Chris Cain, MD
Professor, Orthopedics
Medical School
- MD, University of Adelaide, Australia (1985)
Undergraduate School
- MBBS, University of Adelaide (Australia) (1985)
- PhD, University of Adelaide (Australia) (1993)
Internship
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (1985)
Residency
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, East Melbourne, Australia, Orthopedics (1993)
Fellowships
- Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom, Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine (1994)
Languages
EnglishDepartment
OrthopedicsProfessional Titles
- Associate Professor
Recognitions
-
President's Award, Australian Medical Association
(2003)
-
Marquis, Who's Who in the World 24th Edition
(2007)
Research Interests
I have been, and remain involved in the development of new techniques and implants to improve patient outcomes. This process involves the critical evaluation of manufacturing, biomechanical and clinical parameters. We are all made differently, different sizes, shapes and abilities, yet implants often come in a limited range of sizes with fixes or limited mechanical characteristics. In light of this I am involved in developing a process using CT and MRI images and a computer model to evaluate individual patients anatomy to assess their suitability for disk replacement surgery. This is to ensure the mechanics of implants used to preserve motion match both the mechanics and anatomy of the patient. Initial work has been undertaken to help assess which patients are suitable for this sort of surgery, but my lead to improvements in the design and function of these implants.Publications
- Orthopedic Research Society, San Francisco The Influence of ProDisc-L Positioning on Mechanics of the Lumbar Spine M. Rao1, C.M. Cain2, P.J. Rullkoetter1 1University of Denver, Denver, CO; 2University of Colorado, Denver, CO
- 12th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery 2012, Barcelona, Spain, March 20-23, 2012 Pre-op Templating for TDR Alignment: Is it Clinically Relevant? C.M. Cain1, M. Rao2, P.J. Rullkoetter2 1University of Colorado, Denver, CO; 2University of Denver, Denver, CO
- Rao M, Cain CMJ, Rullkoetter PJ; The influence of ProDisc-L Positioning on Mechanics of the Lumbar Spine. Orthopedic Research Society, San Francisco, CA Feb 4-7, 2012
- Noschenko A, Burger EL, Cain CMJ, Lindley EM, Patel V; Two Year Bone Morphogenic Protein Clinical Effects Afer Lumbar Fusion in Degenerative Disc Disease. International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Barcelona, Spain March 20-23, 2012
- Lafleur M, Cain CMJ, Rao M, Rullkoetter PJ; Pre-op Templating for TDR Aligment: Is it Clinically Relvant? International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Barcelona, Spain March 20-23, 2012
- Cain CMJ, Lafleur M, Roa M, Lollenbeck J, Rullkoeter PJ: Pre-op Anatomical FEA Templating for Patient Selection and Optimizing Range of Motion in TDR. International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques, Istanbul (IMAST), Turkey July 18-21, 2012
- Noshchenko A, Burger EL, Cain CM, Lindley EM, Patel VV. Two Year Bone Morphogenetic Protein Clinical Effects after Lumbar Fusion in Degenerative Disc Disease. 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST). Istanbul, Turkey, July 18-21, 2012
- Retrograde ejaculation following anterior lumbar spine surgery. Spine. 2012, 37(20):1785-9
- Noshchenko A; Hoffecker L, Lindley EM, Burger EL, Cain CM, Patel VV. Perioperative and Long Term Clinical Outcomes for Bone Morphogenetic Protein versus Iliac Crest Bone Graft for Lumbar Fusion in Degenerative Disc Disease. Systematic Review with Meta-analysis. J Spinal Discord Tech.
- Lindley EM, Levy BJ, Burger EL, Cain CMJ, Patel VV. Failure of the Fernstrom ball in contemporary spine surgery: A case of history repeating itself. Curr Orth Prac.
