“Throughout the whole process, Dr. Bhatia has been calming, kind, thorough, and I have never felt rushed. He gave me my life back. I think Dr. Bhatia is ‘the bomb.’”

- Patient K.W.
36 year-old woman
Lumbar fusion and decompression

 
Spine Surgeon in Orange County PDF Print E-mail
Located in Orange County, Dr. Nitin Bhatia has expertise in all areas of spinal pathology including spinal stenosis, disc herniations, spine trauma, scoliosis, complex cervical and lumbar reconstruction, and failed back syndrome.

Nitin N. Bhatia, MD - Spine & Back Surgeon
Chief, Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery

Dr. Bhatia graduated with honors from Stanford University, after which he attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During medical school, Dr. Bhatia won numerous research awards and was the valedictorian of his graduating class. Following his Orthopedic surgery residency at UCLA, Dr. Bhatia completed a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital, after which he completed a second spine surgery fellowship at Miami Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Bhatia is active in multiple research projects including federally funded spinal cord injury research and has been nominated for the prestigious Russell Hibbs research award by the Scoliosis Research Society.  His research has also won awards from the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), the Western Orthopaedic Association (WOA), and the American College of Spine Surgery.

Dr. Bhatia has been featured as a treating surgeon in the television show "Guardian Angels, MD" seen nationwide on The Learning Channel (TLC) as well as programs on PBS.  His amazing surgical results have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Time, the Orange County Register, and on Fox Sports and the Bill Handel radio show on KFI.

As Chief of Spinal Surgery at a major university in southern California, Dr. Bhatia has expertise in all areas of neck and back pathology including spinal stenosis, disc herniations, spine trauma, scoliosis, complex cervical and lumbar reconstruction, and failed back syndrome.  Dr. Bhatia has completed multiple spine surgery fellowships and is one of a rare group of surgeons who have training in both orthopaedic and neurosurgical techniques.  Dr. Bhatia is a member of multiple international and national spine related organizations including the North American Spine Society. Dr. Bhatia is the only academic surgeon in Orange County to be selected for the exclusive Cervical Spine Research Society which has granted admission to less than 20 physicians in the state of California!  He is also one of an elite group of surgeons who are members of both the CSRS and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).

As an international leader in spine surgery, Dr. Bhatia frequently gives lectures and runs meetings for other surgeons in order to teach his advanced techniques.  He has been selected to run instructional lectures and symposia for multiple international organizations including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME).

Even though Dr. Bhatia is a world-recognized leader in spinal surgery, he provides individualized, conservative, and compassionate care for all of his patients.

To view Dr. Bhatia's internet seminars on the following topics please select the appropriate links:


Nitin N. Bhatia, M.D.

Office in Orange, CA:
University of California, Irvine, Medical Center
Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center

101 The City Drive South
Pavillion III, Building 29A
Orange, California, 92868
(714) 456-7012

Office in Newport Beach, CA:
The Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center

1640 Newport Blvd., Suite 230
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-515-5210

CURRENT POSITION:

Chief, Orthopaedic Spine Service
Co-Director, Comprehensive Spine Program
Director, Spinal Services, The Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center
University of California, Irvine

Residency Program Director
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of California, Irvine

EDUCATION:

Stanford University, Stanford, California
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 1990-1994
Graduation with Honors

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Doctor of Medicine with Highest Honors, 1994-1998
Class Valedictorian

University of California, Los Angeles
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, 1999 - 2003
General Surgery Internship, 1998 - 1999

Miami Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida
Spinal Deformity Fellowship (Dr. Harry L. Shufflebarger, Director)
June, 2004 – August, 2004

University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Miami, Florida
Spinal Surgery Fellowship (Dr. Frank J. Eismont, Director)
July, 2003 – June, 2004

AWARDS AND HONORS:

Stanford University, Stanford, California
Graduation with Honors, 1994
Kappa Alpha Order Scholarship Award, 1993

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Class Valedictorian, 1998
Michael E. DeBakey Scholar Award, 1998
Alpha Omega Alpha, 1997 - 1998 (elected Junior year)
Graduation with Highest Honors, 1998
Most Outstanding Research by a Medical Student, 1998
Outstanding Student in Orthopaedic Surgery, 1998
Alumni Award for Academic Excellence, 1996
Basic Science High Honors, 1995
Butler Award for Academic Excellence, 1995

University of California, Los Angeles
Physician of the Year nominee, 2001
Emergency Department Consultant of the Year nominee, 2001

Scoliosis Research Society
Edgar Dawson Traveling Fellowship, 2005

Outstanding Paper Nominee, Cervical Spine Research Society, 2005
Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury.

