Spine Center Research and Publications

The Spine Center at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has a focus toward advancing our medical knowledge through research.

Our center offers clinical trials, but we also study patient outcomes on an ongoing basis.

One of our main interests is in advancing our field's knowledge in surgical versus non-surgical intervention for spine problems. Tracking the success of treatment helps us improve care for not only our patients, but also those worldwide.

Along with medical and outcomes research, we also study and assess practice management and train future pediatric orthopaedic surgeons.

Below is a listing of the Spine Center staff's published research. Some include links to the full article or abstract in PubMed, along with the complete citation.

Scoliosis and Spine-Related Research

• A Comparison of the Lenke and King Classification Systems in Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Thoracic Scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Jan 1;33(1):52-60.
• Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: 5- to 20-Year Evidence-Based Surgical Results. J Pediatr Orthop. 2011 Jan-Feb;31(1 Suppl):S61-8.
• Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis are Not Osteoporotic. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Apr 1;33(7):802-6.
• Coagulation Profile of Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016 Oct 19;98(20):e88.
• Converting Scoliosis Research Society-24 to Scoliosis Research Society-22r in a Surgical-Range, Medical/Interventional Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patient Cohort. Spine Deform. 2013 Mar;1(2):108-114.
• Clinical Decision Making in Early Wound Drainage Following Posterior Spine Surgery in Pediatric Patients. Spine Deform. 2014 Mar;2(2):104-109.
• Defining the Differences in Transverse Plane Trajectories for Thoracic Pedicle Screw Insertion: Anatomic Versus Medial. Spine Deform. 2016 Jan;4(1):22-26.
• Exercise-Induced Pediatric Lumbar Paravertebral Compartment Syndrome: A Case Report. J Pediatr Orthop. 2015 Sep;35(6):e49-51.
• Freehand Pedicle Screw Placement Technique in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery: What is the Incidence of Neurological Symptoms Secondary to Misplaced Screws? Spine (Phila Pa1976). 2014 Feb 15;39(4):286-90.
• Infection After Surgical Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation of the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Impact on Clinical Outcomes. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Feb 1;33(3):289-94.
• Osteoid Osteoma of the Lumbar Spine. Spine J. 2012 Oct;12(10):971-2.
• Pediatric Cervical Spine Trauma. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2012 Apr;20(4):192; author reply 192-3.
• SRS-22r Scores in Non-Operated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients with Curves Greater than Forty Degrees. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Dec 2.
• The Effect of Posterior Spinal Releases on Axial Correction Torque: A Cadaver Study. J Child Orthop. 2011 Apr;5(2):109-13.

Other Orthopaedic Research Topics

• A New Look at the Incidence of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in New Mexico. J Pediatr Orthop. 2008 Jul-Aug;28(5):529-33.
• Biomechanical Comparison of Ponte Osteotomy and Discectomy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 Feb 1;40(3):E141-5.
• Does a Weekly Didactic Conference Improve Resident Performance on the Pediatric Domain of the Orthopaedic In-Training Exam? J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Mar;37(2):149-153.
• Effect of Cultural Factors on Outcome of Ponseti Treatment of Clubfeet in Rural America. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Mar 1;91(3):530-40.
• Hematoma Block Versus Sedation for the Reduction of Distal Radius Fractures in Children. J Hand Surg Am. 2015 Jan;40(1):57-61.
• Intramuscular Air as a Complication of Pulse-Lavage Irrigation. A Case Report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Dec;91(12):2937-40.
• Is There Value in Having Radiology Provide a Second Reading in Pediatric Orthopaedic Clinic? J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Jan 18.
• Medial Collateral Ligament Tear Entrapped Within a Proximal Tibial Physeal Separation: Imaging Findings and Operative Reduction. Skeletal Radiol. 2008 Oct;37(10):943-6.
• Order of Inoculation During Heligmosomoides Bakeri and Hymenolepis Microstoma Coinfection Alters Parasite Life History and Host Responses. Pathogens. 2013 Mar 1;2(1):130-52.
• Pediatric Orthopaedic Practice Management: The Role of Midlevel Providers. J Pediatr Orthop. 2008 Dec;28(8):795-8.
• Prospective, Surgeon-Randomized Evaluation of Crossed Pins Versus Lateral Pins for Unstable Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2009 Mar;18(2):93-8.
• Somatosensory-Evoked Potential Monitoring During Instrumented Scoliosis Corrective Procedures: Validity Revisited. Spine J. 2014 Aug 1;14(8):1572-80.
• The Current Medical Practice of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon in North America. J Pediatr Orthop. 2011 Apr-May;31(3):223-6.
• Urban Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgical Practice Audit: Implications for the Future of this Subspecialty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Dec;91(12):2992-8.