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Nicholas Spina
( out of 208 reviews )

Nicholas Spina, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Farmington Health Center

Farmington
801-213-3200

University Orthopaedic Center

Salt Lake City
801-587-7109

  • Nicholas Spina, MD, is a member of the University Of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê Department Of Orthopaedic Surgery. He specializes in degenerative, traumatic, and oncologic conditions of the spine including lumbar stenosis, cervical myelopathy, and scoliosis. He employs a conservative approach in treating the spine. Dr. Spina’s focus is in restoring patients’ function and helping them to regain their optimal lifestyle.

    Dr. Spina graduated magna cum laude from Boston College. He attended the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and the Harold Henderson Sankey MD Award recipient for the outstanding graduating medical student in Orthopaedics. He stayed on to complete his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he held the position of chief resident and was selected by his mentors and peers as the outstanding graduating resident. He followed his residency with an Orhtopaedic spine fellowship here at the University of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê department.

    Dr. Spina is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enjoys escaping into the mountains whether it be mountain biking, skiing, or hiking. He is currently seeing patients at the University Orthopaedic and Farmington Health Center.

    Specialties

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 208 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    July 31, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Highly, highly recommend Dr. Spina for the very best spine care.

    July 31, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Spina is a confident surgeon. I feel that I am in good hands as I prepare for surgery.

    July 31, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Great doctor listened and gave me care

    July 25, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Was kind and knowledgeable.

    July 24, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    He listens and is very compassionate

    July 18, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spina is an excellent doctor. I am lucky he is the doctor I was referred to.

    July 10, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Spina was great and I felt very comfortable explaining my problems and listening to the options available for my S1 nerve problem.

    July 07, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Spina was very astute. He was easy to listen to an easy to understand.

    July 07, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    The doctor the surgeon super kind super patient very smart very respectful thank you so much

    See More Patient Comments

  • Nicholas Spina, MD, is a member of the University Of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê Department Of Orthopaedic Surgery. He specializes in degenerative, traumatic, and oncologic conditions of the spine including lumbar stenosis, cervical myelopathy, and scoliosis. He employs a conservative approach in treating the spine. Dr. Spina’s focus is in restoring patients’ function and helping them to regain their optimal lifestyle.

    Dr. Spina graduated magna cum laude from Boston College. He attended the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and the Harold Henderson Sankey MD Award recipient for the outstanding graduating medical student in Orthopaedics. He stayed on to complete his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he held the position of chief resident and was selected by his mentors and peers as the outstanding graduating resident. He followed his residency with an Orhtopaedic spine fellowship here at the University of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê department.

    Dr. Spina is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enjoys escaping into the mountains whether it be mountain biking, skiing, or hiking. He is currently seeing patients at the University Orthopaedic and Farmington Health Center.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Orthopaedics -Primary