- Perioperative and long term clinical outcomes for bone morphogenic protein versus iliac crest bone graft for lumbar fusion in degenerative disk disease: systematic review with meta-analysis
- Long term treatemtn effects of lumbar arthrodesis in degenerative disk disease: a systematic review with meat analysis
- Failure of the Fernstrom ball in contemporary spine surgery: A case of history repeating itself
- Spinal Anatomy, in Spine Surgery Basics
- Noshchenko A, Lindley EM, Burger EL, Cain CM, Patel VV. What is the Clinical Relevance of Radiographic Non union After Single-Level Lumbar Interbody Arthrodesis in Degenerative Disc Disease?: A Meta-Analysis of the YODA Project Database. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Jan;41(1):9-17
- Kleck CJ, MD; Perry JM, Burger EL, Cain CMJ, Milligan K, Patel VV. Sacroiliac Joint Treatment - Personalized to Individual Patient Anatomy Using 3-Dimensional Navigation: Orthopedics March/April 2016 - Volume 39 Issue 2: 89-94
- Fattor JA, Hollenbeck JFM, Laz PJ, Rullkoetter PJ, Burger EL, Patel VV, Cain CMJ: Patient-Specific Templating of Lumbar Total Disk Replacement to Restore Normal Anatomy and Function. Orthopedics March/April 2016 - Volume 39 Issue 2: 97-102
- Kleck CJ, Cullilmore I, LaFleur M, Lindley E, Rentschler ME, Burger EL, Cain CM, Patel VV. A new 3-dimensional method for measuring precision in surgical navigation and methods to optimize navigation accuracy. Eur Spine J. 2016 Jun;25(6):1764-74
- Lindley EM, Barton C, Blount T, Burger EL, Cain CM, Seim HB 3rd, Turner AS, Patel VV. An analysis of spine fusion outcomes in sheep pre-clinical models. Eur Spine J. 2016 May 10.
- Zaghloul K, Matoian B, Denardin N, Cain CMJ, Burger EL, Patel VV. Surgical Technique: Preventing Proximal Adjacent Level Kyphosis with Strap Stabilization. Orthopedics. In Press
- Christopher J. Kleck, Damian Illing, Emily M. Lindley, Andriy Noshchenko, Vikas V. Patel, Cameron Barton, Todd Baldini, Christopher M.J. Cain, Evalina L. Burger. Strain in Posterior Instrumentation Resulted in Different Combinations of Posterior and Anterior Devices for Long Spine Fusion Constructs. Spine Deformity. Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan 2017: 27-36
- Christopher J. Kleck, Damian Illing, Emily M. Lindley, Andriy Noshchenko, Vikas V. Patel, Cameron Barton, Todd Baldini, Christopher M.J. Cain, Evalina L. Burger. Strain in Posterior Instrumentation Resulted in Different Combinations of Posterior and Anterior Devices for Long Spine Fusion Constructs. Spine Deformity. Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan 2017: 27-36
- Lindley EM, Barton C, Blount T, Burger EL, Cain CM, Seim HB 3rd, Turner AS, Patel VV. An analysis of spine fusion outcomes in sheep pre-clinical models. Eur Spine J. 2017, Jan;26(1):228-239.
- Noshchenko A, Hoffecker L, Cain CM, Patel VV, Burger EL. Spinopelvic Parameters in Asymptomatic Subjects Without Spine Disease and Deformity: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Clin Spine Surg. 2017 Mar 31.
- Barton C, Noshchenko A, Patel V, Cain CMJ, Kleck CJ, Burger EL. Different types of mechanical complications after surgical correction of adult spine deformity with osteotomy. World Journal of Meta-Analysis. 2017-12-26 (6) 132-149
- Noshchenko A, Hoffecker L, Lindley EM, Burger EL, Cain CMJ, Patel VV, Bradford AP. Predictors of spine deformity progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis. World J Orthop. In Press. Accepted June 2015
- Zaghloul K, Matoian B, Denardin N, Cain CMJ, Burger EL, Patel VV. Surgical Technique: Preventing Proximal Adjacent Level Kyphosis with Strap Stabilization. Orthopedics. In Press
- Barton C, Noshchenko A, Patel V, Cain C, Kleck C, Burger E. Risk factors for rod fracture after posterior correction of adult spinal deformity with osteotomy: a retrospective case-series. Scoliosis. 2015, 10:30
- Noshchenko A, Lindley EM, Burger EL, Cain CM, Patel VV. What is the Clinical Relevance of Radiographic Nonunion after Single-level Lumbar Interbody Arthrodesis in Degenerative Disc Disease? A Meta-Analysis of the YODA Project Database. Spine. In Press
- Justin F.M. Hollenbeck, Christopher M. Cain, Jill A. Fattor, Paul J. Rulkoetter, Peter J. Laz. Statistical shape modeling characterizes three-dimensional shape and alignment variability in the lumbar spine. Journal of Biomechanics. Volume 69, March 1 2018: 146-155
