Dr. med. Sven Nagel

Dr. med. Sven Nagel is a senior spine specialist and Chief Physician for Spine and Scoliosis Surgery at Asklepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, working within the Interdisciplinary Spine and Scoliosis Center that serves patients across the Asklepios sites in St. Georg and Wandsbek. He is a board-certified specialist in Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery with additional qualifications in special orthopedic surgery and special trauma surgery, complemented by subspecialty training in manual therapy, physical therapy, and sports medicine. Clinically, Dr. Nagel focuses on the full spectrum of spinal disorders, from degenerative conditions such as disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, osteochondrosis, and facet-joint pain syndromes to complex deformities including scoliosis and kyphosis, spondylolisthesis-related instability, and traumatic or osteoporotic vertebral fractures. He also treats inflammatory spinal diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as benign and malignant spinal tumors and metastatic disease, with cases discussed in an interdisciplinary tumor conference to define evidence-based, multimodal treatment strategies. A core element of his practice is individualized decision-making that prioritizes non-operative options whenever appropriate, aiming to avoid unnecessary procedures while preserving function and quality of life. When surgery is indicated, the program emphasizes precision and safety using modern microsurgical and minimally invasive methods, including microscope-assisted techniques, navigated procedures with intraoperative 3D imaging for accurate implant placement, and intraoperative neuromonitoring, particularly in deformity and tumor surgery. In selected cervical spine cases, motion-preserving options such as disc prostheses may be considered to maintain mobility. Dr. Nagel is actively engaged in professional development within spine surgery and is affiliated with key national and European societies, including the German Spine Society and major orthopedic and trauma organizations. His leadership also includes a strong public-education component, regularly addressing common misconceptions around back pain and helping patients understand when specialist evaluation is warranted.