Rajiv R. Iyer,
MD

Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Rajiv Iyer is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and a dual fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon with a special focus on pediatric spinal disorders and spasticity. After completing a residency and chief residency in neurological surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Iyer completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital. He then went on to complete the prestigious Advanced Pediatric Spinal Deformity Fellowship within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York with Dr. Michael Vitale and Dr. Lawrence Lenke.
Dr. Iyer is one of only a few pediatric spine surgeons in the nation with extensive training in both the neurosurgical and orthopedic aspects of spinal deformity care in children. Conditions he treats include idiopathic scoliosis, early onset scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, and kyphosis. Other spinal disorders that he treats include craniocervical disorders, traumatic spinal disorders, tumors of the spinal column and spinal cord, spondylolisthesis, disc herniations, and others. Dr. Iyer also offers the latest surgical solutions in spine care, including anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) for scoliosis, as well as spinal column shortening for recurrent tethered cord syndrome. He is involved in several national research initiatives to better understand and improve the treatment of pediatric spinal conditions and to enhance the safety of complex spinal surgery in children. In addition to spinal disorders, Dr. Iyer also treats all general pediatric neurosurgical conditions, including hydrocephalus, brain tumors, tethered spinal cord, vascular disorders, congenital anomalies of the nervous system, spina bifida and others.
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Neurosurgery
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Assistant Professor |
Board Certification | National Board of Medical Examiners |
Dr. Rajiv Iyer is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and a dual fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon with a special focus on pediatric spinal disorders and spasticity. After completing a residency and chief residency in neurological surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Iyer completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital. He then went on to complete the prestigious Advanced Pediatric Spinal Deformity Fellowship within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York with Dr. Michael Vitale and Dr. Lawrence Lenke.
Dr. Iyer is one of only a few pediatric spine surgeons in the nation with extensive training in both the neurosurgical and orthopedic aspects of spinal deformity care in children. Conditions he treats include idiopathic scoliosis, early onset scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, and kyphosis. Other spinal disorders that he treats include craniocervical disorders, traumatic spinal disorders, tumors of the spinal column and spinal cord, spondylolisthesis, disc herniations, and others. Dr. Iyer also offers the latest surgical solutions in spine care, including anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) for scoliosis, as well as spinal column shortening for recurrent tethered cord syndrome. He is involved in several national research initiatives to better understand and improve the treatment of pediatric spinal conditions and to enhance the safety of complex spinal surgery in children. In addition to spinal disorders, Dr. Iyer also treats all general pediatric neurosurgical conditions, including hydrocephalus, brain tumors, tethered spinal cord, vascular disorders, congenital anomalies of the nervous system, spina bifida and others.
Academic Locations
Primary Children's Hospital
801-662-5340
Board Certification and Academic Information
Academic Departments | Neurosurgery
-
Assistant Professor |
Board Certification | National Board of Medical Examiners |
Education History
Fellowship | University of Utah School of Medicine Pediatric Neurological Surgery Fellow, 2020 |
Residency | Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Neurological Surgery Resident, 2019 |
Professional Medical | New York University School of Medicine Medicine M.D., 2012 |
Undergraduate | New York University Major: Neural Science; Minor: Music B.Sc. (Hons), 2007 |
Fellowship | NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center Advanced Pediatric Spinal Deformity Fellow, |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Yanni DS, Ozgur BM, Louis RG, Shekhtman Y, Iyer RR, Boddapati V, Iyer A, Patel PD, Jani R, Cummock M, Herur-Raman A, Dang P, Goldstein IM, Brant-Zawadzki M, Steineke T, Lenke LG (2021). Real-time navigation guidance with intraoperative CT imaging for pedicle screw placement using an augmented reality head-mounted display: a proof-of-concept study. Neurosurg Focus, 51(2), E11.
- Ravindra VM, Iyer RR, Yahanda AT, Bollo RJ, Zhu H, Joyce E, Bethel-Anderson T, Meehan T, Smyth MD, Strahle JM, Park TS, Limbrick DD, Brockmeyer DL, Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium (2021). A multicenter validation of the condylar-C2 sagittal vertical alignment in Chiari malformation type I: a study using the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1-7.
- Iyer RR, Grimmer JF, Brockmeyer DL (2021). Endoscopic transnasal/transoral odontoid resection in children: results of a combined neurosurgical and otolaryngological protocolized, institutional approach. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1-8.
- Sherrod BA, Makarenko S, Iyer RR, Eli I, Kestle JR, Couldwell WT (2021). Primary pituitary abscess in an adolescent female patient: case report, literature review, and operative video. Childs Nerv Syst, 37(5), 1423-1428.