University of California, Irvine
Faculty Teaching Award, Orthopaedic Surgery, 2005

American Orthopaedic Association Emerging Leaders Program, 2005-2008

American Orthopaedic Association - Japanese Orthopaedic Association Exchange Traveling Fellow, 2008

Outstanding Paper Award Winner, Cervical Spine Research Society, 2008
The Role of Durotomy and Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.

Best Paper Award Winner, American College of Spine Surgery, 2009
The Role of Durotomy and Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.

The Harold and Nancy Willingham Award for Outstanding Research Paper, Western Orthopaedic Association, 2009
Biomechanical Evaluation Of Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation With Crosslinks In An Unstable Human Burst Fracture Model.

Hibbs Award Nominee, Basic Science, Scoliosis Research Society, 2009
Early Surgical Decompression with Duraplasty in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Improves Functional Recovery in an Animal Model. 

 Resident Research Award, California Orthopaedic Association, 2010
Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Chordoma Using the California Cancer Registry.

 Triumvirate Grant Award, University of California, 2010
Quantitative MRI and MRA to Study Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain.

RESEARCH AWARDS:

The Endocrine Society Student Research Award, 1994
Pathogenic Role of Stem Cell Factor in Infertile Men with Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome.

Baylor College of Medicine-Karolinska Institute Research Fellowship Award, 1997
Compartmentalized Bone Regeneration of Cranial Defects with Biodegradable Barriers: an Animal Model.

Lange Medical Research Award, Baylor College of Medicine, 1998

Outstanding Paper Nominee, Cervical Spine Research Society, 2005
Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury.

Hibbs Award Nominee, Basic Science, Scoliosis Research Society, 2005
Three-point versus Two-point fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.

Hibbs Award Nominee, Basic Science, Scoliosis Research Society, 2005
Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury.

RESEARCH GRANTS:

Walter Lorenz Surgical Research Grant, 1998
Compartmentalized Bone Regeneration of Cranial Defects with Biodegradable Barriers: an Animal Model.

Stryker Biotech Spine Research Grant, 2005
Resection of Glial Scar Following Spinal Cord Injury.

EBI Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant, 2005
Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury.

Spinewave Lumbar Sagittal Balance Research Grant, 2005
Role of Intradiscal Expansion of Interbody Implants in Improving Lumbar Sagittal Balance

Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund of California, 2007
Carbohydrate Metabolism Impairments in Chronic Human Spinal Cord Injury

Dept. of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, Congressionally
Directed Medical Research Programs, Breast Cancer Research Program, 2007
Development and Evaluation of a Novel Radiation Therapy Technique for the Treatment of Vertebrae with Metastatic Lesions

University of California, Triumvirate Research Grant, 2010-2011
Quantitative MRI and MRA to Study Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain

National Institutes of Health, R-21 Grant Application, 2010
MRI and MRA of Discogenic Low Back Pain

National Institutes of Health, R-01 Grant Application, 2010
Pathophysiology of Intervertebral Discs in Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulation of Inhibin alpha-Subunit Gene Expression in Rat Sertoli Cells by 8-Bromo-3’, 5’-Cyclic-Adenosine Monophosphate. Najmabadi H, Rosenberg LA, Yuan QX, Bhatia N, Albiston AL, Burger H, Bhasin S; Molecular Endocrinology, 7(4): 469-476, 1993.

2. Congenital Syndromes Associated with Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer. Gherardini G, Bhatia N, Stal S; Clinics of Plastic Surgery, 24(4):649-661, 1997.

3. Compartmentalized Bone Regeneration of Cranial Defects with Biodegradable Barriers: an Animal Model. Stal S, Tjelmeland K, Hicks J, Bhatia N, Eppley B, Hollier L; Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 12(1):51-47, 2001.

4. Current Information Regarding the Biochemical and Genetic Events Which Occur During Disc Degeneration. Bhatia N, Wang J; Current Opinion in Orthopaedics, 14(3):153-158, 2003.

5. Adjacent Segment Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine. Ghiselli G, Wang JC, Bhatia NN, Hsu WK, Dawson EG; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 86-A(7):1497-1503, 2004.

