Overview
Hoag Neurosurgery Spine and Back Pain Program specializes in the accurate
diagnosis and treatment of neck and back disorders with personalized conservative
care and, only when needed, the most advanced minimally invasive treatment
options available. Our best practice care pathways include patient evaluations
by primary care physicians, outpatient physical therapy, pain management
specialists, neurologists and neurosurgical consultations when appropriate.
Emphasizing personalized patient-centered care, Hoag’s multi-disciplinary
team of spinal care experts strive to first utilize the latest conservative
non-surgical therapies to alleviate pain, restore function and improve
quality of life.
To deliver the most effective and efficient care possible, the program
creates an algorithm customized for each patient, be it physical therapy,
pain management, surgery or a combination of all three. Each specialist
supports the program’s principles of collaboration, comprehensive
evaluation and conservative management.
When surgery is necessary, Hoag’s board-certified and/or fellowship-trained
neuro spine experts are among the nation’s top physicians in the
field of minimally invasive spine surgery, consistently achieving superior
patient outcomes that outperform national statistics. Our proportion of
minimally invasive versus traditional surgery has increased by 100% over
the past 5 years. In 2018, 48% of total volume of spine surgeries were
minimally invasive.
There are numerous benefits to minimally invasive spine surgery as documented
by our data spanning the past 36 months: 0% infection rate, 0% complication
rate, 0% blood transfusion rate and 0% ICU stay. Our risk-adjusted laminectomy
rate of infection is well below the national average.
In addition to minimally invasive spine surgery, Hoag now offers neuro
spine surgery utilizing robotic navigation. Hoag is the first hospital
on the West Coast to offer ExcelsiusGPSTM, the most advanced automated
technology designed to enhance the safety and accuracy of robotic-assisted,
minimally invasive spine surgery.
Burak Ozgur, M.D., chief of service for the Neurosurgery Spine and Back
Pain Program at Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute, states: “This
robotic instrument still allows the surgeon to be in complete control,
but gives them the added benefit of 3D-guided navigation in one easy-to-use
tool.”
By combining computerized navigation and robotics, the ExcelsiusGPS provides
real-time, detailed visualization throughout the case to streamline the
procedure, reduce overall radiation exposure to the patient, surgeon and
staff, and minimize pain and recovery time after surgery. In the coming
months, Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute will also serve as a training
facility for surgeons across the country who want to observe and train
in spine procedures using the ExcelsiusGPS. This new platform is just
one example of Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute’s dedication
to innovation.
Hoag has received numerous national, state and local accolades for its
success and was named one of the Top 100 Hospitals & Health Systems
with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs for 2018 by Becker’s
Hospital Review.
The quality of our program is assured by ongoing collection and analysis
of outcome data, a monthly Neurosciences Spine Case Conference, as well
as preoperative and postoperative contact by a dedicated spine nurse navigator.
Team
The Neurosurgery Spine and Back Program is led by Burak Ozgur, M.D., and
includes Pawel Jankowski, M.D., Robert Louis, M.D., Vivek Mehta, M.D.
and Daniel Yanni, M.D.
Figure 1: Volume of Surgeries

Figure 2: Spine Surgery Totals by Category Since Inception of Program
Figure 5: Inpt vs. Outpt Lami


