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University of Maryland Spine Center faculty are dedicated to researching better ways to treat patients with spine disorders.

Clinical Trials

1. Liposomal Bupivacaine in Post-Operative Spine Patients

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: prospective, single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled single-center clinical trial that seeks to enroll 204 subjects undergoing posterior decompression and fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis to assess postoperative pain and narcotic use in patients treated with intraoperative injections of liposomal bupivacaine compared to normal saline

2. Odontoid Fracture Study

  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial to determine if pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) favorably and safely promotes healing of type II odontoid fractures in nonsurgical patients

3. I-Spondy Study

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: multi-center, prospective, comparative study that compares outcomes and cost effectiveness of anterior versus posterior surgical treatment for lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis

4. Staphylococcus aureus Vaccine Study

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD; Bruce L. Gilliam, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: Phase 2b, multicenter, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the Staphylococcus aureus 4-antigen vaccine safety and efficacy in the prevention of postoperative S. aureus disease in adult spine surgery

5. Topical TXA for Thoracolumbar Trauma

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled single-center clinical investigation that seeks to determine the safety and efficacy of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) for open posterior instrumentation for patients with thoracic and lumbar trauma

Basic Science

1. Lateral Fusion for Adjacent Segment Disease

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: To evaluate if lateral interbody fusion will provide adequate stiffness for treating adjacent segment disease in the lumbar spine in a biomechanical cadaveric model

2. Stiffness of a Novel Pedicle Screw Plate System

  • Principal Investigator: Steven C. Ludwig, MD; D. Greg Anderson, MD
  • Co-Investigator: Daniel E. Gelb, MD
  • Purpose: To evaluate if lateral interbody fusion will provide adequate stiffness for treating adjacent segment disease in the lumbar spine in a biomechanical cadaveric model

Recent Publications

Peer-Reviewed

  • Jazini E, Weir TB, Nwodim E, Tannous O, Saifi C, Caffes N, Costales T, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Outcomes of Lumbopelvic Fixation in the Treatment of Complex Sacral Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons (JAAOS), Submitted.

  • Tannous O, Banagan K, Belin E, Jazini E, Weir TB, Koh E, Ludwig S, Gelb D. Low-density Pedicle Screw Constructs for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation of Effectiveness and Cost, Global Spine Journal, Submitted.

Manuscripts in Preparation

  • Tannous O, Jazini E, Weir TB, Banagan K, Koh E, Anderson G, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Facet Joint Violation During Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement: a Comparison of Two Techniques, Spine, Submitted.
  • Banagan K, Weir TB, Obafemi-Afolabi A, Ewart Z, Paryavi E, Karp J, Koh E, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Comparison of Percutaneous Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery versus Open Approach Posterior Spine Surgery for Fixation of Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Analysis. Manuscript in preparation for Clinical Spine Surgery.
  • Shiu B, Jazini E, Le E, Costales T, Caffes N, Weir TB, Paryavi E, Gelb D, Koh E, Aarabi B, Ludwig S. Incidence of Complications After Therapeutic Anticoagulation in the Postoperative Spine Trauma Patient. Manuscript in preparation for Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
  • Jazini E, Sardesai N, Weir TB, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Effect of Surgical Setting (Tertiary versus Community Hospitals) on Hospital Reported Outcomes for Anterior Cervical Spine Procedures. Manuscript in preparation for Spine.

Podium Presentations

  • Jazini E, Nwodim E, Weir TB, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Lumbopelvic Fixation For Complex Sacral Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Surgery. Podium Presentation, Maryland Orthopaedic Association 2016 Annual Meeting, Annapolis, MD. February 6, 2016.
  • Jazini E, Nwodim E, Tannous O, Saifi C, Caffes N, Costales T, Weir TB, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Outcomes of Lumbopelvic Fixation in the Treatment of Complex Sacral Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques. Podium Presentation, International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), Las Vegas, NV. April 6-8, 2016.
  • Jazini E, Nwodim E, Tannous O, Saifi C, Caffes N, Costales T, Weir TB, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Paper #32, Outcomes of Lumbopelvic Fixation in the Treatment of Complex Sacral Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques. Podium Presentation, Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS) 9th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. April 14-15, 2016. Neurosurg Focus. 2016;40(4):A1-A44.
  • Sardesai N, Jazini E, Weir TB, Koh E, Banagan K, Gelb D, Ludwig S. Effect of Surgical Setting (Tertiary versus Community Hospitals) on Hospital Reported Outcomes for Degenerative Elective Lumbar Spinal Procedures. Podium Presentation, Lumbar Spine Research Society 9th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. April 14-15, 2016. Neurosurg Focus. 2016;40(4):A1-A44.
  • Jazini E, Nwodim E, Tannous O, Banagan K, Koh E, Ludwig S, Gelb D. Outcomes of Lumbopelvic Fixation in the Treatment of Complex Sacral Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques. Podium Presentation, Global Spine Congress/World Forum for Spine Research 2016, Dubai, UAE. April 14, 2016. DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1582730

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