Mark A. Mahan, MD, FAANS

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments: Neurosurgery - Associate Professor

Divisions: Adult Neurosurgery

Academic Office Information

mark.mahan@hsc.utah.edu

Board Certification

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery

Dr. Mahan specializes in complex peripheral nerve surgery, spine surgery and neurologic reconstruction for diseases such as spasticity, spinal cord injury, nerve injury and stroke.

Dr. Mark Mahan is a ABNS certified neurosurgeon who specializes in complex peripheral nerve surgery and spine surgery for diseases such as spasticity, spinal cord injury, nerve injury and stroke. He completed his residency at the internationally recognized Barrow Neurologic Institute and did fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic and University of California in San Diego. He is an active researcher in spinal and nerve disorders, publishing scholarly articles routinely and dedicated laboratory research to improve patient outcomes.

He is the only neurosurgeon in the Rocky Mountains who performs complex nerve surgery. Dr. Mahan treats nerve tumors, whether malignant, benign or related to genetic syndromes such as neurofibromatosis; nerve entrapments, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome or patients with prior surgery needing revision; nerve injuries, such as brachial plexus injuries, nerve lacerations or trauma, or iatrogenic (related to other surgery) nerve injuries; nerve pain, such as meralgica paresthetica, occipital neuralgia or other conditions requiring nerve stimulation; functional nerve reconstruction, including for post-stroke spasticity or palsy and dystonia; as well as many other conditions.

Dr. Mahan also performs the complete range of spinal surgery, including oncologic, deformity, minimally invasive and spinal trauma. He is a national and international educator for endoscopic spinal surgery.



Outside of work, Dr. Mahan relaxes by getting out into the wilderness with his family. He can often be found running early in the morning.

Education History

Fellowship University of California, San Diego
Peripheral Nerve 		Fellow
Fellowship Mayo Clinic
Peripheral Nerve and Microvascular 		Fellow
Internship/Residency Barrow Neurological Institute
Neurosurgery 		Intern/Resident
Professional Medical Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Medicine 		M.D.
Undergraduate Princeton University
Molecular Biology 		A.B.

