Spine Surgery

UI Health Care neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons relieve back pain and neck pain caused by spinal stenosis, sciatica, herniated disc, and more.
Request an Appointment
For requests:
1-800-777-8442
For Neurosurgery related requests:
1-319-356-2237
For Orthopedics and Rehabilitation related requests:
1-319-356-2223

When you're choosing a physician to perform your spine surgery, experience matters.

The University of Iowa Health Care spine surgery team includes neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons with years of intensive training and experience. They specialize in back pain and conditions of the spine and spinal cord.  

Our physicians are highly skilled in performing both routine procedures and complex spine surgeries.  

Our team is also expert at fixing previous back surgeries that have failed. If you have back pain, or if you've already had surgery but still have pain, we can help.

Collaboration that focuses on you

Making the right treatment plan is one of the most important aspects of the spine surgery process.  

UI Health Care neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons can work with you to determine the right treatment to restore your function and relieve your pain. The teams meet weekly to discuss complex cases and explore research ideas.  

This thoughtful approach leads to better outcomes. Many people who have suffered from back or leg pain for years feel relief as soon as their surgery is complete

Advanced spine surgery treatment options

UI Health Care spine surgeons can perform minimally invasive or open surgery, depending on your unique needs.  

  • Minimally invasive spine surgery is performed using special tools inserted through small incisions. Surgery to relieve pressure on your spinal cord or nerves (decompression surgery) can often be done this way. It results in less pain, fewer complications, and faster recovery. In some cases, UI Health Care may be able to offer robotic surgery.  

  • Open surgery requires a long incision down your back or abdomen. This may be necessary if you've had a previous minimally invasive surgery that has failed.  

Because we're an academic medical center, our providers are constantly researching and refining new surgical procedures and techniques.

A team of UI Health Care experts

Our neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons work closely with other UI Health Care specialists to make sure you have the full range of care you need. 

An injury to your spine can affect many systems in your body. For example, sleep apnea can arise if there's an injury to the spinal cord. Our sleep disorders team is experienced in working with spine surgery patients.  

Specialists in anesthesiology, radiology, urology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, pain medicine and other areas work together on your personalized plan for treatment and recovery.

Spine surgery tests and treatments

  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
  • Cervical disc replacement
  • Discectomy
  • Dynamic stabilization
  • Foraminotomy
  • Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminoplasty

Lumbar disc replacement 

Minimally invasive spine surgery 

Posterior cervical fusion (PCF) 

Revision surgery 

Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion 

Scoliosis surgery 

Spinal decompression 

Spinal fusion 

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) 

Spine surgery conditions treated

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Back pain
  • Cervical myelopathy
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Chordoma
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hypertrophy (DISH)
  • Failed back surgery syndrome
  • Flat-back syndrome
  • Herniated disc
  • Kyphosis
  • Lumbar stenosis
  • Myelopathy
  • Neck pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Radiculopathy
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
  • Schwannoma
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Spinal fracture
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spinal tumor
  • Spondylolysis
  • Thoracic stenosis

Our Care Team

Jeremy D. Greenlee, MD portrait

Jeremy D.
Greenlee
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.69 out of 5 (1,608 ratings)
Patrick W. Hitchon, MD portrait

Patrick W.
Hitchon
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.26 out of 5 (1,241 ratings)
Matthew A. Howard, MD portrait

Matthew A.
Howard
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.37 out of 5 (2,150 ratings)
Hiroto Kawasaki, MD, PhD portrait

Hiroto
Kawasaki
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.56 out of 5 (805 ratings)
Jangbo Lee, MD, PhD portrait

Jangbo
Lee
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.27 out of 5 (122 ratings)
Arnold H. Menezes, MD portrait

Arnold H.
Menezes
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.52 out of 5 (285 ratings)
Hiroyuki Oya, MD, PhD portrait

Hiroyuki
Oya
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.03 out of 5 (764 ratings)
Satoshi Yamaguchi, MD, PhD portrait

Satoshi
Yamaguchi
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.18 out of 5 (737 ratings)
Joshua M. Eisenberg, MD portrait

Joshua M.
Eisenberg
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.88 out of 5 (32 ratings)
Joshua Holt, MD portrait

Joshua
Holt
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.72 out of 5 (658 ratings)
Cassim M. Igram, MD portrait

Cassim M.
Igram
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.58 out of 5 (1,624 ratings)
Heather Kowalski, MD portrait

Heather
Kowalski
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.76 out of 5 (639 ratings)
Catherine R. Olinger, MD, MS, FAAOS portrait

Catherine R.
Olinger
MD, MS, FAAOS

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.74 out of 5 (420 ratings)
Andrew J. Pugely, MD portrait

Andrew J.
Pugely
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.69 out of 5 (1,532 ratings)
Stuart L. Weinstein, MD portrait

Stuart L.
Weinstein
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.77 out of 5 (807 ratings)
Renee Meade, MSN, ARNP, ANP-C portrait

Renee
Meade
MSN, ARNP, ANP-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.74 out of 5 (150 ratings)
Jennifer L. Noeller, ARNP portrait

Jennifer L.
Noeller
ARNP

  • Neurosurgery
4.64 out of 5 (59 ratings)
Katie Sander, ARNP portrait

Katie
Sander
ARNP

  • Neurosurgery
4.59 out of 5 (324 ratings)
Kyle Kroymann, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Kyle
Kroymann
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.67 out of 5 (700 ratings)
Jonathan A. Rueter, MMS, PA-C portrait

Jonathan A.
Rueter
MMS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.64 out of 5 (839 ratings)
Troy Smith, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Troy
Smith
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.64 out of 5 (168 ratings)

Need a spine surgery expert?

We’ll help you find a provider for diagnosis, treatment, or a second opinion.
Call 1-800-777-8442 Request an appointment Refer a patient

Locations and Offices

Neurosurgery Clinic
1800 John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
Level 1, Elevator H
1-319-356-2237
Clinic
Neurosurgery Clinic entrance at UI Hospitals & Clinics
In Medical Center
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Orthopedic Clinic
John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
Lower Level, Elevator I
1-319-356-2223
Clinic
Orthopedic Clinic
In Medical Center
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

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Educational Resources

Resources for Orthopedic Spine Patients and Families

Awards and Recognition

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Distinction® Center+ designation
Expertise in knee and hip replacement and spine surgery has earned UI Health Care the Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Distinction® Center+ designation. This means we're a center of excellence that delivers high-quality specialized care and better results.