The goal of the UT
Southwestern Spine Center research program is to engage in cutting-edge
translational and clinical research to improve outcomes and develop new
treatments for those affected by disorders of the spinal cord, spinal column,
and related structures.
Our vision is to
be recognized as a leader in innovative research in the field of spine related
diseases and disorders.
Our current research areas include:
- Examining
methods to improve perioperative pain control after spinal fusion surgery
- Determining
the diagnostic accuracy of selective nerve root blocks
- Investigating
gender differences in opioid use after surgery
- Researching
the use of telemedicine in spine care
- Assessing
the impact of affective disorders on spine treatment outcomes
- Assessing
the impact and utility of integrative medicine techniques in spine care
- Assessing
the predictability of novel biomarkers in spine-related treatment outcomes
For more information about our
clinical studies, please contact our research coordinator, Kristen Hall, at
214-645-0630 or Kristen.Hall@utsouthwestern.edu.
See a list of recent research
publications.
Values
Our values are our foundation
and allow the UT Southwestern Spine Center research team to provide excellence
and quality in patient-centered research.
- We seek
to protect the rights of human subjects while valuing the significance of the
research we are conducting.
- We value
the importance of teamwork to accomplish a common goal.
- We make
every effort to provide a safe and supportive workplace for our team members as
well as to protect our patients.
How We Work
We work with
neurosurgeons, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, pain management specialists,
physical therapists, and behavioral health specialists in a multidisciplinary
fashion to develop clinical and translational research studies that leverage
the diverse specialties of our clinical team.
Our research team
provides oversight on research project coordination, research study design,
grant submissions, protocol and consent development, chart abstractions, study
subject recruitment, study subject consenting and interviewing, and study
subject follow-up.
We also work with
Spine Center principal and co-investigators in order to ensure compliance with
all institutional, governmental, and regulatory body guidelines for all
research studies conducted within the program. The research team works
with the leadership team of the Spine Center to provide ongoing education to
research faculty, residents, and fellows regarding regulatory changes and requirements,
ensuring that the most up-to-date training and recommendations are followed.
Spine Clinical Outcomes Registry
The research team
developed the Spine Clinical Outcomes
Registry, which prospectively collects patient-reported outcomes. This database
serves as the hub for our ongoing quality improvement initiatives as well as
retrospective and prospective clinical outcomes and efficacy studies.
Quality Outcomes Database
Our center also participates in a nationwide Quality Outcomes Database
initiative. This allows us to track quality, efficiency, and value of care for
the most common neurosurgical procedures. The initiative was established by the
NeuroPoint Alliance – the data collection arm of the American Association
of Neurological Surgeons – with a broad coalition of other neurosurgical
societies, including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of
Neurological Surgeons, and the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
The
goal is to generate both quality and efficiency data to:
- Demonstrate comparative effectiveness of
neurosurgical procedures
- Determine which patients are most likely to benefit
from specific surgical interventions
- Determine to what extent surgery improves pain,
disability, and quality of life
- Facilitate multicenter trials and other cooperative
clinical studies