- Belzberg M, Mahapatra S, Perdomo-Pantoja A, Chavez F, Morrison K, Xiong KT, Gamo NJ, Restaino S, Thakor N, Yazdi Y, Iyer R, Tyler B, Theodore N, Luciano MG, Brem H, Groves M, Cohen AR, Manbachi A (2020). Minimally invasive therapeutic ultrasound: Ultrasound-guided ultrasound ablation in neuro-oncology. Ultrasonics, 108, 106210.
- Gorelick NL, Serra R, Iyer R, Um R, Grewal A, Monroe A, Antoine H, Beharry K, Cecia A, Kroll F, Ishida W, Perdomo-Pantoja A, Xu R, Loth F, Ye X, Suk I, Tyler B, Bayston R, Luciano MG (2019). Evaluating the Effects of Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Content on the Performance of Differential Pressure Valves and Antisiphon Devices Using a Novel Benchtop Shunting Model. Neurosurgery, 87(5), 1046-1054.
- Ravindra VM, Iyer RR, Awad AW, Bollo RJ, Zhu H, Brockmeyer DL (2020). Defining the role of the condylar-C2 sagittal vertical alignment in Chiari malformation type I. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 26(4), 1-6.
- Gamboa NT, Karsy M, Iyer RR, Bollo RJ, Schmidt RH (2020). Stereotactic laser interstitial thermal therapy for brainstem cavernous malformations: two preliminary cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien), 162(7), 1771-1775.
- Lopez J, Chen J, Purvis T, Reategui A, Khavanin N, Iyer R, Manson PN, Dorafshar AH, Cohen AR, Redett RJ (2020). Pediatric Skull Fracture Characteristics Associated with the Development of Leptomeningeal Cysts in Young Children after Trauma: A Single Institution's Experience. Plast Reconstr Surg, 145(5), 953e-962e.
- Sherrod BA, Iyer RR, Kestle JRW (2019). Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for pediatric tumor-associated hydrocephalus. Neurosurg Focus, 48(1), E5.
- Zhang M, Iyer RR, Azad TD, Wang Q, Garzon-Muvdi T, Wang J, Liu A, Burger P, Eberhart C, Rodriguez FJ, Sciubba DM, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan Z, Groves ML, Jallo GI, Bettegowda C (2019). Genomic Landscape of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Gliomas. Sci Rep, 9(1), 18722.
- Perdomo-Pantoja A, Ishida W, Zygourakis C, Holmes C, Iyer RR, Cottrill E, Theodore N, Witham TF, Lo SL (2019). Accuracy of Current Techniques for Placement of Pedicle Screws in the Spine: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 51,161 Screws. World Neurosurg, 126, 664-678.e3.
- Iyer RR, Ye X, Jin Q, Lu Y, Liyanage L, Ahn ES (2018). Optimal duration of postoperative helmet therapy following endoscopic strip craniectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 22(6), 610-615.
- Manbachi A, De Silva T, Uneri A, Jacobson M, Goerres J, Ketcha M, Han R, Aygun N, Thompson D, Ye X, Vogt S, Kleinszig G, Molina C, Iyer R, Garzon-Muvdi T, Raber MR, Groves M, Wolinsky JP, Siewerdsen JH (2018). Clinical Translation of the LevelCheck Decision Support Algorithm for Target Localization in Spine Surgery. Ann Biomed Eng, 46(10), 1548-1557.
- Iyer RR, Elder BD, Garzon-Muvdi T, Sacks JM, Suk I, Wolinsky JP (2017). Use of an Articulating Hinge to Facilitate Cervicothoracic Deformity Correction During Vertebral Column Resection. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown), 15(3), 278-284.
- Iyer RR, Gorelick N, Carroll K, Blitz AM, Beck S, Garrett CM, Monroe A, Tyler B, Zuckerman ST, Capadona JR, von Recum HA, Luciano MG (2017). Evaluation of an in vivo model for ventricular shunt infection: a pilot study using a novel antimicrobial-loaded polymer. J Neurosurg, 131(2), 587-595.
- Iyer R, Chaichana KL (2018). Minimally Invasive Resection of Deep-seated High-grade Gliomas Using Tubular Retractors and Exoscopic Visualization. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg, 79(4), 330-336.
- Iyer RR, Carey CM, Rottgers SA, Tetreault L, Shimony N, Katzenstein J, Ruas E, Tuite GF (2018). Early postnatal cranial vault reduction and fixation surgery for severe hydrocephalic macrocephaly. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 21(5), 486-495.
