Long specialist queues
Many patients wait 3 to 12 months or more before seeing the surgeon who could operate — and longer still before surgery is scheduled.
Franchir — Official Norway–France spine surgery pathway
Spine surgery in France without Norway's waiting lists
Have your file reviewed remotely by our clinical team, then undergo surgery within 6 to 8 weeks with some of Europe's most experienced spine surgeons. English support every step of the way — from Norway to your return home and follow-up with your fastlege.
Remote assessment from Norway
- Remote clinical assessment — no travel before validation
- French surgeons available within 6 to 8 weeks
- Full English coordination
- Post-operative follow-up coordinated with your fastlege
The reality
Norway's spine surgery bottleneck
Norway's public system delivers high-quality care, yet access to specialised spine surgeons often means long waits — especially for complex or deteriorating cases.
Complex cases deprioritised
Multi-level conditions, revisions and deformities are often postponed. Your pain does not wait on a list.
Limited access to advanced techniques
Disc replacements, intra-operative 3D navigation and surgical robotics: several techniques validated in France remain harder to access in Norway.
You deserve access to the best care available — not only to what the queue can offer today.
Our network
Among the most experienced spine surgeons in Europe
Franchir gives you access to a curated network of leading French neurosurgeons and orthopaedic specialists. Every case is reviewed by an independent physician before any surgical proposal.
Rigorous selection
High surgical volume (often 500+ procedures per year), full French training (minimum 11 years), active involvement in international research.
Motion-preserving techniques
Disc prostheses, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, latest-generation implants: we favour approaches that protect your spine's natural mobility.
Independent medical review
Your file is reviewed for a second opinion before any commitment. If surgery isn't the best option, we say so plainly.
The journey
How it works
A clear four-step pathway, run by an English-speaking team. You keep your fastlege in Norway — we handle the coordination with France.
Step 1
Remote assessment from Norway
Structured video review of your file, imaging, history and goals — no travel required before medical validation.
Step 2
Expert medical review — 48 h
Within 48 hours your file is shared with a French surgeon from the network. Secure teleconsultation plus a detailed treatment plan.
Step 3
Travel and surgery in France
Full concierge: appointments, accommodation, transfers, formalities. You arrive in France with a turnkey pathway.
Step 4
Return and follow-up in Norway
Post-operative follow-up coordinated between the French surgeon and your fastlege. Teleconsultations, local rehab, regular check-ins.
Comparison
Why wait?
The public system has its strengths. But for spine surgery, the delays can compromise your recovery. Here is the difference, side by side.
Public system in Norway
Standard pathway
- 3 to 12+ months of waiting before surgery
- Multiple referral steps via fastlege and hospital
- Condition worsens during the wait
- Long-term palliative care and painkillers
- Little visibility on the surgery date
Franchir pathway
Coordinated pathway
- 6 to 8 weeks from assessment to surgery
- Dedicated clinical coordination team
- Validated French expert surgeon
- English teleconsultation and follow-up
- Continuous post-op follow-up with your fastlege
World-class surgical expertise — accessible from Norway, without giving up your family doctor.
Patient testimonial
L5-S1 disc replacement: Benoît's story
After months of waiting at home, Benoît underwent surgery in France with a Franchir surgeon. He tells the full story — from remote assessment to his return home.
- Remote assessment then surgery in France in under 8 weeks
- L5-S1 disc replacement — a motion-preserving technique rarely available locally
- Post-op follow-up coordinated between the French team and his home physician
More patient stories
Patients who chose the Franchir pathway share their experience.
Interview — The Franchir journey: a Quebec patient in Orléans, surgery that restores hope
Interview — Meeting Marcel: a Quebec patient on the eve of his upcoming surgery
Conditions we treat
What our surgeons take on
The Franchir network treats the full range of cervical and lumbar spine conditions. Every case is evaluated on its merits — surgery is never an end in itself.
Lumbar stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal causing pain, weakness or claudication while walking.
Learn more →Disc herniation & sciatica
Nerve root compression causing radiating pain into the leg or arm.
Learn more →Spondylolisthesis
Forward slip of a vertebra. Surgical stabilisation when conservative care is no longer enough.
Learn more →Cervical disc herniation
Neck pain radiating into the shoulder and arm, sometimes with numbness or weakness.
Learn more →Degenerative disc disease
Wear of one or more discs causing chronic lumbar pain. Disc replacement or fusion depending on the case.
Learn more →Scoliosis & deformities
Adult or progressive spinal deviations — complex corrections handled by dedicated specialists.
Learn more →Each condition is reviewed case by case. Only surgeons decide, after full file review, whether surgery is the right solution for you.
Financial transparency
How much does it cost?
No hidden fees, no bad surprises. Here is how the investment is structured, step by step.
Medical file review — €700
Fixed fee in euros covering the review of your file by an expert French surgeon plus the associated teleconsultation.
Full quote after medical validation
Surgery, hospital stay, anaesthesia, implants — everything is itemised in EUR before any commitment from your side.
behandlingsforsikring often applicable
Many Norwegian private treatment insurance policies cover planned care abroad when medically justified. We help you build the documentation.
No hidden fees
Everything is included in the quote: no last-minute surcharge, no invoice to discover upon arrival.
Transparent total budget
For an equivalent procedure, France + travel is often competitive with private options — with faster access to advanced techniques.
Full pricing detail is shared during your remote assessment. No commitment before the French medical review.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything Norwegian patients ask before starting their Franchir application.
Our medical committee only retains French neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine specialists who handle a high annual case volume, participate actively in international research, and master motion-preserving techniques (disc prostheses, minimally invasive surgery). Every surgeon is vetted on file, clinical references and outcomes.
Start today
Reach the expertise you deserve
Three minutes to check your eligibility. A remote assessment to validate your file. No commitment before the French medical review.
- Expert surgical selection
- Independent medical review
- No obligation