6. The Role of the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap for Esophageal Fistula Repair in Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery. Navarro R, Javahery R, Eismont F, Arnold DJ, Bhatia NN, Vanni S, Levi AD; Spine, 30(20):617-633, 2005.

7. Body Mass Index in Patients with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: A Predictive Model. Bhatia NN, Pirpiris M, Otsuka N; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 26(2):197-9, 2006.

8. Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells in Peripheral Nerve Grafts after Contusion in the Adult Spinal Cord: Improvement of Recovery in a Rat Model. Rasouli A, Bhatia NN, Suryadevara S, Cahill K, Gupta R; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 88(11):2400-10, 2006.

9. Wound Complications from Idiopathic Clubfoot Surgery: a Comparison of the Modified Turco and the Cincinnati Treatment Methods. Hsu WK, Bhatia NN, Raskin A, Otsuka NY; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 27(3):329-332, 2007.

10. Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells following Hemisection Spinal Cord Injury. Dinh P, Bhatia NN, Cahill K, Gupta R; Spine. 32(9):943-9, 2007.

11. A Prospective Evaluation of Diagnostic Modalities in Pediatric Back Pain. Bhatia NN, Chow G, Timon S, Watts HG; Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 28(2):230-3,2008.

12. Minimally Invasive Atlanto-Odontoid Joint Injection for Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis Kostanian VJ, Mathews MS, Westhout FD, Bhatia NN; Interventional Radiology. 12(4):359-363, 2006.

13. Orthopaedic Surgeons and Spinal Cord Injury Patients.  Bhatia NN, Gupta G; AAOS Now, 3(2):2009.

14. Resection of Glial Scar Following Spinal Cord Injury.  Rasouli A, Bhatia N, Dinh P, Cahill K, Suryadevara S, Gupta R; J Orthop Research, 27(7):931-6, 2009.

15. Biomechanical Evaluation of Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation With and Without Crosslinks in a Human Cadaveric Unstable Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Model.  Wahba G, Bhatia N, Bui C, Lee K, Lee TQ; Spine, 35(3):278-85, 2010.

16. Advances in the Management of Spinal Cord Injury.  Gupta R, Bathen M, Smith J, Levi AD, Bhatia NN, Steward O; J Am Acad Ortho Surg, 18(4):210-22, 2010.

17. The Role of Early Surgical Decompression of the Intra-Dural Space Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.  Smith J, Anderson R, Pham T, Bhatia N, Steward O, Gupta R; J Bone Joint Surg Am, 92(5):1206-14, 2010.

18. Modic Type I changes of the Lumbar Spine in Golfers. Skeletal Radiology, In press.

19. The Role of In-Vivo Cage Expansion for Improvement of Lumbar Lordosis following TLIF or PLIF.  Submitted for publication.

20. MRI Changes of the Spinal Subdural Space after Lumbar Spine Surgery.  Submitted for publication.

21. Retrospective Study of Deep Surgical Site Infections Following Spinal Surgery and the Effectiveness of Continuous Irrigation. Chikawa T, Saka T, Bhatia NN, Sairyo K, Utsunomiya R, Nakamura M, Nakano S, Shimakawa T, Minato A; Br J Neurosurg, In press.

22. Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty in the North American Population:  A Minimum of Two Year Follow-Up.  Submitted for publication.

23. Anterior Thoracolumbar Reconstruction Surgery for Late Collapse Following Vertebroplasty: Report of Three CasesJ Med Invest, In press

BOOK CHAPTERS:

1. Costal Cartilage Grafts. In Evans G. ed., Operative Plastic Surgery. Appleton and Lange, Stamford, CT, 2000.

2. The Management of Spinal Cord Injury in Thoracolumbar Trauma. In Reitman C. ed., Management of Thoracolumbar Fractures, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL, 2004.

3. Disorder, Disease, and Injuries of the Spine. In Skinner H. ed. Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopaedics. Lange/Mc-Graw Hill, New York, NY, 2006.

4. Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve Injury. In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 9. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL, 2007.

5. Imaging of the Spine. In Lieberman, JR. ed. In Orthopaedic Board Review.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL, 2008.

6. Thoracic Spinal Stability: Decision Making. In Patel V., ed. Spine Trauma –
Surgical Techniques. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany. In press.

7. Lumbar Spinal Stability: Decision Making. In Patel V., ed. Spine Trauma - Surgical Techniques. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany. In press.