Selected Publications

  1. Warner WS, Stubben C, Yeoh S, Light AR, Mahan MA (2023). Next-generation RNA sequencing elucidates transcriptomic signatures of pathophysiologic nerve regeneration. Sci Rep, 13(1), 8856.
  2. Javeed S, Greenberg JK, Zhang JK, Plog B, Dibble CF, Benedict B, Botterbush K, Khalifeh JM, Wen H, Chen Y, Park Y, Belzberg AJ, Tuffaha S, Burks SS, Levi AD, Zager EL, Faraji AH, Mahan MA, Midha R, Wilson TJ, Juknis N, Ray WZ (2023). Association of upper-limb neurological recovery with functional outcomes in high cervical spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine, 1-8.
  3. Mahan MA, Prasse T, Kim RB, Sivakanthan S, Kelly KA, Kashlan ON, Bredow J, Eysel P, Wagner R, Bajaj A, Telfeian AE, Hofstetter CP (2023). Full-endoscopic spine surgery diminishes surgical site infections - a propensity score-matched analysis. Spine J, 23(5), 695-702.
  4. Findlay MC, Kim RB, Warner WS, Sherrod BA, Park S, Mazur MD, Mahan MA (2023). Identification of an Operative Time Threshold for Substantially Increased Postoperative Complications Among Elderly Spine Surgery Patients. Global Spine J, 21925682221149390.
  5. Abou-Al-Shaar H, Karsy M, Eli IM, Agarwal JP, Gociman B, Mahan MA (2023). Masseter-to-facial nerve transfer for facial nerve reanimation. Neurosurg Focus Video, 8(1), V6.
  6. Mahan MA (2023). Neurectomies for treatment of stroke-related upper extremity spasticity. Neurosurg Focus Video, 8(1), V15.
  7. Mahan MA (2022). Endoscopic Resection of Intraspinal Malignant Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 24(4), E286.
  8. Ali R, Hagan MJ, Shaaya E, Leary OP, Feler J, Bajaj A, Gokaslan Z, Konakondla S, Mahan MA, Wagner R, Lewandrowski KU, Telfeian AE (2022). Endoscopic Techniques for Spinal Oncology: A Systematic Literature Review. Int J Spine Surg.
  9. Yeoh S, Warner WS, Bromberg M, Mahan MA (2022). Retrograde Labeling Correlates with Motor Unit Number Estimation in Rapid-Stretch Nerve Injury. Muscle Nerve, 67(2), 169-176.
  10. Faust AE, Soletti L, Cwalina NA, Miller AD, Wood MD, Mahan MA, Cheetham J, Brown BN (2022). Development of an acellular nerve cap xenograft for neuroma prevention. J Biomed Mater Res A, 110(11), 1738-1748.
  11. Javeed S, Dibble CF, Greenberg JK, Zhang JK, Khalifeh JM, Park Y, Wilson TJ, Zager EL, Faraji AH, Mahan MA, Yang LJ, Midha R, Juknis N, Ray WZ (2022). Upper Limb Nerve Transfer Surgery in Patients With Tetraplegia. JAMA Netw Open, 5(11), e2243890.
  12. Sherrod BA, Kim R, Hunsaker J, Rada C, Christensen C, Stoddard GJ, Brodke D, Mahan MA, Mazur MD, Bisson EF, Dailey AT (2022). Postoperative ileus risk after posterior thoracolumbar fusion performed with total intravenous anesthesia versus inhaled anesthesia. J Neurosurg Spine, 38(3), 307-312.
  13. Merchant S, Yeoh S, Mahan MA, Hsu EW (2022). Simultaneous Quantification of Anisotropic Microcirculation and Microstructure in Peripheral Nerve. J Clin Med, 11(11).
  14. Adler M, Pellett S, Sharma SK, Lebeda FJ, Dembek ZF, Mahan MA (2022). Preclinical Evidence for the Role of Botulinum Neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) in the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury. [Review]. Microorganisms, 10(5), 886.
  15. Yeoh S, Warner WS, Merchant SS, Hsu EW, Agoston DV, Mahan MA (2022). Incorporating Blood Flow in Nerve Injury and Regeneration Assessment. [Review]. Front Surg, 9, 862478.
  16. Warner WS, Mahan MA (2022). What is a high-quality randomized controlled trial? Pain Med, 23, 607-609.
  17. Black SR, Janson A, Mahan M, Anderson J, Butson CR (2020). Identification of Deep Brain Stimulation Targets for Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury Using Localized Increases in White Matter Fiber Cross Section. Neuromodulation, 25(2), 276-285.
  18. Gamboa NT, Mahan MA (2022). Dorsal Transsacral Foramen Approach for Pelvic Nerve Sheath Tumor: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 22, e167.
  19. Kim RB, Bounajem M, Hamrick F, Mahan MA (2021). Optimal Donor Nerve to Restore Elbow Flexion After Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurosurgery, 90(1), 39-50.
  20. Mahan MA, Eli I, Hamrick F, Abou-Al-Shaar H, Shingleton R, Tucker Balun K, Edgley SR (2021). Highly Selective Partial Neurectomies for Spasticity: A Single-Center Experience. Neurosurgery, 89(5), 827-835.
  21. Zhang M, Tong E, Wong S, Hamrick F, Mohammadzadeh M, Rao V, Pendleton C, Smith BW, Hug NF, Biswal S, Seekins J, Napel S, Spinner RJ, Mahan MA, Yeom KW, Wilson TJ (2021). Machine Learning Approach to Differentiation of Peripheral Schwannomas and Neurofibromas: A Multi-Center Study. Neuro Oncol, 24, 601-609.
  22. Zhang M, Tong E, Hamrick F, Lee EH, Tam LT, Pendleton C, Smith BW, Hug NF, Biswal S, Seekins J, Mattonen SA, Napel S, Campen CJ, Spinner RJ, Yeom KW, Wilson TJ, Mahan MA (2020). Machine-Learning Approach to Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: A Multicenter Study. Neurosurgery, 89(3), 509-517.
  23. Black SR, King JB, Mahan MA, Anderson J, Butson CR (2021). Functional Hyperconnectivity and Task-Based Activity Changes Associated With Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study. Front Neurol, 12, 613630.
