the department.