8. Post-operative Spinal Injections. In Garfin S., et al, ed. Rothman-Simeone: The Spine, 6th Edition. Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA. In press.

9. Pre-Sacral Lumbar Fusion with TranS1 AxiaLIF. In Wang J., ed. Advanced Reconstruction: The Spine. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL. In press.

10. Long-term Outcomes and Complications following Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery.  In Rao R., ed.  Seminars in Spine Surgery.  Stellar Medical Publications, Plymouth, MA.  In press.

11. Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis.  In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 10.   American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL.  In press.

12. Central Cord Syndrome:  Acute Decompression versus Watch and Wait.  In The Cervical Spine, 5th Edition.  Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.  In press.

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:

1. Pathogenic Role of Stem Cell Factor in Infertile Men with Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome. Transactions of the Endocrine Society, 1994.

2. Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Lumbar Fusion: Long Term Survivorship Analysis of 217 Patients. Proceedings of the North American Spine Society, 2001.

3. Proximal Segment Degeneration Following Posterior Lumbosacral Fusions (L4-S1 and L5-S1). Transactions of the Scoliosis Research Society, 2002.

4. A Prospective Evaluation of Diagnostic Modalities in Pediatric Back Pain. Transactions of the Scoliosis Research Society, 2002.

5. A Prospective Evaluation of Diagnostic Modalities in Pediatric Back Pain. Transactions of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2003.

6. Prospective Randomized Study of Modified Harrington Instrumentation Versus Segmental Instrumentation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Proceedings of the North American Spine Society, 2003.

7. Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Posterior Lumbosacral Fusion. Proceedings of the North American Spine Society, 2003.

8. Diagnostic Techniques Used in Pediatric Back Pain. Proceedings of the North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2003.

9. Can Bilateral Hip Involvement with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis be Predicted by the Body Mass Index? Transactions of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 2004.

10. Body Mass Index in Patients with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. Transactions of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2004.

11. Outcome Differences for Primary and Recurrent Disc Excision Patients Treated by a Single Surgeon. Proceedings of the North American Spine Society, 2004.

12. Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques (IMAST), annual meeting, 2005.

13. Resection of Glial Scar Following Spinal Cord Injury. Transactions of the International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques (IMAST), 2005.

14. Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells for Spinal Cord Injury with a Contusion Model. The Spine Journal 4(4S): 33S, July/August 2005.

15. Results of Cervical Open-Door Laminoplasty in Patients with Tandem Cervical and Lumbar Stenosis. The Spine Journal 4(4S): 2005.

16. Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in a North American Population. The Spine Journal 4(4S): 2005.

17. Three-point versus Two-point fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.
Transactions of the Scoliosis Research Society, 2005. Russell Hibbs Award Finalist.

18. Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. Transactions of the Scoliosis Research Society, 2005. Russell Hibbs Award Finalist.

19. Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in the Elderly Population. Proceedings of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2005.

20. Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. Proceedings of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2005.

21. Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in a North American Population. Proceedings of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2005.

22. Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells following Hemisection Spinal Cord Injury. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 31:1257, 2006.

23. Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells for Spinal Cord Injury with a Contusion Model. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 31:1261, 2006.

24. Resection of Glial Scar Following Spinal Cord Injury. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 31:1258, 2006.

25. Do Patients with Concurrent Lumbar Stenosis Have Impaired Results Following Cervical Laminoplasty for Spondylotic Myelopathy? Bhatia N, Geck M, Gottlieb J, Harrison R, Eismont F; Proceedings of the North America Spine Society and Japanese Spine Research Society, Spine Across the Sea: 51-52, 2006.

26. Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in the Elderly North American Population: Minimum of Two Year Follow-Up. Bhatia N, Geck M, Gottlieb J, Harrison R, Eismont F; Proceedings of the North America Spine Society and Japanese Spine Research Society, Spine Across the Sea: 52, 2006.

27. Novel kyphoplasty/brachytherapy technique for the treatment of vertebral metastases: A mathematical modeling feasibility study. Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Conference, Rancho Mirage, CA, Nov 3-5, 2006.

28. Novel kyphoplasty/brachytherapy technique for the treatment of vertebral metastases: A Monte Carlo feasibility study.  Marcus P, Sehgal V, Al-Ghazi M, Ramsinghani N, Hoang B, Bhatia N, Skinner H, Keyak J; Med Physics 34:2475-2475, 2007.