  24. Abou-Al-Shaar H, Mahan MA (2020). Highly Selective Partial Neurectomy for Lower-Extremity Spasticity: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 20(6), E442-E443.
  25. Kim RB, Kundu B, Mahan MA (2020). Endoscopic Posterior Approach for Cervicothoracic and Upper Thoracic Foraminotomies: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 20(5), E378.
  26. Marek T, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ, Mahan MA (2021). Bilateral Nerve Involvement in Lipomatosis of Nerve. J Surg Orthop Adv, 30(1), 44-49.
  27. Marek T, Mahan MA, Carter JM, Howe BM, Bartos R, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ (2020). What's known and what's new in adipose lesions of peripheral nerves? Acta Neurochir (Wien), 163(3), 835-842.
  28. Wilson TJ, Hamrick F, Alzahrani S, Dibble CF, Koduri S, Pendleton C, Saleh S, Ali ZS, Mahan MA, Midha R, Ray WZ, Yang LJS, Zager EL, Spinner RJ (2021). Analysis of the effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring during resection of benign nerve sheath tumors on gross-total resection and neurological complications. J Neurosurg, 1-10.
  29. Mahan M (2020). Peripheral nerve. In El Tecle NE, El Ahmadieh TY, Aoun SG, Bendok B (Eds.), CNS Essential Papers in Neurosurgery (2021, pp. 63-96). New York: Oxford University Press.
  30. Yeoh S, Warner WS, Eli I, Mahan MA (2020). Rapid-stretch injury to peripheral nerves: comparison of injury models. J Neurosurg, 1-11.
  31. Conger A, Sperry BP, Cheney CW, Burnham TM, Mahan MA, Onofrei LV, Cushman DM, Wagner GE, Shipman H, Teramoto M, McCormick ZL (2020). The Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Axial Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis. Pain Med, 21(11), 2699-2712.
  32. Marek T, Mahan MA, Amrami KK, Blackburn PR, Caffes PL, Carter JM, Camilleri M, Spinner RJ (2020). Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of lipomatosis of the sciatic nerve: Early-onset colonic diverticular disease. Neurogastroenterol Motil, 32(10), e13917.
  33. Kim RB, Wilkerson C, Karsy M, Joyce E, Rolston JD, Couldwell WT, Mahan MA (2020). Prolonged Length of Stay and Risk of Unplanned 30-Day Readmission After Elective Spine Surgery: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of 33,840 Patients. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 45(18), 1260-1268.
  34. Davis GA, Marek T, Amrami KK, Mahan MA, Spinner RJ (2020). Circumferential Adipose Lesion of the Sciatic Nerve. World Neurosurg, 140, 4-9.
  35. Chavez JL, Porucznik CA, Gren LH, Guan J, Joyce E, Brodke DS, Dailey AT, Mahan MA, Hood RS, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Bisson EF (2020). The Impact of Preoperative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Postoperative Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Degenerative Disease: 3-Month and 12-Month Results of a Pilot Study. World Neurosurg, 139, e230-e236.
  36. Abou-Al-Shaar H, Awad AW, Mahan MA (2018). Bilateral Suprascapular Nerve Injury and Novel Technique of Nerve Transfers for Restoration of External Rotation: Case Report. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 18(4), 423-429.
  37. Abou-Al-Shaar H, Dorius GT, Morton DA, Mahan MA (2020). Distal nerve transfer for thenar palsy: A cadaveric study. Clin Anat, 33(3), 414-418.
  38. Warner WS, Yeoh S, Light A, Zhang J, Mahan MA (2018). Rapid-Stretch Injury to Peripheral Nerves: Histologic Results. Neurosurgery, 86(3), 437-445.
  39. Mahan MA, Abou-Al-Shaar H, Karsy M, Warner W, Yeoh S, Palmer CA (2019). Pathologic remodeling in human neuromas: insights from clinical specimens. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 161(12), 2453-2466.
  40. Mahan MA, Warner WS, Yeoh S, Light A (2019). Rapid-stretch injury to peripheral nerves: implications from an animal model. J Neurosurg, 1-11.
  41. Marek T, Mahan MA, Carter JM, Amrami KK, Atkinson JLD, Spinner RJ (2019). Can Lipomatosis of the Nerve Occur or Extend Intradurally? World Neurosurg, 129, e555-e560.
  42. Abou-Al-Shaar H, Mahan MA (2019). Sciatic Nerve Intraneural Hematoma. World Neurosurg, 129, 170-171.
  43. Gaber KM, Marek T, Meixensberger J, Spinner R, Mahan MA (2019). A Clear Mystery: Recognizing Lipomatosis of the Nerve. Cureus, 11(7), e5290.
  44. Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Van Voorhis A, Doering M, Boyer MI, Mahan MA, Wilson TJ, Midha R, Yang LJS, Ray WZ (2019). Nerve transfers in the upper extremity following cervical spinal cord injury. Part 1: Systematic review of the literature. J Neurosurg Spine, 1-12.
  45. Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Van Voorhis A, Doering M, Boyer MI, Mahan MA, Wilson TJ, Midha R, Yang LJS, Ray WZ (2019). Nerve transfers in the upper extremity following cervical spinal cord injury. Part 2: Preliminary results of a prospective clinical trial. J Neurosurg Spine, 1-13.
  46. Yeoh S, Mahan MA (2019). Letter to the Editor. Brachial plexus stretch injury needs anatomical context. J Neurosurg Spine, 1-2.
  47. Marek T, Mahan MA, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ (2019). Response to the Letter to the Editor "Lipomatosis of nerve and overgrowth syndrome: an intriguing and still unclear correlation". [Letter to the editor]. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 161(6), 1087-1088.