- Andriy Noshchenko, Christopher MJ Cain, Khaled Zaghloul, Emily Lindley, Christopher Kleck, Evalina L Burger, Vikas Patel. Pedicle screw placement assisted by 3D imaging (O-arm system with Stealth Station software) versus free-hand technique for multilevel posterior thoracolumbar fusion. Current Orthopedic Practice. Volume 29, Number 2, March/April 2018
- Kleck CJ, Johnson C, Akiyama M, Burger EL, Cain CJ, Patel VV. One-Step Minimally Invasive Pedicle Screw Instrumentation Using O-Arm and Stealth Navigation. Clin Spine Surg. 2018 June; 31(5): 197-202
- Bozzio AE, Johnson CR, FAttor JA, Kleck CJ, Patel VV, Burger EL, Noshchenko A, Cain CMJ. Stand-alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody, Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody, and Anteior/Posterior Fusion: Analysis of fusion Outcomes and Costs. Orthopedics Sep 2018, 41(5): e655-e662
- Schroeder N, Noschenko A, Burger E, Patel V, Cain C, Ou-Yang D, Kleck C. Pelvic Incidence Changes Between Flexion and Extension. Spine Deformity 6 (2018) 753-761
- Kleck C, Calabrese D, Reeves BJ, Cain CMJ, Patel VV, Noshchenko A, Burger EL. Long-Term Treatment Effect and Predictability of Spinopelvic Alignment after Surgical Correction of Adult Spine Deformity (ASD) with Patient-Specific Spine Rods (PSSR). Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2019 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31651682
- Hollenbeck JFM, Fattor JA, Patel V, Burger E, Rullkoetter PJ, Cain CMJ. Validation of Pre-operative Templating for Total Disc Replacement Surgery. Int J Spine Surg. 2019 Jan;13(1):84-91. PubMed PMID: 30805290
- Bozzio AE, Johnson CR, Fattor JA, Kleck CJ, Patel VV, Burger EL, Noshchenko A, Cain CMJ. Stand-alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody, Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody, and Anterior/Posterior Fusion: Analysis of Fusion Outcomes and Costs. Orthopedics. 2018 Sep 1;41(5):e655-e662. PubMed PMID: 30011051
- Hollenbeck JFM, Cain CM, Fattor JA, Rullkoetter PJ, Laz PJ. Statistical shape modeling characterizes three-dimensional shape and alignment variability in the lumbar spine. J Biomech. 2018 Mar 1;69:146-155. PubMed PMID: 29402403
- Schroeder N, Noschenko A, Burger E, Patel V, Cain C, Ou-Yang D, Kleck C. Pelvic Incidence Changes Between Flexion and Extension. Spine Deform. 2018 Nov - Dec;6(6):753-761. PubMed PMID: 30348355
- Rodriguez-Fontan F, Reeves BJ, Noshchenko A, Ou-Yang D, Kleck CJ, Cain C, Evalina Burger-Van der Walt E, Patel VV. Strap stabilization for proximal junctional kyphosis prevention in instrumented posterior spinal fusion. Eur Spine J. 2020, Jan 14, doi: 10.1007/s00586-020-06291-0. [Epub ahead of print]
- Kleck CJ, Calabrese D, Reeves Bj, Cain CMJ, Patel VV, Noshchenko A, Burger-Van der Walt EL. Long-term treatment effect and predictability of spinopelvic alignment after surgical correction of adult spine deformity with patient-specific spine rods. Spine. 45(7):E387-E396. April 1, 2020
- Ayers R, Patel V, Burger E, Cain C, Ou-Yang D, Wessell N, Kleck C. Corrosion of titanium spinal explants is similar to that observed in oil field line pipe steel: Evidence of microbial-influenced corrosion in vivo. Orthopedics Jan 1, 2020, 43(1): 62-67
- Kleck CJ, Cullilmore I, LaFleur M, Lindley E, Rentschler ME, Burger EL, Cain CM, Patel VV. A new 3-dimensional method for measuring precision in surgical navigation and methods to optimize navigation accuracy. Eur Spine J. In Press
- Kleck CJ, Noshchenko A, Burger EL, Cain CMJ, Patel VV. Postoperative pelvic incidence (PI) change may impact sagittal spinopelvic alignment (SSA) after instrumented surgical correction of adult spine deformity (ASD). Spine Deform. 2021 Jul;9(4):1093-1104. PubMed PMID: 33871832
- Kleck CJ, Calabrese D, Reeves BJ, Cain CMJ, Patel VV, Noshchenko A, Burger-Van der Walt EL. Long-Term Treatment Effect and Predictability of Spinopelvic Alignment After Surgical Correction of Adult Spine Deformity With Patient-Specific Spine Rods. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 Apr 1;45(7):E387-E396. PubMed PMID: 31651682
Professional Memberships
- Australian Medical Association, Member
- Australian Spine Society, Member
- North American Spine Society, Member
- AOSpine Asia Pacific, Member
- AOSpine North America, Member
Practice Locations
UCHealth Spine Center - Anschutz Medical CampusAnschutz Inpatient Pavilion - 1st Floor
12605 E. 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-1980
Hospital Affiliation
- University of Colorado Hospital
Specialty Information
Specialties- Orthopedics (1993, 2020)
- Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine (1994, 2020)
