William Ryan Spiker
( out of 410 reviews )

William Ryan Spiker, MD

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Clinical Locations

South Jordan Health Center

South Jordan
801-213-4500

University Orthopaedic Center

Salt Lake City
801-587-7109

  • Dr. Spiker treats conditions of the neck and back such as disk herniations, spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy and deformities of the spine. He believes in the thoughtful use of new technologies, including minimally invasive surgery and image-guided techniques. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Utah, he enjoys the benefits of working closely with non operative spine specialists and physical therapists to provide comprehensive care to his patients.

    Dr. Spiker’s research interests include the treatment of cervical spine disorders, spine imaging techniques and the genetics of common spinal conditions. He has authored many peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on these and other related topics.

    Dr. Spiker studied Biochemistry and History and The University of California at Santa Barbara and earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Utah and a dual Orthopaedic Spine and Neurosurgical Spine Fellowship at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Patient Rating

    4.8 /5
    ( out of 410 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. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    January 16, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Could not have had a better physician

    January 08, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Great Doctor. He cares and is very easy to work with.

    January 08, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spiker was very informative and very knowledgeable and very responsive to each of my questions to my complete satisfaction. And also he and his office are very available to me for any questions that I have, which I very much value.

    January 01, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Looking forward to working with him more.

    December 30, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    I researched doctors years ago, as I battled severe neck and back pain. I have been with him for years trying to work through the back issues. I just scheduled by next surgery with him because I trust him, he is brilliantly talented, compassionate Orthopedic doctor, and tells all the pros and cons of the situation. The most important feature for me with Dr. Spiker, is he a good, good man with fabulous bedside manners. He is truly a gift to the U of U Orthopedic Team, his students, and his patients.

    December 19, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Will not visit again. I'm going to request that Tricare change my referral to another MD.

    December 12, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spiker, thank you for such good care and getting me better to function better in life. You are a great surgeon thanks

    December 12, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    thankful he was able to fix my difficult problem I would see him again and recommend him to fix a difficult problem

    December 11, 2024
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER

    Dr. Spiker was very compassionate and provided Clear explanation of future treatment.

    See More Patient Comments

  • Dr. Spiker treats conditions of the neck and back such as disk herniations, spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy and deformities of the spine. He believes in the thoughtful use of new technologies, including minimally invasive surgery and image-guided techniques. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Utah, he enjoys the benefits of working closely with non operative spine specialists and physical therapists to provide comprehensive care to his patients.

    Dr. Spiker’s research interests include the treatment of cervical spine disorders, spine imaging techniques and the genetics of common spinal conditions. He has authored many peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on these and other related topics.

    Dr. Spiker studied Biochemistry and History and The University of California at Santa Barbara and earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Utah and a dual Orthopaedic Spine and Neurosurgical Spine Fellowship at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Orthopaedics -Associate Professor
    Neurosurgery -Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Board Certification
    American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Education history

