Physician · Executive

Dr. Zsolt Szövérfi PhD

Spine Surgeon

Spine surgeon at the National Center for Spinal Disorders and Executive Director of the Private Division at Buda Health Center, Hungary. If you are experiencing spinal problems, the most important step is an accurate diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan.

Dr. Zsolt Szövérfi portrait
1200+
Spinal Surgeries
14+
Years of Experience
~90%
Patients Treated Non-Surgically
50%+
Minimally Invasive Surgeries

About Me

I was born in Târgu Mureș, Romania, and earned my medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureș. Since 2011, I have been working in Budapest at the National Center for Spinal Disorders — Hungary's only institution dedicated exclusively to spinal diseases.

I began my career under Dr. Péter Pál Varga, the founding director of the institution. Under his mentorship, I gained experience in the world-class surgical treatment of complex spinal tumours, which became the foundation of my PhD research. During my doctoral work, I established Hungary's first Primary Spinal Tumour Registry — with over 350 cases, this is an internationally unique database.

Alongside clinical work, I earned a postgraduate degree in Health Economics from Corvinus University of Budapest, enabling me to approach healthcare with a systems-level perspective. This dual clinical-economic viewpoint led to my appointment as Site Medical Director of Buda Health Center in 2022, and subsequently as Executive Director of the Private Division in 2023.

Since 2024, I have served as a member of the International Judo Federation (IJF) Medical Commission, providing medical supervision for elite athletes at international competitions.

Credentials

Orthopaedics & Traumatology Board Exam — Semmelweis University, 2020
PhD in Medicine — Semmelweis University, 2017
Health Economics — Corvinus University, 2015
MD — University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Târgu Mureș, 2010
IJF Medical Commission Member, 2024–
Chair, Institutional Ethics Board, 2024–

Spine Surgery

My expertise encompasses both conservative and surgical treatment methods. Whenever possible, I favour minimally invasive approaches, which result in smaller incisions and faster recovery.

Conservative Treatment

Non-Surgical Pain Management

Most spinal pain can be managed with conservative methods: CT-guided nerve root and facet joint blocks, infusion therapy, and physiotherapy. Approximately 90% of patients recover without surgery.

Details
Degenerative Conditions

Disc Herniation

Disc herniation resolves with conservative treatment in 70% of cases. When symptoms persist or neurological deficit is present, minimally invasive surgery is performed — in both the lumbar and cervical spine.

Details
Stenosis · Instability

Spinal Canal Stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal can compress nerves and the spinal cord. Cervical and lumbar stenosis present with different symptoms and require different surgical techniques.

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Minimally Invasive

Lumbar Stabilisation Surgery

For intersegmental instability, TLIF, MI-TLIF, OLIF, or ALIF techniques are used. Dr. Szövérfi is the only surgeon performing minimally invasive TLIF at the National Center for Spinal Disorders.

Details

Full Surgical Repertoire

Lumbar discectomy
Cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
Lumbar nerve decompression
Spinal stabilisation surgery
Vertebral fracture surgery
Spinal metastasis surgery
Primary spinal tumour surgery
Revision spine surgery
Septic spine surgery
Időpontfoglalás

Spinal Tumour Surgery

Spinal tumour surgery is one of the most challenging fields in surgery. The National Center for Spinal Disorders has world-class expertise in this area, and I am an active member of the institution's tumour surgery team, participating in the management of complex cases.

My scope includes surgical treatment of primary spinal tumours, radical resection of sacral tumours, multidisciplinary management of spinal metastases, en bloc resections, complex reconstructive surgery, and minimally invasive solutions.

During my PhD research, I developed the PSTMS prognostic scoring system and established the institutional registry of over 350 cases. As a co-investigator of the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumors, I participated in international multicentre studies.

PSTMS Scoring System

A prognostic tool I developed that predicts post-surgical survival outcomes in primary spinal tumour patients.

350+ Case Registry

Hungary's first Primary Spinal Tumour Registry — an internationally unique database given the rarity of these conditions.

Sacral Tumours

One of the highest volumes of radical sacral tumour resections in Hungary.

Learn more about tumour surgery

Healthcare Management

I believe that a systems-level approach plays a key role in improving the quality of healthcare delivery. I apply this philosophy in developing the processes and services at Buda Health Center.

2023 – Present

Executive Director, Private Division

Buda Health Center

Responsible for clinical and business operations across outpatient, inpatient, and corporate healthcare services. Contributing to the medical programme development of the new hospital wing. Preparation for international accreditation, launching new clinical programmes, and integrating multiple healthcare divisions.

2022 – 2023

Site Medical Director

Buda Health Center

Management of the Királyhágó Street private outpatient clinic. Introduction of new protocols and workflows that improved the quality of patient care and physician satisfaction.

2011 – Present

Spine Surgeon

National Center for Spinal Disorders

Management of complex spinal cases: degenerative conditions, spinal tumours, deformities, and trauma. 1200+ spinal surgeries including en bloc resections, sacrectomies, and revision procedures.

2024 – Present

IJF Medical Commission Member

International Judo Federation

Medical supervision of elite athletes at international competitions. Integrating spine surgery expertise into athlete care protocols.

Publications

27 peer-reviewed publications, H-index: 13, ~620 citations, 2 book chapters. Key research areas: spinal tumour prognostics, minimally invasive spinal surgery.

Kiss L, Varga PP, Szövérfi Z, Jakab G, Eltes PE, Lazary A
Indirect foraminal decompression and improvement in the lumbar alignment after percutaneous cement discoplasty
European Spine Journal, 2019
Varga PP, Szövérfi Z, Lazáry A
Surgical treatment of sacral chordoma: prognostic variables for local recurrence and overall survival
European Spine Journal, 2014
Szövérfi Z, Lazáry A, Bozsódi Á, Klemencsics I, Éltes PE, Varga PP
Primary Spinal Tumor Mortality Score (PSTMS): a novel scoring system for predicting poor survival
The Spine Journal, 2014
Lazáry A, Szövérfi Z, Varga PP
Paradigm shift in bone metastasis surgery. II. Treatment of spinal metastases
Orvosi Hetilap, 2018
Google Scholar Profile ResearchGate Profile

Get in Touch

For Patients

Appointments can be booked through the online booking system for consultations or examinations.

Időpont foglalása
Clinic Location
Budai Egészségközpont
1126 Budapest, Királyhágó utca 1–3.
Tel: +36-1-489-5200

Professional Enquiries

For collaboration, speaking engagements, or executive consultation enquiries.