Theodore J. Choma, MD
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Director, Missouri Spine Center

Clinical Interests: 

Cervical spine stabilization, lumbar disc disease and back pain, Myelodysplastic syndromes, scoliosis, skeletal trauma, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, spine, spinal deformities, spine tumors, spine degenerative diseases, spinal trauma, spinal biomechanics, and disc replacement technologies.           

Education:

MD: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va.
Residency:  Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Fellowship: Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, Minn.

Academic Appointments:

2005: Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia

2002-2005: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences Bethesda, MD

Other employment:

2004-2005: Residency program director, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

2002-2005: Chief, spine surgery, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

2002-2004: Assistant program director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

2001-2005: Staff orthopaedic surgeon, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

1994-1995: Instructor, Department of Mathematics and Science European Division, University of Maryland, Heidelberg, Germany

1993-1995: Brigade flight surgeon, 4th Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Hanau, Germany

1992-2005: Medical corps officer, United States Army Active Duty

1987-1988: Biomechanical engineer, Orthopedics Section, CDRH, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md. 

1986-1987: Research Assistant, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Certifications:

• Diplomate, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2004
• Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners, 1993
• Advanced Trauma Life Support, 1993-current
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support, 1992-1997
• Basic Life Support, 1988-current

Patents:

• Laser Tissue Welding Control System. U.S. Patent # 5,334,191 ; August, 1994
• Laser Tissue Welding Control System. U.S. Patent # 5,409,481 ; April, 1995

Honors and Awards:

• USAREUR Flight Surgeon of the Year, 1995
• Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society, inducted 1991

Publications:

1. Choma TJ, Miranda J, Siskey R, Baxter R, Steinbeck MJ, Kurtz SM. Retrieval Analysis of a ProDiscT-L Total Disc Replacement. J Spinal Disord Tech. In press, 2008.
2. Choma TJ, Burke M, Kim C, Kakarlapudi R. Epidural Abscess as a Delayed Complication of Spinal Instrumentation in Scoliosis Surgery – A case of progressive neurologic dysfunction with complete recovery. Spine 33(3): E76-80, February 1, 2008.
3. Ofiram E, Polly DW, Gilbert TJ, Choma TJ. Is It Safer to Place Pedicle Screws in the Lower Thoracic Spine Than in the Upper Lumbar Spine? Spine 32(1):49-54, January 1, 2007.
4. Choma TJ, Denis F, Lonstein JE, Perra JH, Schwender JD, Garvey TA, Mullin WJ. Stepwise Methology for Plain Radiographic Assessment of Pedicle Scew Placement: A Comparison with Computed Tomography. J Spinal Disord Tech 19(8): 547-553, 2006.
5. Choma TJ, Polly DP. Techniques and indications for pedicle screw insertion in the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. Contemporary Spine Surgery 5(12): 1-9, 2004.
6. Choma TJ, Kuklo TR, Islinger RB, Murphey MD, Temple HT.: Paget's disease of bone in patients younger than 40 years. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004 Jan;(418):202-4.
7. Choma TJ, Chwirut D, Polly DP. Biomechanics of long segment fixation – hook patterns and rod strain. J Spinal Disorders, 14(2): 125-32, 2001
8. Islinger RB, Kuklo TR, Owens BD, Horan PJ, Choma TJ, Murphey MD, Temple HT.: Langerhans cell histiocytosis in patients older than 21 years. Clin Orthop Rel Res 379:231-5, 2000
9. Kilkelly FX, Choma TJ, Popovic N, Miller DW, Sweet, DE. Tendon Repair by Laser Welding: A Histologic and Biomechanical Comparison with Suture Repair. Lasers Surg. Med. 19(4): 487-491, 1996.
10. Klioze SD, Poppas, DP, Rooke CT, Choma TJ, Schlossberg S.: Development and Initial Application of a Real Time Thermal Control System for Laser Tissue Welding. J. Urology 152: 744-748, 1994.
11. Choma TJ, Davlin LB, Wagner JS. Iliac Osteomyelitis in the Newborn Presenting as Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Sepsis. Orthopedics 17(7): 632-634, 1994
12. Poppas DP, Choma TJ, Rooke CT, Schlossberg SM. Preparation of Human Albumin as an Adjuvant to Laser Welding: A New Technique. Lasers Surg. Med. 13: 577-580, 1993
13. Rooke CT, Poppas DP, Choma TJ, Schlossberg SM. CO 2 Laser Welding Versus Conventional Microsuture Repair in a Patch Graft Urethroplasty: A Comparison. Urology, 41(6): 585-589, 1993.
14. Choma TJ, Poppas DP, Rooke CT, Schlossberg SM. CO 2 Laser Urethroplasty in the Rabbit: A Preclinical Model. Lasers Surg. Med. 12: 639-644, 1992.

