Spine Faculty 2018
The University of Utah Spine Fellowship provides a complete, well-rounded academic experience in spine surgery with emphasis on clinical experience and research. The clinical experience includes all aspects of both non-operative and operative treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar disorders. The two fellows will gain significant experience treating all spinal pathologies and will be comfortable approaching the spine from the skull to the sacrum both anteriorly and posteriorly. Traditional open techniques are taught, in addition to newer minimally techniques such as navigation, percutaneous screw placement, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusions and Cervical Disk Arthroplasty.
We operate at the main University of Utah Hospital operating rooms, as well as at the Neurosciences center with opportunities to scrub with our neurosurgical colleagues as desired. Fellows will also operate at the University Orthopaedic Center and treat patients at the Salt Lake City VA. All facilities are within 1 mile of the U of U hospital.
Case volume is approximately 350 cases per year and includes:
- 30% deformity (adult and pediatric)
- 40% degenerative conditions, including complex revision/reconstruction (Cervical, thoracic and lumbar)
- 15% trauma, including the management of spinal cord injuries
- 15% tumor/infection
Duration: One year (August 1–July 31)
Director: Ryan Spiker, MD
Our Team
The University Orthopaedic Spine Service includes: Drs. Brodke, Lawrence, Spiker, Spina and Karamian; the 2 Orthopedic Spine Fellows; 2 rotating Orthopaedic Residents (PGY3 and PGY2) and medical students. The service shares the Level-1 spine trauma call and cases equally with the Neurosurgical Spine Service on a rotating basis, covering spine trauma essentially half the month. In addition, the team runs the VA Hospital Ortho Spine Service, including the clinic, elective cases, consults, and occasional trauma.
Each of the fellows rotates between two schedules on the Ortho Spine service (see below), for approximately one month at a time. In addition, the fellows are in charge of the VA Hospital Ortho Spine Service, with close supervision and guidance from the attendings and coverage from the residents.