29. The Role of Durotomy and Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.  Proceedings of the Cervical Spine Research Society 36th annual meeting, Austin, TX, 2008.

30. Biomechanical Evaluation of Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation with Crosslinks in an Unstable Human Burst Fracture Model.  Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

31. Biomechanical Evaluation of an Expandable Cage in Single Segment Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.  Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

32. Biomechanical Comparison of Trans-Sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in a Vertically Unstable Pelvic Fracture Model.  Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

33. The Role of Decompression with either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.  Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

34. Posterior Cervical Instrumentation:  Past, Present, and Future and the Roy-Camille Technique of Lateral Mass Fixation.  Bhatia N, Sairyo K.  Transactions of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research, 38th Annual Meeting, Kobe, Japan, 2009.

35. Spinal Surgery and Implants.  Bhatia N.  Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference and Exhibition, Irvine, CA, 2009.

36. Biomechanical Evaluation of an Expandable Cage in Single Segment Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.  Bhatia N, Lee K, Bui C, Whaba G, Estess A, Luna M, Lee TQ.  Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference and Exhibition, Irvine, CA, 2009.

37. Biomechanical Evaluation of Short-Segement Posterior Instrumentation With Crosslinks in an Unstable Human Burst Fracture Model.  Wahba G, Bhatia N, Lee T.  Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2009.

38. Biomechanical Comparison of Trans-Sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in a Vertically Unstable Pelvic Fracture Model.  Zamorano D, Min K, Wahba G, Bhatia N, Garcia I, Lee T.  Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2009.

39. Early Surgical Decompression with Duraplasty in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Improves Functional Recovery in an Animal Model.  Smith J, Anderson R, Pham T, Bhatia N, Steward O, Gupta R.  Transactions of the Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting, San Antonio, 2009.

40. Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation in Unstable Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures:  Do Crosslinks Improve Biomechanical Stability?  Wahba G, Bhatia N, Bui C, Lee K, Lee TQ.  Proceedings of the annual meeting of the North American Spine Society, San Francisco, 2009. 

41. The Role of Decompression with Either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.  Smith J, Anderson R, Pham T, Bhatia N, Steward O, Gupta R.  Proceedings of the annual meeting of the North American Spine Society, San Francisco, 2009.

42. Comparison of Trans-sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in an Unstable Pelvic Fracture.  Min KS, Zamorano D, Wahba G, Garcia I, Bhatia N, Lee TQ.  Transactions of the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, New Orleans, 2010.

43. Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Chordoma Using the California Cancer Registry.  Lee J, Bhatia N, Hoang B, Ziogas A, Zell J.  Proceedings of the annual meeting of the California Orthopaedic Association, Lake Tahoe, 2010.

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS:

Pathogenic Role of Stem Cell Factor in Infertile Men with Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome. The Endocrine Society, annual meeting, 1994.

Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Lumbar Fusion: Long Term Survivorship Analysis of 217 Patients. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2001.

Proximal Segment Degeneration Following Posterior Lumbosacral Fusions (L4-S1 and L5-S1). Scoliosis Research Society, annual meeting, 2002.

A Prospective Evaluation of Diagnostic Modalities in Pediatric Back Pain. Scoliosis Research Society, annual meeting, 2002.

Diagnostic Techniques Used in Pediatric Back Pain. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2003.

Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Posterior Lumbosacral Fusion. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2003.

Prospective Randomized Study of Modified Harrington Instrumentation Versus Segmental Instrumentation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2003.

A Prospective Evaluation of Diagnostic Modalities in Pediatric Back Pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, annual meeting, 2003.

Outcome Differences for Primary and Recurrent Disc Excision Patients Treated by a Single Surgeon. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2004.

Body Mass Index in Patients with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, annual meeting, 2004.

Can Bilateral Hip Involvement with Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis be Predicted by the Body Mass Index? Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, annual meeting, 2004.

Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques (IMAST), annual meeting, 2005.

Resection of Glial Scar Following Spinal Cord Injury. International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques (IMAST), annual meeting, 2005.

Results of Cervical Open-Door Laminoplasty in Patients with Tandem Cervical and Lumbar Stenosis. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2005.

Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in a North American Population. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2005.

Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. North American Spine Society, annual meeting, 2005.

Three-point versus Two-point fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.
Scoliosis Research Society, annual meeting, 2005. Hibbs Award Nominee.

Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. Scoliosis Research Society, annual meeting, 2005. Hibbs Award Nominee.

Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in a North American Population. Cervical Spine Research Society, annual meeting, 2005.

Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. Cervical Spine Research Society, annual meeting, 2005. Outstanding Paper nominee.

Results of Open Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in the Elderly Population. Cervical Spine Research Society, annual meeting, 2005.

Novel Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells for Spinal Cord Injury with a Contusion Model. Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, 2006.

Resection of glial scar following spinal cord injury. Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, 2006.

Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann cells following Hemisection Spinal Cord Injury. Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, 2006.

Do Patients with Concurrent Lumbar Stenosis Have Impaired Results Following Cervical Laminoplasty for Spondylotic Myelopathy? North America Spine Society and Japanese Spine Research Society, Spine Across the Sea, 2006.

Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in the Elderly North American Population: Minimum of Two Year Follow-Up. North America Spine Society and Japanese Spine Research Society, Spine Across the Sea, 2006.

Novel kyphoplasty/brachytherapy technique for the treatment of vertebral metastases: A mathematical modeling feasibility study. Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Conference, Rancho Mirage, CA, Nov 3-5, 2006.

Lost in Translation? Is Cervical Laminoplasty Valid in the North American Population. Japanese Orthopaedic Assocation annual meeting, Sapporo, Japan, 2008.

Cervical Open-Door Lamioplasty in North American Spondylotic Myelopathic Patients. 5th Alps Orthopaedic Seminar in Shinshu University, Shinshu, Japan, 2008.

The Role of Durotomy and Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model. 
Cervical Spine Research Society, 36th annual meeting, Austin, TX, 2008.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation with Crosslinks in an Unstable Human Burst Fracture Model. 
Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting,
Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

Biomechanical Evaluation of an Expandable Cage in Single Segment Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. 
Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting,
Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

Biomechanical Comparison of Trans-Sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in a Vertically Unstable Pelvic Fracture Model.  Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

The Role of Decompression with either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.  Orthopaedic Research Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.

Posterior Cervical Instrumentation:  Past, Present, and Future. 
Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research, 38th Annual Meeting,
Kobe, Japan, 2009.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation with Crosslinks in an Unstable Human Burst Fracture Model. 
Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering,
Irvine, CA, 2009.

Biomechanical Evaluation of an Expandable Cage in Single Segment Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. 
Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering,
Irvine, CA, 2009.

Biomechanical Comparison of Trans-Sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in a Vertically Unstable Pelvic Fracture Model.  Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2009.

Spinal Surgery and Implants. 
Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering,
Irvine, CA, 2009.

Early Surgical Decompression with Duraplasty in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Improves Functional Recovery in an Animal Model.
Scoliosis Research Society, 44th Annual Meeting,
San Antonio, TX, 2009. 

Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation in Unstable Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures:  Do Crosslinks Improve Biomechanical Stability? 
North American Spine Society, 24th Annual Meeting,
San Francisco, 2009. 

The Role of Decompression with Either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. 
North American Spine Society, 24th Annual Meeting,
San Francisco, 2009. 

Comparison of Trans-sacral and Triangular Osteosynthesis in an Unstable Pelvic Fracture. 
American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, 2010.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Chordoma Using the California Cancer Registry. 
California Orthopaedic Association, Annual Meeting, Lake Tahoe, CA, 2010.

Prognostic Factors for Patients with Chordoma
Western Orthopaedic Association, Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA, 2010.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Chordoma Using the California Cancer Registry. 
North American Spine Society, Annual Meeting,
Orlando, FL, 2010.

WORKS IN PROGRESS:

Hand Function in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Study

The Effect of Loading on Autonomic Regulation, Muscle Mass, and Bone Density in Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

The Role of In-Vivo Cage Expansion for Improvement of Lumbar Lordosis following TLIF or PLIF

Os Odontoneium with Associated Upper Cervical Anomalies

Autonomic Dysfunction and Training in Patients with Chronic and Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Chronic AVM of the Upper Lumbar Spine Secondary to Atherosclerosis

Carbohydrate Metabolism Impairments in Chronic Human Spinal Cord Injury

Non-surgical Treatment of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures with Significant Canal Compromise: A Prospective Study

Hook versus Pedicle Screw Constructs for Rotational Rigidity

Comparison of Balance Measuring Devices in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Anterior Cervical Fusion.

Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Posterior Spinal Fusion in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: a Long Term Survivorship Analysis.