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Board Certification (1993)
- Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - Spine Injuries
- Bones, Joints and Muscles
- Brain and Nervous System
- Spine
- Spine - Cervical disc herniation
- Spine - Cervical Myelopathy
- Spine - Cervical spinal stenosis
- Spine - Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spine - Degenerative Scoliosis
- Spine - Lumbar disc herniation
- Spine - Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spine - Myelopathy
- Spine - Radiculopathy
- Spine - Sciatica
- Spine - Scoliosis
- Spine - Slipped Disc
- Spine - Spinal tumors
- Spine - Spondylolisthesis
- Spine - Spondylolysis
Clinical Interests
My practice covers all aspects of spinal disease, including the management of adult degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, adult and pediatric deformity, spine trauma and tumors. My principle interest are, anterior lumbar surgery and the management of complex spinal deformity and reconstruction. While I am not a proponent of operating through tubes I employ surgical techniques to minimize the damage done to structures and tissues while maximizing the chance of achieving surgical success. I have expertise in the indications for, and the surgical management of neck and back pain, spinal trauma, spinal instability, neural compromise and tumors.
Care Philosophy
I treat and advise patient’s as I would want a member of my family treated. While many surgeons claim they do this, the reality is a lot of medicine is market driven and some clinicians recommend treatments thinking that if they don't provide the treatment someone else will. I believe the practice of medicine to be a privilege and a service to the community, not a business. The practice of spine surgery is a combination of science and art, as such it is important patients understand the nature of their problem and have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of any treatment proposed, surgical or non surgical. There can be no guarantees, and no surgery is performed without causing some harm or being associated with some risks. As such it is a matter of balancing the risks agains the potential benefits, and I will only offer surgery when I believe the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, where there is a good chance surgical intervention will achieve our goals, both yours and mine.
My practice covers all aspects of spinal disease, including the management of adult degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, adult and pediatric deformity, spine trauma and tumors. My principle interest are, anterior lumbar surgery and the management of complex spinal deformity and reconstruction. While I am not a proponent of operating through tubes I employ surgical techniques to minimize the damage done to structures and tissues while maximizing the chance of achieving surgical success. I have expertise in the indications for, and the surgical management of neck and back pain, spinal trauma, spinal instability, neural compromise and tumors.
Care Philosophy
I treat and advise patient’s as I would want a member of my family treated. While many surgeons claim they do this, the reality is a lot of medicine is market driven and some clinicians recommend treatments thinking that if they don't provide the treatment someone else will. I believe the practice of medicine to be a privilege and a service to the community, not a business. The practice of spine surgery is a combination of science and art, as such it is important patients understand the nature of their problem and have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of any treatment proposed, surgical or non surgical. There can be no guarantees, and no surgery is performed without causing some harm or being associated with some risks. As such it is a matter of balancing the risks agains the potential benefits, and I will only offer surgery when I believe the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, where there is a good chance surgical intervention will achieve our goals, both yours and mine.
Personal Interests
My principle interest are degenerative conditions affecting the cervical and lumbar spine, anterior lumbar surgery and the management of complex spinal deformity and reconstruction.
My principle interest are degenerative conditions affecting the cervical and lumbar spine, anterior lumbar surgery and the management of complex spinal deformity and reconstruction.