Join us on this episode of the Spine Pod with Dr. Avinash Patwardhan as we discuss the fundamental components of spine biomechanics and the driving principles behind why restoring natural motion in the spine is the key to long-term successful outcomes and improved quality of life for patients seeking spine care.

Dr. Avinash Patwardhan is a professor at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and a world-renowned biomechanical engineer and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of spine surgery. His work on sagittal balance and alignment, motion preservation, spinal kinematics and the follower load model has placed him at the forefront of biomechanics in the spine community for nearly 50 years, with more than 300 publications to date.

Over the last twenty years, Dr. Patwardhan has committed his research to the advancement of motion preservation devices, including cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacement and lumbar total joint replacement. His research lab at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital has played a major role in testing the safety and efficacy of many motion-preserving devices used in spine care in the United States today.

Listen as Dr. Patwardhan talks about the evolution of motion-preserving devices in spine surgery, highlighting the importance of understanding the biomechanical principles of the native spine and the impact that fusion can have on adjacent segments. He also discusses his early work with the first ever artificial disc approved in the United States, the Charité disc, and the challenges faced in developing and testing new motion-preserving devices throughout his career. Dr. Patwardhan wraps up the conversation by emphasizing the importance of patient selection and his future vision of utilizing both radiographic and pre- and postoperative clinical data to improve surgical outcomes.

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