Biomechanics of low back pain
Early onset of paediatric scoliosis

Mr Howes is a full time spinal surgeon working at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.  He trained in London, in the Westminster Medical School, and undertook his spinal surgery training in Nottingham under the guidance of Mr John Webb, one of the pioneers of spinal surgery in Europe.
 
He works at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and Llandough Hospital treating solely spinal conditions in both adults and children.  He believes that most degenerate neck and low back conditions can be treated without cause for surgery with appropriately skilled intervention, using the most modern of techniques. 
 
His paediatric special interest is early onset of scoliosis and he performed the first VEPTR operation in the UK (rib expansion for congenital spinal deformity).
 
He is the most senior full time spinal surgeon in South Wales and was also clinical director of Trauma and Orthopaedics in Cardiff for four years.  He is actively involved in research into spinal disease and an enthusiastic teacher in both post-graduate and under-graduate doctors.

Mr Howes has three daughters.  He played rugby in university and beyond and played his last game four years ago, which hurt!  When not ferrying his daughters around South Wales he is a keen sailor.