    Education history

    Fellowship Orthopaedic Spine Surgery - University of ¼«ËÙÁùºÏ²Ê Fellow
    Orthopaedics - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Administrative Chief Resident
    Residency Orthopaedics - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Resident
    Medicine - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Biological Sciences - Boston College B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Levy HA, Boere P, Randell Z, Bodnar J, Paulik J, Spina NT, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Kurd MF, Rihn JA, Canseco JA, Schroeder GD, Kepler CK, Vaccaro AR, Currier B, Huddleston PM, Nassr AN, Freedman BA, Sebastian AS, Hilibrand AS, Karamian BA (2024). Factors Related to Clinical Performance in Spine Surgery Fellowship: Can We Predict Success. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. ()
    2. Owen RJ, Quinlan N, Poduska A, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD (2023). Preoperative Fluoroscopically Guided Regional Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Reduce Opioid Use, Increase Mobilization, and Reduce Length of Stay Following Lumbar Spine Fusion. Global Spine J, 13(4), 954-960.
    3. Turtle J, Randell Z, Karamian B, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2023). Response to pre-operative Steroid Injections Predicts Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Fusion for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 48(13), 914-919. ()
    4. Randell Z, Martin B, Hendrickson N, Brodke D, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Spina N (2023). Hypoalbuminemia as a Predictor of Mortality, Disability, and Readmission in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 48(18), 1300-1307. ()
    5. Turtle J, Miller S, Yang A, Hurley RW, Spina N, McCormick ZL (2022). Considerations for Lumbar Medial Branch Nerve Radiofrequency at Spinal Motion Segments Adjacent to a Fusion Construct. Pain Med, 24(2), 165-170. ()
    6. Hendrickson NR, Zhang Y, Amoafo L, Randell Z, Rasmussen M, Zeidan M, Shorten P, Brodke DS, Spina N, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR (2022). Risk Factors for Postoperative Ileus in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery. Global Spine J, 21925682221075056. ()
    7. Mordhorst TR, Jalali A, Nelson R, Brodke DS, Spina N, Spiker WR (2021). Cost analysis of primary single-level lumbar discectomies using the Value Driven Outcomes database in a large academic center. Spine J, 21(8), 1309-1317. ()
    8. Owen RJ, Quinlan N, Poduska A, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD (2021). Preoperative Fluoroscopically Guided Regional Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Reduce Opioid Use, Increase Mobilization, and Reduce Length of Stay Following Lumbar Spine Fusion. Global Spine J, 13(4), 21925682211010740. ()
    9. Zeidan M, Goz V, Lakomkin N, Spina N, Brodke DS, Spiker WR (2020). Predictors of Readmission and Prolonged Length of Stay After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 46(8), 487-491. ()
    10. Spina NT, Moreno GS, Brodke DS, Finley SM, Ellis BJ (2020). Biomechanical effects of laminectomies in the human lumbar spine: a finite element study. Spine J, 21(1), 150-159. ()
    11. Turtle J, Kantor A, Spina NT, France JC, Lawrence BD (2020). Hangman's Fracture. Clin Spine Surg, 33(9), 345-354. ()
    12. Shaw JD, McEntarfer R, Ferrel J, Greene N, Presson AP, Zhang C, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Spina N, Brodke DS (2020). What Does Your PROMIS Score Mean? Improving the Utility of Patient-Reported Outcomes at the Point of Care. Global Spine J, 12(4), 2192568220958670. ()
    13. Tobert DG, Davis BJ, Annis P, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Spina N (2020). The impact of the lordosis distribution index on failure after surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity. Spine J, 20(8), 1261-1266. ()
    14. Goz V, Martin BI, Donnally CJ 3rd, Brodke D, Spina N, Lawrence B, Spiker WR (2020). Potential Selection Bias in Observational Studies Comparing Cervical Disc Arthroplasty to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 45(14), 960-967. ()
    15. 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. ()
    16. Spina N, Schoutens C, Martin BI, Brodke DS, Lawrence B, Spiker WR (2019). Defining Instability in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Surgeon Views. Clin Spine Surg, 32(10), E434-E439. ()
    17. Goz V, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2019). Odontoid Fractures: A Critical Analysis Review. JBJS Rev, 7(8), e1. ()
    18. Rogers J, Spina N, Neese A, Hess R, Brodke D, Lex A (2019). Composer-Visual Cohort Analysis of Patient Outcomes. Appl Clin Inform, 10(2), 278-285. ()
    19. Goz V, Anthony C, Pugely A, Lawrence B, Spina N, Brodke D, Spiker WR (2018). Software-Based Postoperative Communication With Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery. Global Spine J, 9(1), 14-17. ()
    20. Blumberg TJ, Woelber E, Bellabarba C, Bransford R, Spina N (2018). Predictors of increased cost and length of stay in the treatment of postoperative spine surgical site infection. Spine J, 18(2), 300-306. ()
    21. van Eck CF, Spina Iii NT, Lee JY (2017). A novel MRI classification system for congenital functional lumbar spinal stenosis predicts the risk for tandem cervical spinal stenosis. Eur Spine J, 26(2), 368-373. ()

    Review

    1. Moore ZJ, Rizkalla JM, Weiner J, Lawrence B, Spina N, Spiker R, Brodke D, Karamian B (2024). Transthyretin amyloidosis in spinal canal stenosis: A systematic review. [Review]. J Orthop, 53, 133-139. ()

    Book Chapter

    1. Sreeharsha V Nandyala, MD Nicholas T Spina, MD (2023). Spinal Trauma. In Leesa M Galatz, Frederick M Azar (Eds.), Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: 14 (14th Edition). Wolters Kluwer.
    2. Nathan R Hendrickson, Nicholas T Spina III, and Darrel S Brodke (2023). Cervical Vertebrectomy and Plating . In Drs. Todd J. Albert and Thomas A. Zdeblick (Eds.), Master Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: The Spine (4th Edition, pp. 49-66). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

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