  48. Stilwill SE, Mills MK, Hansford BG, Allen H, Mahan M, Moore KR, Hanrahan CJ (2018). Practical Approach and Review of Brachial Plexus Pathology With Operative Correlation: What the Radiologist Needs to Know. Semin Roentgenol, 54(2), 92-112.
  49. Ray WZ, Mahan MA, Guo D, Guo D, Kliot M (2017). An update on addressing important peripheral nerve problems: challenges and potential solutions. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 159(9), 1765-1773.
  50. Brown JM, Mahan MA, Mandeville R, Carter BS (2017). Establishing reconstructive neurosurgery as a subspecialty. Neurosurg Focus, 43(1), E7.
  51. Mahan MA, Sanders LE, Guan J, Dailey AT, Taylor W, Morton DA (2017). Anatomy of psoas muscle innervation: Cadaveric study. Clin Anat, 30(4), 479-486.
  52. Prasad NK, Mahan MA, Howe BM, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ (2017). A new pattern of lipomatosis of nerve: case report. J Neurosurg, 126(3), 933-937.
  53. Guan J, Holland CM, Schmidt MH, Dailey AT, Mahan MA, Bisson EF (2017). Association of low perioperative prealbumin level and surgical complications in long-segment spinal fusion patients: A retrospective cohort study. Int J Surg, 39, 135-140.
  54. Mazur MD, Mahan MA, Shah LM, Dailey AT (2017). Fate of S2-Alar-Iliac Screws After 12-Month Minimum Radiographic Follow-up: Preliminary Results. Neurosurgery, 80(1), 67-72.
  55. Brown J, Mahan MA (2016). Thoracic outlet syndrome. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  56. Brown J, Mahan MA (2016). Parsonage Turner. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  57. Mahan MA (2016). Common peroneal neuropathy. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  58. Brown J, DSouza G, Mahan MA (2016). Radial nerve injury. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  59. Mahan MA (2016). Carpal tunnel syndrome. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  60. Brown J, DSouza G, Mahan MA (2016). Median nerve injury. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  61. Brown J, Mahan MA (2016). Ulnar nerve injury. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  62. Brown J, Mahan MA (2016). Brachial plexus injury. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  63. Brown J, Mahan MA (2016). Nerve sheath tumor. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  64. Mahan MA (2016). Cubital tunnel syndrome. In Jandial R, Chen MY, Aizenberg MR (Eds.), 100 Case Reviews in Neurosurgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
  65. Karsy M, Guan J, Ravindra VM, Stilwill S, Mahan MA (2016). Diagnostic Quality of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Interpretation for Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: Can Malignancy Be Determined? J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg, 77(6), 495-504.
  66. Mahan MA, Spinner RJ (2016). Nerves of the Upper Extremity. In Tubbs RS, Shoja MM, and Loukas M (Eds.), Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation (Chapter 91). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  67. (2016). Compliant Devices for Neural Prosthetic Devices. U.S. Patent No. 15/044,469. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  68. Mahan MA, Gasco J, Mokhtee DB, Brown JM (2015). Anatomical considerations of fascial release in ulnar nerve transposition: a concept revisited. J Neurosurg, 123(5), 1216-22.
  69. Karsy M, Guan J, Sivakumar W, Neil JA, Schmidt MH, Mahan MA (2015). The genetic basis of intradural spinal tumors and its impact on clinical treatment. Neurosurg Focus, 39(2), E3.
  70. Mahan MA, Prasad N, Spinner RJ (2015). The first radiographic image of a peripheral nerve disorder? Lipomatous macrodactyly (unrecognized lipomatosis of nerve). Acta Neurochir (Wien), 157(6), 1059-62; discussion 1062.
  71. Mahan MA, Vaz KM, Weingarten D, Brown JM, Shah SB (2015). Altered ulnar nerve kinematic behavior in a cadaver model of entrapment. Neurosurgery, 76(6), 747-55.
  72. Mahan MA, Spinner RJ (2015). Clinical implications of anatomical variations of the upper extremity. In Tubbs RS, Rizk E, Shoja MM, Loukas M, Barbaro N, Spinner RJ (Eds.), Sunderland’s Nerves and Nerve Injuries (3, pp. 589-608). New York: Academic Press.
  73. Mahan MA (2015). Is fibromyalgia a real pathology? World Neurosurg, 83(5), 717-8.
  74. Mahan MA (2015). Common peroneal nerve entrapment across the fibular head. In Harbaugh RE, Berger MS, Couldwell WT, Shaffrey C (Eds.), Neurosurgery Knowledge Update (Chapter 115, pp. 705-708). New York: Thieme.
  75. Allison DW, Gertsch JH, Mahan MA, Sheean GL, Brown JM (2014). Anesthesia considerations for monitoring TCMEPs in adults diagnosed with poliomyelitis as children: a case report. Neurodiagn J, 54(1), 28-35.
  76. Mahan MA, Ladak A, Johnston PB, Seningen JL, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ (2014). Unique occurrence of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma disseminated to peripheral nerves. J Surg Orthop Adv, 22(4), 321-5.

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