• Orthopaedic Surgery

• Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery
• Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics

Minimally-invasive spine surgery
CT-navigated spine surgery
Minimally-invasive surgical techniques for spine trauma and tumors

 

Current research projects underway:

1. Minimally-invasive spinal stabilization techniques in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine trauma.

2. Minimally-invasive lumbopelvic stabilization techniques in the treatmen of spino-pelvic dissocation patterns.

3. Biomechanical analysis of retrieved percutaneous pedicle screws and rods after planned removal after successful percutaneous stabilization of thoracic, lumbar, and sacral trauma.

4. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion rates using structural allograft bone and morselized local autograft bone.

5. Multicenter study of ring fixator versus intramedullary nailing for severe open tibia fratures.

6. Intraoperative fluroscopic techniques to detect pedicle screw breach.

7. Biomechanical analysis of short-segment spinal fixation techniques in the treatment of thoracolumbar trauma.

8. Minimally-invasive stabilization of the unstable spine in trauma, tumors, and infection.

• Norton R, Milne E, Kaimrajh D, Williams S, Eismont F, Latta, L. Biomechanical Analysis of Short Segment Fixation in an Unstable Thoracolumbar Flexion-Distraction Injury Model: 6-Screw Construct with and without Facet Compression. Accepted for poster presentation, 2012 Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, San Francisco, CA, Feb 4 – 7, 2012.
• Norton R, Milne E, Kaimrajh D, Williams S, Eismont F, Latta, L. Short Segment Fixation of An L1 Compression Fracture – 4 vs. 6 Screws. Accepted for poster presentation, 2012 Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, San Francisco, CA, Feb 4 – 7, 2012.
• Wang MY, Williams SK, Mummaneni PV, Sherman JD. Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Iliac Screws: Initial 24 Case Experience with CT Confirmation. In press, accepted Oct 2011, J of Spinal Dis and Tech.
• Williams SK, Eismont FJ. “Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Injuries.” Rothman - Simeone. The Spine. 6th Edition. Editors Herkowitz HN, Garfin SR, Eismonth FJ, Bekk GR, Balderston RA. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2011.
• Derasari AM, Rowshan K, Williams SK. Safety and Feasibility of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in the Treatment of Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Fractures. Podium presentation, Western Orthopaedic Association (WOA) 74th Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA, Aug. 4 – 7, 2010.
• Derasari AM, Rowshan K, Tufts RE; Williams SK. Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Spine Fractures. E-poster, 17th Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), Toronto, Canada, July 21 – 24, 2010.
• Williams SK, Newton PO, Samdania A, Betz RR, Lonner B, Sponseller PD, Shufflebarger HL. Vertebral Column Resection for Pediatric Deformity: Neuromonitoring Events and Correction Magnitude. Podium presentation, North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Nov. 10-14, 2009.
• Williams SK, Newton PO, Samdania A, Betz RR, Lonner B, Sponseller PD, Shufflebarger HL. Vertebral Column Resection for Pediatric Deformity: Neuromonitoring Events and Correction Magnitude. Podium presentation, Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Sept. 23 – 26, 2009.
• Williams SK, Eismont FJ. “Spine Infections.” Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Musculoskeletal Infections. Editors Cierny III G, McLaren AC, Wongworawat MD. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL, 2009.
• Vadeboncoeur T, Williams SK: “Tibial/Fibular Shaft Fracture.” Rosen and Barkin's 5-Minute Emergency Medicine Consult. 3rd Edition. Editors Schaider JJ, Hayden SR, Wolfe RE, Barkin RM and Rosen P. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2007.
• Williams SK, Eismont FJ. Concomitant Cervical and Lumbar Stenosis: Strategies for Treatment and Outcomes. Sem Spine Surg 19(3):165-176, 2007.
• Williams SK, Amiel D, Ball ST, Allen RT, Tontz WL, Emmerson BC, Badlani NM, Emery SC, Haghighi P, Bugbee WD. Analysis of Cartilage Tissue on a Cellular Level in Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Retrievals. Am J Sports Med 35(12):2022-32, 2007.
• Ball ST, Goomer R, Ostrander R, Tontz W, Williams SK, Amiel D: Pre-Incubation of Perichondrial Cells in a Polylactic Acid Scaffold Enhances Donor Cell Retention. Clin Orthop 420:276-285, 2004
• Ball ST, Amiel D, Williams SK, Tontz W, Chen AC, Sah RL, Bugbee WD: The Effects of Storage on Fresh Human Osteochondral Allografts. Clin Orthop 418:246-252, 2004.
• Williams SK, