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Nicholas Spina
Rating: 4.9 of 5
( out of 406 reviews )

Nicholas Spina, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

University Orthopaedic Center

590 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City , UT 84108
801-587-7109

Farmington Health Center

165 N. University Ave.
Farmington , UT 84025
801-213-3200

  • Nicholas Spina, MD, is a member of the University Of Utah Department Of Orthopaedic Surgery. He specializes in degenerative, traumatic, and oncologic conditions of the spine including lumbar stenosis, cervical myelopathy, and scoliosis. He employs a conservative approach in treating the spine. Dr. Spina’s focus is in restoring patients’ function and helping them to regain their optimal lifestyle.

    Dr. Spina graduated magna cum laude from Boston College. He attended the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and the Harold Henderson Sankey MD Award recipient for the outstanding graduating medical student in Orthopaedics. He stayed on to complete his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he held the position of chief resident and was selected by his mentors and peers as the outstanding graduating resident. He followed his residency with an Orhtopaedic spine fellowship here at the University of Utah. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of Utah department.

    Dr. Spina is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enjoys escaping into the mountains whether it be mountain biking, skiing, or hiking. He is currently seeing patients at the University Orthopaedic and Farmington Health Center.

    Please call (801) 587-5451 if you would like to make an appointment and are not able to schedule online.

    Specialties

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 4.9 out of 5
    4.9 /5
    ( out of 406 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    September 18, 2025
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    He has been wonderful. Our plan was well discussed and he was extremely considerate of my health goals and my needs in terms of fitness and no pain. He is very personable and cares about my results. I never felt rushed or my concern's unimportant. My spouse attended my appointments snd is equally impressed at the consideration we both received with our questions.

    September 11, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Spina is very kind, caring, and knowledgeable. I feel confident in his care and recommendations.

    September 11, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Spina is a very kind and caring. He is excellent at what he does. I would recommend him to my family and friends.

    September 11, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    DR. SPINA HAS DISPLAYED CONCERN AND ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THIS LENGTHY PROCESS OF DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. HE HAS TREATED ME MEDICALLY AND PERSONELLY, OVER A YEAR IN TIME, AS YOU WOULD HOPE A PROFESSIONAL SURGEON WOULD TREAT AND CARE FOR A PATIENT UNDER HIS CARE.

    September 10, 2025
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Very good surgeon when I had neck surgery was home in two days and hardly any pain. Been about 8 weeks and no pain doing great

    September 09, 2025
    ORTHOPAEDICS CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Spina is an amazing surgeon. I suffered for many years. Six months post op and I'm doing things that were not an option prior to the surgery. Dr Spina gave me my life back!

    September 08, 2025
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Very nice and very caring to my needs and understanding the pain I am feeling and told me he can help me fix the problem so I don't have any more pain

    September 08, 2025
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    H e very knowledge

    September 05, 2025
    FARMINGTON HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Spina is very precise about his professionalism in explaining what is at hand. He lets you understand by showing you the x-ray film of the condition on the problem that is affecting you.

    See More Patient Comments

  • Nicholas Spina, MD, is a member of the University Of Utah Department Of Orthopaedic Surgery. He specializes in degenerative, traumatic, and oncologic conditions of the spine including lumbar stenosis, cervical myelopathy, and scoliosis. He employs a conservative approach in treating the spine. Dr. Spina’s focus is in restoring patients’ function and helping them to regain their optimal lifestyle.

    Dr. Spina graduated magna cum laude from Boston College. He attended the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and the Harold Henderson Sankey MD Award recipient for the outstanding graduating medical student in Orthopaedics. He stayed on to complete his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he held the position of chief resident and was selected by his mentors and peers as the outstanding graduating resident. He followed his residency with an Orhtopaedic spine fellowship here at the University of Utah. He spent one year as faculty in the University Of Washington Department Of Orthopaedics before returning to join the University of Utah department.

    Dr. Spina is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enjoys escaping into the mountains whether it be mountain biking, skiing, or hiking. He is currently seeing patients at the University Orthopaedic and Farmington Health Center.

    Please call (801) 587-5451 if you would like to make an appointment and are not able to schedule online.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Orthopaedics -Associate Professor

    Education history

    Fellowship Orthopaedic Spine Surgery - University of Utah Fellow
    Chief Resident Orthopaedics - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Administrative Chief Resident
    Residency Orthopaedics - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Resident
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Biological Sciences - Boston College B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Connelly JW, Narayanan R, Ezeonu T, Kothari P, Spina N, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke DS, Schroeder GD, Karamian BA (2025). Narrative Review of Perioperative Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists in Spine Surgery. Clin Spine Surg. ()
    2. Mizels J, Connelly J, Martin B, Karamian B, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Spina NT (2024). How Do Functional Comorbidities Affect PROMIS-PF Scores Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery? Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 50(6), 383-388. ()
    3. Levy HA, Boere P, Randell Z, Bodnar J, Paulik J, Spina NT, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Kurd MF, Rihn JA, Canseco JA, Schroeder GD, Kepler CK, Vaccaro AR, Currier B, Huddleston PM, Nassr AN, Freedman BA, Sebastian AS, Hilibrand AS, Karamian BA (2024). Factors Related to Clinical Performance in Spine Surgery Fellowship: Can We Predict Success. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 32(18), e940-e950. ()
    4. Owen RJ, Quinlan N, Poduska A, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD (2023). Preoperative Fluoroscopically Guided Regional Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Reduce Opioid Use, Increase Mobilization, and Reduce Length of Stay Following Lumbar Spine Fusion. Global Spine J, 13(4), 954-960.
    5. Turtle J, Randell Z, Karamian B, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2023). Response to pre-operative Steroid Injections Predicts Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Fusion for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 48(13), 914-919. ()
    6. Randell Z, Martin B, Hendrickson N, Brodke D, Spiker R, Lawrence B, Spina N (2023). Hypoalbuminemia as a Predictor of Mortality, Disability, and Readmission in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 48(18), 1300-1307. ()
    7. Turtle J, Miller S, Yang A, Hurley RW, Spina N, McCormick ZL (2022). Considerations for Lumbar Medial Branch Nerve Radiofrequency at Spinal Motion Segments Adjacent to a Fusion Construct. Pain Med, 24(2), 165-170. ()
    8. Hendrickson NR, Zhang Y, Amoafo L, Randell Z, Rasmussen M, Zeidan M, Shorten P, Brodke DS, Spina N, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR (2022). Risk Factors for Postoperative Ileus in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery. Global Spine J, 13(8), 21925682221075056. ()
    9. Mordhorst TR, Jalali A, Nelson R, Brodke DS, Spina N, Spiker WR (2021). Cost analysis of primary single-level lumbar discectomies using the Value Driven Outcomes database in a large academic center. Spine J, 21(8), 1309-1317. ()
    10. Owen RJ, Quinlan N, Poduska A, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Brodke DS, Lawrence BD (2021). Preoperative Fluoroscopically Guided Regional Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Reduce Opioid Use, Increase Mobilization, and Reduce Length of Stay Following Lumbar Spine Fusion. Global Spine J, 13(4), 21925682211010740. ()
    11. Zeidan M, Goz V, Lakomkin N, Spina N, Brodke DS, Spiker WR (2020). Predictors of Readmission and Prolonged Length of Stay After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 46(8), 487-491. ()
    12. Spina NT, Moreno GS, Brodke DS, Finley SM, Ellis BJ (2020). Biomechanical effects of laminectomies in the human lumbar spine: a finite element study. Spine J, 21(1), 150-159. ()
    13. Turtle J, Kantor A, Spina NT, France JC, Lawrence BD (2020). Hangman's Fracture. Clin Spine Surg, 33(9), 345-354. ()
    14. Shaw JD, McEntarfer R, Ferrel J, Greene N, Presson AP, Zhang C, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Spina N, Brodke DS (2020). What Does Your PROMIS Score Mean? Improving the Utility of Patient-Reported Outcomes at the Point of Care. Global Spine J, 12(4), 2192568220958670. ()
    15. Tobert DG, Davis BJ, Annis P, Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Brodke DS, Spina N (2020). The impact of the lordosis distribution index on failure after surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity. Spine J, 20(8), 1261-1266. ()
    16. Goz V, Martin BI, Donnally CJ 3rd, Brodke D, Spina N, Lawrence B, Spiker WR (2020). Potential Selection Bias in Observational Studies Comparing Cervical Disc Arthroplasty to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 45(14), 960-967. ()
    17. Chavez JL, Porucznik CA, Gren LH, Guan J, Joyce E, Brodke DS, Dailey AT, Mahan MA, Hood RS, Lawrence BD, Spiker WR, Spina NT, Bisson EF (2020). The Impact of Preoperative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Postoperative Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Degenerative Disease: 3-Month and 12-Month Results of a Pilot Study. World Neurosurg, 139, e230-e236. ()
    18. Spina N, Schoutens C, Martin BI, Brodke DS, Lawrence B, Spiker WR (2019). Defining Instability in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Surgeon Views. Clin Spine Surg, 32(10), E434-E439. ()
    19. Goz V, Spiker WR, Lawrence B, Brodke D, Spina N (2019). Odontoid Fractures: A Critical Analysis Review. JBJS Rev, 7(8), e1. ()
    20. Rogers J, Spina N, Neese A, Hess R, Brodke D, Lex A (2019). Composer-Visual Cohort Analysis of Patient Outcomes. Appl Clin Inform, 10(2), 278-285. ()
    21. Goz V, Anthony C, Pugely A, Lawrence B, Spina N, Brodke D, Spiker WR (2018). Software-Based Postoperative Communication With Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery. Global Spine J, 9(1), 14-17. ()
    22. Blumberg TJ, Woelber E, Bellabarba C, Bransford R, Spina N (2018). Predictors of increased cost and length of stay in the treatment of postoperative spine surgical site infection. Spine J, 18(2), 300-306. ()
    23. van Eck CF, Spina Iii NT, Lee JY (2017). A novel MRI classification system for congenital functional lumbar spinal stenosis predicts the risk for tandem cervical spinal stenosis. Eur Spine J, 26(2), 368-373. ()

    Review

    1. Mizels J, Connelly JW, Spina N, Lawrence B, Karamian BA (2024). Hangman's Fractures: A Review of Current Concepts in Evaluation and Management. [Review]. Clin Spine Surg, 37(9), 365-371. ()
    2. Moore ZJ, Rizkalla JM, Weiner J, Lawrence B, Spina N, Spiker R, Brodke D, Karamian B (2024). Transthyretin amyloidosis in spinal canal stenosis: A systematic review. [Review]. J Orthop, 53, 133-139. ()

    Book Chapter

    1. Sreeharsha V Nandyala, MD Nicholas T Spina, MD (2023). Spinal Trauma. In Leesa M Galatz, Frederick M Azar (Eds.), Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: 14 (14th Edition). Wolters Kluwer.
    2. Nathan R Hendrickson, Nicholas T Spina III, and Darrel S Brodke (2023). Cervical Vertebrectomy and Plating . In Drs. Todd J. Albert and Thomas A. Zdeblick (Eds.), Master Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: The Spine (4th Edition, pp. 49-66). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

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