    Postdoctoral Training Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Spine Surgery - Rothman Institute at Jefferson University Postdoctoral Training
    Residency Orthopedic Surgery - University of Utah Resident
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Biochemistry and History - University of California at Santa Barbara B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Mizels J, Connelly J, Martin B, Karamian B, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Spina NT (2024). How Do Functional Comorbidities Affect PROMIS-PF Scores Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery? Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 50(6), 383-388. (Read full article)
    2. Drain JP, Alvarez P, Spiker WR, Yu E (2024). Deformity Considerations in Cervical Laminoplasty: A Narrative Review. Clin Spine Surg. (Read full article)
    3. Connelly JW, Mizels J, Karamian BA, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke DS, Spina N (2024). Craniocervical dissociation: A framework for diagnosis and management of a rare but never miss injury. Semin Spine Surg, 36(2). (Read full article)
    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. (Read full article)
    5. Turtle J, Randell Z, Karamian B, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2023). Response to Preoperative Steroid Injections Predicts Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Fusion for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 48(13), 914-919. (Read full article)
    6. 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), 954-960. (Read full article)
    7. 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)
    8. 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)
    9. 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, 13(8), 21925682221075056. (Read full article)
    10. 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)
    11. 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)
    12. 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)
    13. 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)
    14. 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)
    15. 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)
    16. 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)
    17. Mordhorst TR, McCormick ZL, Presson AP, Collier WH, Spiker WR (2019). Examining the relationship between epidural steroid injections and patient satisfaction. Spine J, 20(2), 207-212. (Read full article)
    18. 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)
    19. Goz V, Spiker WR, Brodke D (2019). Mobile messaging and smartphone apps for patient communication and engagement in spine surgery. Ann Transl Med, 7(Suppl 5), S163. (Read full article)
    20. 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)
    21. Hung M, Saltzman CL, Voss MW, Bounsanga J, Kendall R, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Brodke D (2018). Responsiveness of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) instruments in patients with spinal disorders. Spine J, 19(1), 34-40. (Read full article)
    22. Hung M, Saltzman CL, Kendall R, Bounsanga J, Voss MW, Lawrence B, Spiker R, Brodke D (2018). What Are the MCIDs for PROMIS, NDI, and ODI Instruments Among Patients With Spinal Conditions? Clin Orthop Relat Res, 476(10), 2027-2036. (Read full article)
    23. Kendall R, Wagner B, Brodke D, Bounsanga J, Voss M, Gu Y, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Hung M (2017). The Relationship of PROMIS Pain Interference and Physical Function Scales. Pain Med, 19(9), 1720-1724. (Read full article)
    24. Lakomkin N, Goz V, Cheng JS, Brodke DS, Spiker WR (2017). The utility of preoperative laboratories in predicting postoperative complications following posterolateral lumbar fusion. Spine J, 18(6), 993-997. (Read full article)
    25. Abtahi AM, Lyman KS, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD, Zhang C, Spiker WR (2017). Patient Satisfaction is Not Associated With Self-reported Disability in a Spine Patient Population. Clin Spine Surg, 30(8), E1165-E1168. (Read full article)
    26. Brodke DS, Goz V, Voss MW, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Hung M (2017). PROMIS PF CAT Outperforms the ODI and SF-36 Physical Function Domain in Spine Patients. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 42(12), 921-929. (Read full article)
    27. Colman M, Pond J, Bachus K, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Brodke DS (2017). Fenestrated Screws Augmented With PMMA Increase the Pullout Strength of Sacral Pedicle Screws. Clin Spine Surg, 30(3), E252-E256. (Read full article)
    28. Brodke DS, Goz V, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Neese A, Hung M (2017). Oswestry Disability Index: a psychometric analysis with 1,610 patients. Spine J, 17(3), 321-327. (Read full article)
    29. Hu Y, Yuan ZS, Spiker WR, Dong WX, Sun XY, Yuan JB, Zhang J, Zhu B (2016). A comparative study on the accuracy of pedicle screw placement assisted by personalized rapid prototyping template between pre- and post-operation in patients with relatively normal mid-upper thoracic spine. Eur Spine J, 25(6), 1706-15. (Read full article)
