Spine Universe Editorial Board

Doctor Todd J. Albert is the Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at Thomas Jefferson University Medical College and The Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, PA. He also serves as Co-director of Reconstructive Spine Surgery and the Spine Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson University.

He specializes in the comprehensive treatment of numerous pathologic conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spines including degenerative disc disease, scoliosis and other deformities, trauma, infections, and tumors. Dr. Albert has an interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques and image-guided technologies in the management of spinal disorders.

Dr. Albert graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College, received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he was named outstanding chief resident, and performed a fellowship in spinal surgery at the Minnesota Spine Center.

Dr. Albert serves on the boards of several scholarly journals, including Spine, The Spine Journal, and The Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. He is an active member of many prestigious medical associations including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cervical Spine Research Society, Scoliosis Research Society, International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine, North American Spine Society, and many others.

He is Chairman of Network Development for the National Spine Network; a consortium of centers of excellence for spine care throughout the United States.

Dr. Albert has published more than 200 scientific articles, authored more than 40 book chapters, presented his research nationally and internationally, and served as chairman at numerous courses. He has published several textbooks on Spinal Surgery, including Tricks of The Trade: Spine Surgery, Surgical Approaches to the Spine, Master Cases: Spine Surgery, Physical Examination of the Spine and Spinal Deformities, and The Essentials.

Spinal Case Studies From Todd J. Albert, MD

• Kyphosis Nonunion with Cervical Spinal Myelopathy
  The patient is a 75-year-old male, who is status post laminectomy and fusion at C2-C5. His pain has worsened and other symptoms have led to his inability to ambulate.
• Radicular Neck Pain
  This 60-year-old female presents with neck pain, hand numbness, radiculopathy, and hyper-reflexia.
• Progressive Cervical Myelopathy in a 57-year-old
  The patient is a 57-year-old male with progressive cervical myelopathy who has been ambulating with a walker during the past four weeks.

SpineUniverse articles from Todd J. Albert, MD

• Accuracy of SPECT Scanning in Diagnosing Pseudarthrosis: A Prospective Study
  A study to analyze the efficacy of SPECT in diagnosing pseudarthrosis after fusion.
• Cervical Spine Surgery: An Overview
  What is the purpose of cervical surgery? This article will help you prepare for cervical surgery and outline the reasons for having it.
• Cervical Spine Surgery: Home Care and Neck Health Maintenance
  How to maintain your neck health for a lifetime. Tips for neck health.
• Cervical Spine Surgery: Preparation Steps
  This article will help you prepare for your cervical surgery. Hints on how to prepare your home, what to expect before admission and after admission for your cervical surgery.
• Cervical Spine Surgery: Recovery
  What to expect immediately after surgery. Personal hygiene, sutures, IV therapy, diet and breathing are some of the topics covered in this article.
• Collar Care Instructions for Cervical Fusions
  Collar care instructions for patients who have undergone cervical fusions. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Anterior and Posterior Cervical Fusion with Halo Placement
  Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone anterior and posterior cervical fusion with halo placement. Printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Anterior Cervical Fusions with Instrumentation
  Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone anterior cervical fusions with instrumentation. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Fusion Surgery
  Collar care instructions for patients who have undergone lumbar fusions (anterior, posterior) . Printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Laminectomies and Discectomies
  Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone lumbar laminectomies or discectomies. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Microendoscopic Discectomy
  Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone microendoscopic discectomy. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Discharge Instructions for Vertebroplasty
  Vertebroplasty discharge instructions. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Industry Support and Correlation to Study Outcome
  An abstract from the SRS 2005 Annual Meeting designed to assess correlations between research sponsorship and study outcome.
• Maintaining Your Back for Your Lifetime
  Describes how to maintain a healthy back after having undergone a spinal surgery.
• Preoperative and Discharge Instructions for Cervical Fusion
  Discharge instructions for patients who have undergone a cervical fusion. These discharge instructions are printed with permission from Todd Albert, M.D. of the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Preparing For Lumbar Fusion Surgery
  This article will help you prepare for your lumbar surgery. Hints on how to prepare your home, what to expect before admission and after admission for your lumbar surgery.
• Recovery from Lumbar Fusion Surgery
  An excellent overview of what to expect following surgery including basic recovery instructions.
• Take Charge of Your Upper Back Pain
  Upper back pain is commonly caused by poor posture, muscle strain, hard coughing, or incorrect body mechanics. This information provides many "first pain response" at-home treatments to help ease upper back pain.
• Understanding Lumbar Fusion Surgery
  The goal of lumbar fusion surgery is to relieve pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, restore nerve function and stop or prevent abnormal motion in the spine. This is done by fusing the vertebrae together.
• Whiplash
  Whiplash is a disorder affecting the neck that may be caused by a car crash.
• Whiplash: A Common Neck Injury
  Whiplash commonly results from a car accident causing hyperflexion and hyperextension of the neck tissues.
• Whiplash: Neck Trauma and Treatment
  Whiplash, also called neck sprain/strain, is injury to the soft tissues in the neck. Severe whiplash can include injury to the spinal joints, discs, ligaments, muscles and nerves.
• Whiplash: Treatment and Recovery
  Rarely does the treatment of whiplash require surgery. Surgical intervention is considered for patients with severe cases, such as those with persistent neck, scapular, or shoulder pain.