Clinical Research
“Clinical Development and Evaluation of NociscanTM Diagnostic Software
Suite for Post-processing MRI and MR Spectroscopy (MRS) of Lumbar Intervertebral
Discs to Diagnose Disc Pain and Degeneration”; Burak Ozgur, MD,
Co-Investigator.
Publications, Lectures, & Book Chapters
Published Book
Ozgur, B.M., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.) “Minimally- Invasive Spine
Surgery, A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and Techniques”, Springer, 2009.
Book Chapters
Yuan, P.S., Smith, H.E., Vaccaro, A.R., Ozgur, B.M., Taylor, W.R., “Triad
Open and MaXcess Minimal Access Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
(TLIF)”, Kim, Vaccaro, Fessler (eds): Spine Instrumentation: Surgical
Techniques. Thieme, 1038- 1049 (2005).
Ozgur, B.M., Levy, D.I., “Management of Arteriovenous Malformations
Using Liquid Agents”, Horowitz, M.B., Levy, E.I. (eds): Neuroendovascular
Surgery. Prog Neurol Surg. Basel, Karger, vol 17, 148-159 (2005).
Ozgur, B., Khoo, L., Levy, M.L., “Pediatric Intracerebral Aneurysms”,
Albright, A.L., Pollack, I.F., Adelson, P.D. (eds): Principles and Practice
of Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2nd edition. Thieme (Jan. 2007).
Cohen, S.R., Mittermiller, P.A., Meltzer, H.S., Levy, M.L., Broder, K.W.,
Ozgur, B.M., “Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: Current Treatment Options”,
Thaller, S., Garri, J., Bradley, J. (eds): Craniofacial Surgery. Informa
Healthcare 83-102 (2008).
Ozgur, B. “General Introduction and Principles of Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery”, Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.): Minimally-Invasive
Spine Surgery, A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and Techniques. Springer,
1-6 (2009).
Ozgur, B., Berta S., Nguyen, A. “Discectomy and Laminectomy”,
Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.): Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery,
A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and Techniques. Springer, 115-120 (2009).
Ozgur, B., Baird, L. “Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques for
Treating Multilevel Disease as Well as Adult Degenerative Scoliosis”,
Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.): Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery,
A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and Techniques. Springer, 121-128 (2009).
Ozgur, B., Berta, S., Hughes, S. “Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody
Fusion (TLIF)”, Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.): Minimally-Invasive
Spine Surgery, A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and Techniques. Springer,
129-134 (2009).
Ozgur, B., Baird, L. “Lateral Approach for Anterior Lumbar Interbody
Fusion (XLIF and DLIF)”, Ozgur, B., Benzel, E., Garfin, S. (eds.):
Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery, A Practical Guide to the Anatomy and
Techniques. Springer, 135-142 (2009).
Published (Peer Reviews)
Ozgur, B.M., Agarwal, V., Nail, E., Pimenta, L., “Two-year clinical
and radiographic success of minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach
for the treatment of degenerative lumbar conditions”, SAS Journal,
4:41-46 (2010).
Drazin, D., Shirzadi, A., Hanna, G., Jeswani, S., Ozgur B., “Epidural
hematoma and surgical evacuation from a bean bag weapon.” Am Surg.,
78(1):E33-5. (Jan. 2012).
Invited Lectures and Presentations
Ozgur B, “The Role of Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery”, March
12, 2011. 2011 Hoag Neurosciences Symposium. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “Minimally Invasive and Other Advances in Spine Surgery”,
June 17, 2011. MERC Educational Training Program: Aging Spine. Los Angeles, CA.
Ozgur B, “Risks, Pitfalls, and Complications of the Lateral Lumbar
Approach”, June 17, 2011. MERC Educational Training Program: Aging
Spine. Los Angeles, CA.
Ozgur B, “Advanced Cervical Spine Treatment Options”, April
21, 2012. Chiropractic Sports Medicine Program, lecture. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Other Advances”,
June 12, 2012. Hoag Hospital Community Lecture Series. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “AxiaLIF Procedure”, June 22, 2012. Trans1 Fellow’s
Training Course/Lab. Las Vegas, NV.
Ozgur B, “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Other Advances”,
November 28, 2012. Hoag Hospital Community Lecture Series. Irvine, CA.
Ozgur B, “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery”, February 11, 2013.
Hoag Hospital Physical Therapy Department Lecture Series. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Other Advances”,
November 13, 2013. Hoag Hospital Community Lecture Series. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “Spine Surgery Advances and Updates”, November 15,
2013. 2013 Hoag Neuroscience Nursing Symposium. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “TLIF Surgery and Techniques”, November 16, 2013.
Globus/MERC Cadaver Course. San Diego, CA.
Ozgur B, “Latest Treatment Options for Back Pain”, March 5,
2014. Hoag Hospital Community Lecture Series. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “Spine: The Comprehensive Approach”, March 29, 2014.
2014 Hoag Neuroscience Symposium. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “InFill Lateral System: a novel technique for optimizing
graft filling and endplate contact in lumbar interbody fusion surgery”,
April 11, 2014. World Congress of WFMISS. Istanbul, Turkey.
Ozgur B, “Latest Advances and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery”,
March 27, 2015. 2015 Hoag Neuroscience Symposium. Newport Beach, CA.
Ozgur B, “The Cutting-Edge of Spine Care: Building a Multidisciplinary
Program from Hoag Neurosurgery Spine”, June 12, 2015. Chicago, Illinois.

To learn more, visit the
Neurosurgery Spine Program section or call 949-764-6066.