Proximal Segment Degeneration Following Posterior Lumbosacral Fusions (L4-S1 and L5-S1). Submitted for publication.

Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty in the North American Population: A Minimum of Two Year Follow-Up. Submitted for publication.

INVITED LECTURES:

Kartagener’s Syndrome in a Patient with Craniofacial Abnormalities. Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds, Baylor College of Medicine, 1996

Posterior Cervical Surgery. Symposium for Minimally Invasive and Posterior Cervical Surgery, 2004

New Technologies in Spine Surgery. Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, University of California, Irvine, 2005

Low Back Pain and the Primary Care Physician. Family Practice Review Symposium, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, 2005

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Back Pain. Grand Rounds, Kaiser Whittier Medical Center, 2005

Spinal Cord Injury Complications. Grand Rounds, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, 2005

Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty. Blackstone Instructional Meeting, 2005

Spinal Cord Injury. Seaspine Users Meeting, 2005

Adult Back Pain. Grand Rounds, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, 2005

Diagnostic Techniques Used in Pediatric Back Pain. University of California, Irvine, Graduate Research Forum, 2005

New Technologies in Spinal Surgery, Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, University of California, Irvine, 2005

Spinal Cord Injury Complications, Grand Rounds, Torrance Memorial Hospital, Torrance, CA, 2005

Techniques in Posterior Cervical Fixation. Current Concepts and Techniques for Spine Surgery Symposium, San Diego, CA 2005

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Back Pain, Grand Rounds, Kaiser Whittier Medical Center, Whittier, CA, 2005

Modern Techniques in Spinal Surgery. Western Orthopaedic Association, 2005

Laminoplasty in the North American Population, University of California, Irvine, Graduate Research Forum, 2005

Posterior Cervical Surgery and Instrumentation. AO North America, Chicago, IL 2006.

Low Back Pain. Grand Rounds, South Coast Medical Center, 2006

Lumbar Spinal Disorders and the Primary Care Physician, Family Practice Review Symposium, UC Irvine-Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Long Beach, CA 2006

Cervical Evaluation in the Multi-Trauma Patient, University of California, Irvine, Graduate Research Forum, 2007

Anterior Cervical Surgery Advanced Techniques, Cervical and Lumbar Instructional Course, Santa Monica, CA, 2007

Complications of Posterior Cervical Surgery, Complex Cervical Surgery Symposium, Denver, CO, 2008

Modern Techniques in Spinal Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, BME 200, 2008

Outcomes of Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty in Various American Populations. Grand Rounds, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan, 2008.

The Efficacy of Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty in Elderly Myelopathic Patients. Dokkyo Medical University, Dokkyo, Japan, 2008.

Lost in Translation? Is Cervical Laminoplasty a Valid Technique in the North American Population? Grand Rounds, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan, 2008.

Lumbar Spinal Disorders.  Grand Rounds, Lakewood Medical Group, Lakewood, CA, 2009

Recent Updates in Spinal Surgery Techniques.  University of California, Irvine, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, BME 200, 2009

Modern Updates in American Orthopedics and Spine Surgery.  Grand Rounds, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan, 2009

Spinal Surgery and Implants.  The American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference and Exhibition, Irvine, CA, 2009

Biomechanical Evaluation of an Expandable Cage in Single Segment Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.  The American Society of Mechanical Engineering 4th Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference and Exhibition, Irvine, CA, 2009

Metastatic Spine Disease: Surgical Management.  Contemporary Concepts in Spine Surgery, American College of Spinal Surgery, Newport Beach, CA, 2009

Cervical Laminoplasty versus Laminectomy and Fusion.  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, Boston, MA, 2009.

Techniques for Open and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF).  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, Boston, MA, 2009. 

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion versus Cervical Total Disc Arthroplasty.  Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, Boston, MA, 2009.

Minimally Invasive Cervical Spine Surgery.  Pain Management Grand Rounds, University of California, Irvine, 2010.

Posterior Minimally Invasive Approaches to the Cervical Spine.  Instructional Course Lecture, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2010.

Spinal Surgery Implants:  Development and Modern Approach.  5th Annual Conference of Spine Surgeons of Spain and Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.

Internal Decapitation:  Review of the Literature and Case Presentation.  5th Annual Conference of Spine Surgeons of Spain and Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.

The Anterior Approach for Treatment of Thoracolumbar Fractures and Dislocations.  5th Annual Conference of Spine Surgeons of Spain and Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.