    30. Colman MW, Guss A, Bachus KN, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS (2016). Fixed-Angle, Posteriorly Connected Anterior Cage Reconstruction Improves Stiffness and Decreases Cancellous Subsidence in a Spondylectomy Model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 41(9), E519-23. (Read full article)
    31. Haller JM, Calvert G, Spiker WR, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD (2015). Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Revision Lumbar Spine Surgery. Global Spine J, 5(6), 535-7. (Read full article)
    32. Elliott IS, Spiker WR, Caputo AM, Darden BV (2015). Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Versus Cervical Disk Arthroplasty. J Spinal Disord Tech, 28(9), 309-12. (Read full article)
    33. Gaffney C, Spiker WR (2015). Painless weakness from lumbar disc herniation: Recommended management and outcomes. (ahead of print). Semin Spine Surg.
    34. Goz V, Rane A, Abtahi AM, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Spiker WR (2015). Geographic variations in the cost of spine surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 40(17), 1380-9. (Read full article)
    35. Annis P, Brodke DS, Spiker WR, Daubs MD, Lawrence BD (2015). The Fate of L5-S1 With Low-Dose BMP-2 and Pelvic Fixation, With or Without Interbody Fusion, in Adult Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 40(11), E634-9. (Read full article)
    36. Abtahi AM, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD, Zhang C, Spiker WR (2015). Association between patient-reported measures of psychological distress and patient satisfaction scores after spine surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 97(10), 824-8. (Read full article)
    37. Hu Y, Dong WX, Spiker WR, Yuan ZS, Sun XY, Zhang J, Xie H, Albert TJ (2015). An anatomic study to determine the optimal entry point, medial angles, and effective length for safe fixation using posterior C1 lateral mass screws. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 40(4), E191-8. (Read full article)
    38. Hung M, Stuart A, Cheng C, Hon SD, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Neese A, Brodke DS (2015). Predicting the DRAM mZDI using the PROMIS anxiety and depression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 40(3), 179-83. (Read full article)
    39. Lawrence BD, Patel AA, Guss A, Ryan Spiker W, Brodke DS (2014). Malaligned dynamic anterior cervical plate: a biomechanical analysis of effectiveness. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 39(25), 2057-61. (Read full article)
    40. Annis P, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Zhang Y, Chen W, Daubs MD, Brodke DS (2014). Predictive factors for acute proximal junctional failure after adult deformity surgery with upper instrumented vertebrae in the thoracolumbar spine. Evid Based Spine Care J, 5(2), 160-2. (Read full article)
    41. Hu Y, Yuan ZS, Spiker WR, Albert TJ, Dong WX, Xie H, Yuan JB, Wang CT (2013). Deviation analysis of C2 translaminar screw placement assisted by a novel rapid prototyping drill template: a cadaveric study. Eur Spine J, 22(12), 2770-6. (Read full article)
    42. Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Raich AL, Skelly AC, Brodke DS (2012). Surgical versus injection treatment for injection-confirmed chronic sacroiliac joint pain. Evid Based Spine Care J, 3(4), 41-53. (Read full article)
    43. Patel AA, Spiker WR, Daubs M, Brodke DS, Cannon-Albright LA (2012). Evidence of an inherited predisposition for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 37(1), 26-9. (Read full article)
    44. Patel AA, Spiker WR, Daubs MD, Brodke DS, Cheng I, Glasgow RE (2008). Retroperitoneal lymphocele after anterior spinal surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 33(18), E648-52. (Read full article)

    Review

    1. Connelly JW, Kothari P, Spina N, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke DS, Karamian BA (2024). Early versus late intervention for degenerative cervical myelopathy: what are the outcomes?—a review of the current literature. [Review]. AME Med J, 9. (Read full article)
    2. 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. (Read full article)
    3. Vangsness CT Jr, Spiker W, Erickson J (2008). A review of evidence-based medicine for glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate use in knee osteoarthritis. [Review]. Arthroscopy, 25(1), 86-94. (Read full article)

    Book Chapter

    1. Spiker WR (2016). Techniques for Minimizing Radiation Exposure during Fluorscopy Procedures. In Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ (Eds.), Spine Surgery: Tricks of the Trade (3rd, Chapter 76, pp. 288-91). New York: Thieme.
    2. Spiker WR (2016). Wound VAC Management for Spinal and Bone Graft Wound Infections. In Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ (Eds.), Spine Surgery: Tricks of the Trade (3rd, Chapter 112, pp. 419-21). New York: Thieme.
    3. Goz V, Spiker WR (2015). Lumbar Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis. In Orthopaedic Surgery Essentials, Spine.
    4. Goz V, Spiker WR (2015). Management of Spinal Data. In Benzel (Ed.), Spine Surgery (4th).

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