Table 1 Spine content.

Item number
<2.94	Probably not important items to learn how to do with proficiency during a residency training program
206	Procedure—anterior decompression of the thoracic spine
207	Procedure—anterior decompression of the cervical spine
200	Procedure—discectomy in the thoracic spine
209	Procedure—arthrodesis of the thoracic spine
210	Procedure—arthrodesis of the cervical spine
205	Procedure—anterior decompression of the lumbar spine
204	Procedure—posterior decompression of the cervical spine
203	Procedure—posterior decompression of the thoracic spine
201	Procedure—discectomy in the cervical spine
208	Procedure—arthrodesis in the lumbar spine
2.95 to 3.54	Items that are probably important (nice to know) and perform with proficiency during a residency training programme
202	Procedure—posterior decompression of the lumbar spine
199	Procedure—discectomy of the lumbar spine
3.56 to 3.74	Items that are important (should know) and can be performed with proficiency during a residency training programme
32	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise inflammatory back pain such as ankylosing spondylitis
3.76 to 4.0	Items that are important (must know) and can be performed with proficiency during a residency training programme
36	Content—specify the signs and symptoms, outline the assessment and investigations, propose a differential diagnosis, outline the principles of management of a patient with neck pain
33	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise spinal deformity such as scoliosis
7	Content—the ability to construct an appropriate differential diagnosis and plan of patient enquiry, examination, limited investigation and assessment for a patient presenting with back pain.
31	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise vertebral fractures of osteoporotic origin
28	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise mechanical neck and back pain relating to non‐specific low back pain, spondylolysthesis, spondylolysis and lumbago
35	Content—specify the signs and symptoms, outline the assessment and investigations, propose a differential diagnosis and outline the principles of management of a patient with low back pain and sciatica
29	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise spinal cord or root entrapment (ie, herniated disc)
30	Content—take a relevant history, identify and characterise vertebral fractures of traumatic origin
34	Content—Take a relevant history, identify and characterise destructive lesions of the spine presenting as back pain which may be of infectious or tumour origin such as TB, metastasis and/or malignancy
40	Content—specify signs and symptoms, immediate complications, outline the assessment and investigations, outline the immediate and long‐term management of a patient with an acute spinal injury
16	Content—demonstrate knowledge, diagnose, initially manage and refer (if necessary) a patient with cauda equina compression