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 Utah 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 Utah. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of Utah 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.

    June 28, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spina was very clear when discussing my reason for being there.

    June 27, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Yes Dr. Spina explained all the pros & cons of my surgery. He left the decision up to me!

    June 26, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spina is the finest.

    June 09, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Dr Spina is the absolute best. He is so knowledgeable and I trusted him without hesitation for a very complicated back surgery. He cares about his patients and listens to them.

    June 06, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr, Spina is an excellent surgeon. When I see how extensive his work is on x-ray, how he's installed the rods and screws and interbodies of my lumbar fusion, I can see how its resulted in my having the lumbar spine restored to original heights and curvature's. It's amazing to think how much that is going to help me get back to a more active lifestyle.

    June 06, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Definitely recommend Dr. Spina for back surgery! At the beginning of the process, he did not push the surgical option. He explained the options and left the choice to us. And once the decision was made, the entire staff was supportive and responsive to our needs. Followup activity was very professional.

    June 02, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    I am very pleased with the fact that Spina is not quick to jump to surgery.

    May 27, 2024
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER

    Very professional!

    May 22, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spina is the greatest. He reworked my spine to relive the nerve pain I had. Now I am in PT to get my muscles up./

    See More Patient Comments

  • Nicholas Spina, MD, is a member of the University Of Utah 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 Utah. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of Utah 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 Utah 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. 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.
    2. 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. (Read full article)
    3. 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. (Read full article)
    4. 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. (Read full article)
    5. 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. (Read full article)
    6. 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. (Read full article)
    7. 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. (Read full article)
    8. 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. (Read full article)
    9. 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. (Read full article)
    10. Turtle J, Kantor A, Spina NT, France JC, Lawrence BD (2020). Hangman's Fracture. Clin Spine Surg, 33(9), 345-354. (Read full article)
    11. 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. (Read full article)
    12. 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. (Read full article)
    13. 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. (Read full article)
    14. 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. (Read full article)
    15. 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. (Read full article)
    16. Goz V, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2019). Odontoid Fractures: A Critical Analysis Review. JBJS Rev, 7(8), e1. (Read full article)
    17. 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. (Read full article)
    18. 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. (Read full article)
    19. 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. (Read full article)
    20. 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. (Read full article)

    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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