Advanced Techniques in Posterior Cervical Spinal Surgery.  Grand Rounds, Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 2010.

INVITED FACULTY:

Symposium for Minimally Invasive and Posterior Cervical Surgery, San Diego, CA, 2004

Moderator, Basic Science, North American Spine Society, 2005

Advanced Surgical Techniques Meeting, Santa Monica, CA, 2005

Family Practice Review Symposium, UC Irvine-Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Long Beach, CA 2005

Symposium for Lumbar and Cervical Surgery, New York, NY, 2005

Family Practice Review Symposium, UC Irvine-Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Long Beach, CA 2005

Advanced Spinal Techniques, Dallas, Texas, 2006

19th Annual Disorders of the Spine, Whistler, Canada, 2007

Cervical and Lumbar Instructional Course, Santa Monica, CA 2007

20th Annual Disorders of the Spine, Whistler, Canada, 2008

Complex Cervical Surgery Symposia, Denver, Colorado, 2008

Visiting Professor, Wakayama Medical University, Japan, 2008

Visiting Professor, Dokkyo Medical University, Japan, 2008

Visiting Professor, Keio University, Japan, 2008

Invited Guest Lecturer, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, Sapporo, Japan, 2008

Visiting Professor, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Japan, 2008

Visiting Professor, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan, 2008

Visiting Professor, Tokushima Prefectural University, Japan, 2009

Moderator, Posterior Cervical Surgery, Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research, 38th Annual Meeting, Kobe, Japan, 2009

Moderator, Post-operative Complications, Contemporary Concepts in Spine Surgery, The American College of Spinal Surgery, Newport Beach, CA, 2009

Moderator, Spinal Surgery and Implants, Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Irvine, CA, 2009

Lecturer and Moderator, Advanced Techniques in Spine Surgery, Boston, MA, 2009.

Lecturer, Instructional Course Lectures, Advanced Techniques in Cervical Spine Surgery, AAOS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2010.

Lecturer, 5th Annual Conference of Spine Surgeons of Spain and Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, 2010.

Program Chair and Moderator, Annual Meeting, Western Orthopaedic Association, Monterey, CA, 2010.

Moderator, Spinal Surgery and Implants, Frontiers in Biomedical Devices Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Newport Beach, CA, 2010.

PROGRAM COMMITTEES:

Program Committee, Chair, Western Orthopaedic Association, Annual Meeting, 2010

Program Committee, Western Orthopaedic Association, Annual Meeting, 2009 - 2011

Chairman, Regional Spinal Surgery Conference, University of California, Irvine, 2004 - 2008

Chairman, PediGuard Technique Symposium, University of California, Irvine, 2005 - 2008

EDITORIAL BOARDS:

Editor, Contemporary Spine Surgery

Editor, Orthopaedic Knowledge Online

Contributor, SpineUniverse.com

Contributor, SpineFellows.com

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Member
Cervical Spine Research Society, Member
North American Spine Society, Member
Scoliosis Research Society, Member
American Orthopaedic Association: Emerging Leaders Program
California Orthopaedic Association, Member
Western Orthopaedic Association, Member
UC Irvine University Physicians and Surgeons
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
American Orthopaedic Association Emerging Leaders Program

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION:

State of California Board of Medical Examiners, 2000
DEA Certification, 2000
Board Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2006

COMMITTEE POSITIONS HELD:

Board Member, Western Orthopaedic Association, Orange County Chapter, 2004- Present
UC Irvine Medical Center Communications Board, 2006
UC Irvine Medical Center New Technologies Panel, 2006-2007
UC Irvine Medical Center Surgical Block Time Committee, 2005- Present
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Education Committee, 2004- Present
UCI University Physicians and Surgeons Credentials Committee, 2006- Present
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Selection Committee, 2004- Present
Orthopaedic Surgery Overhead Committee, 2004-Present
Neurorehabilitation Task Force, 2005-2006
Pain Management Task Force, 2005-2006
UC Irvine Combined Spine Program Board of Directors, 2004-Present
UC Irvine Medical Center Continuing Medical Education Committee, 2008- Present
Medical Executive Committee, UC Irvine Medical Center, 2008- 2010
Governing Body Advisory Council, UC Irvine Medical Center, 2008-2010
UC Irvine School of Medicine Senate Assembly Orthopaedic Surgery Representative


 

 
 
Dr. Nitin Bhatia