Currently Active Research Protocols:

• In vitro Biomechanical Comparison of Anterior Thoracolumbar Locking and Bicortical Implants in the Swine (Sus scrofa ) Model
• Anterior-Posterior Lumbar Fusion versus Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for the Treatment of Lumbar Discogenic Pain: A Prospective, Randomized Study
• Clinical and radiological outcomes of the Charite disc arthroplasty for discogenic back pain: a prospective study

Refereed Paper Presentations:

1. Radiographic analysis of pedicle screw placement: a comparison with CT; presented at the 8th International Meeting for Advanced Spine Techniques, July, 2001. Paradise Island, Bahamas.
2. Biomechanics of long segment fixation: Hook patterns and rod strain.; presented at the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 40 th annual meeting, December, 1998. Vail, CO
3. Langerhaans cell histiocytosis presenting in patients over 21 years old: A review of cases at the AFIP; presented at the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 40 th annual meeting, December, 1998. Vail, CO
4. Langerhaans cell histiocytosis presenting in patients over 21 years old: A review of cases at the AFIP; presented at Southern Medical Association 93 rd annual meeting, November 1998. New Orleans, LA
5. Increased rod diameter or number of hooks: Which is stiffer?; presented at North American Spine Society 13 th annual meeting, October 1998. San Francisco, CA
6. Biomechanics of long segment fixation: Hook patterns and rod strain.; presented at Scoliosis Research Society 33 rd annual meeting, September 1998. New York, NY
7. Increased rod diameter or number of hooks: Which is stiffer? presented at Scoliosis Research Society 33 rd annual meeting, September 1998. New York, NY
8. Intraosseous Lipoma vs Unicameral Bone Cyst in the Foot: Is There a Relationship? presented at Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 39th annual meeting, October, 1997. Lake Placid, NY
9. Paget’s Disease in Patients Under 40 Years Old: A Review of Cases at the AFIP; presented at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 65th annual meeting, February, 1997. San Francisco, CA
10. Tendon Repair by Laser Welding: A Biomechanical and Histologic Comparison of Suture Repair with CO 2 and Argon Lasers; presented at Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting, November, 1994. Hilton Head, SC
11. Laser Tissue Welding; presented at the University of Maryland European Division 5th Biennial Mathematics and Science Symposium, October, 1994. Heidelberg, GE
12. Suture Materials Used in Laser Tissue Welding; presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery Annual Meeting, April, 1993.
13. Optimal Temperature Values for Laser Welding of Rat Urethral Tissues: Time Zero Studies; presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. May 17-20, 1992. Miami, FL.
14. CO 2 Laser Urethroplasty in the Rabbit: A Preclinical Model; presented at the Eastern Student Research Forum, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1991.
15. Patch Graft Urethroplasty in the Rat Using a CO 2 Laser; presented at the Eastern Student Research Forum, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1990.
16. CO 2 Laser Urethroplasty in the Rabbit: A Preclinical Model; presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. April 6-8, 1990. Nashville, TN.
17. CO 2 Laser Urethroplasty in the Rabbit: A Preclinical Model; presented at the EVMS Student Research Forum, 1989.

Poster Presentations:

1. Radiographic analysis of pedicle screw placement: a comparison with CT; Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 43 rd annual meeting, December 2001.
2. Moprhometric analysis of thoracolumbar pedicles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; presented at the 8 th International Meeting for Advanced Spine Techniques, July, 2001. Paradise Island, Bahamas.
3. Langerhaans cell histiocytosis presenting in patients over 21 years old: A review of cases at the AFIP ; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 65 th annual meeting, February, 1999. Anaheim, CA
4. Intraosseous Lipoma vs Unicameral Bone Cyst in the Foot: Is There a Relationship?; presented at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 65th annual meeting, March, 1998. New Orleans, LA
5. Paget’s Disease in Patients Under 40 Years Old: A Review of Cases at the AFIP; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 64th annual meeting, February, 1997. San Francisco, CA
6. Paget’s Disease in Patients Under 40 Years Old: A Review of Cases at the AFIP; Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 38th annual meeting, November, 1996. San Diego, CA
7. Tendon Repair by Laser Welding: A Biomechanical and Histologic Comparison of Suture Repair with CO 2 and Argon Lasers; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 62nd Annual Meeting, February, 1995.

Contact Information:

Missouri Spine Center
402 N. Keene St., Suite 101
Columbia, MO 65201
For Appointments: (573) 884-2225
Toll-free: 1 (877) 701-2225