- Iyer RR, Wu A, Macmillan A, Musavi L, Cho R, Lopez J, Jallo GI, Dorafshar AH, Ahn ES (2017). Use of computer-assisted design and manufacturing to localize dural venous sinuses during reconstructive surgery for craniosynostosis. Childs Nerv Syst, 34(1), 137-142.
- Shofty B, Ben-Sira L, Kesler A, Jallo G, Groves ML, Iyer RR, Lassaletta A, Tabori U, Bouffet E, Thomale UW, Herniz Driever P, Constantini S, Isolated Optic Nerve Abnormalities IONA Collaboration (2017). Isolated optic nerve gliomas: a multicenter historical cohort study. J Neurosurg Pediatr, 20(6), 549-555.
- Iyer RR, Tuite GF, Meoded A, Carey CC, Rodriguez LF (2017). A Modified Technique for Occipitocervical Fusion Using Compressed Iliac Crest Allograft Results in a High Rate of Fusion in the Pediatric Population. World Neurosurg, 107, 342-350.
- Iyer RR, Solomon D, Moghekar A, Goodwin CR, Stewart CM, Ishii M, Gailloud P, Gallia GL (2017). Venous Sinus Stenting in the Management of Patients with Intracranial Hypertension Manifesting with Skull Base Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks. World Neurosurg, 106, 103-112.
- Hersh DS, Iyer RR, Garzon-Muvdi T, Liu A, Jallo GI, Groves ML (2017). Instrumented fusion for spinal deformity after laminectomy or laminoplasty for resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in pediatric patients. Neurosurg Focus, 43(4), E12.
- Lin LM, Iyer RR, Bender MT, Monarch T, Colby GP, Huang J, Tamargo RJ, Coon AL (2017). Rescue Treatment with Pipeline Embolization for Postsurgical Clipping Recurrences of Anterior Communicating Artery Region Aneurysms. Interv Neurol, 6(3-4), 135-146.
- Elder BD, Ishida W, Iyer R, Witham TF (2016). Rapid resolution of large spontaneous thoracic epidural hematoma without surgical intervention. Spine J, 16(9), e613-4.
- Goodwin CR, Iyer R, Abu-Bonsrah N, Boah AO, Sciubba DM (2015). Traumatic atlantooccipital dissociation. Spine J, 16(3), e165-6.
- Garzon-Muvdi T, Iyer R, Goodwin CR, Abu-Bonsrah N, Orru E, Gailloud P, Sciubba DM (2015). Percutaneous embolization and spondylectomy of an aggressive L2 hemangioma. Spine J, 16(3), e167-8.
- Goodwin CR, Xu R, Iyer R, Sankey EW, Liu A, Abu-Bonsrah N, Sarabia-Estrada R, Frazier JL, Sciubba DM, Jallo GI (2016). Local delivery methods of therapeutic agents in the treatment of diffuse intrinsic brainstem gliomas. Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 142, 120-127.
- Ding BS, James D, Iyer R, Falciatori I, Hambardzumyan D, Wang S, Butler JM, Rabbany SY, Hormigo A (2013). Prominin 1/CD133 endothelium sustains growth of proneural glioma. PLoS One, 8(4), e62150.
- Yang C, Iyer RR, Yu AC, Yong RL, Park DM, Weil RJ, Ikejiri B, Brady RO, Lonser RR, Zhuang Z (2012). β-Catenin signaling initiates the activation of astrocytes and its dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of astrocytomas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109(18), 6963-8.
- Zhuang Z, Qi M, Li J, Okamoto H, Xu DS, Iyer RR, Lu J, Yang C, Weil RJ, Vortmeyer A, Lonser RR (2011). Proteomic identification of glutamine synthetase as a differential marker for oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas. J Neurosurg, 115(4), 789-95.
- Iyer RR, Butman JA, Walbridge S, Gai ND, Heiss JD, Lonser RR (2011). Tracking accuracy of T2- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for infusate distribution by convection-enhanced delivery. J Neurosurg, 115(3), 474-80.
- Yang C, Asthagiri AR, Iyer RR, Lu J, Xu DS, Ksendzovsky A, Brady RO, Zhuang Z, Lonser RR (2011). Missense mutations in the NF2 gene result in the quantitative loss of merlin protein and minimally affect protein intrinsic function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(12), 4980-5.
- Lu J, Chiang J, Iyer RR, Thompson E, Kaneski CR, Xu DS, Yang C, Chen M, Hodes RJ, Lonser RR, Brady RO, Zhuang Z (2010). Decreased glucocerebrosidase activity in Gaucher disease parallels quantitative enzyme loss due to abnormal interaction with TCP1 and c-Cbl. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(50), 21665-70.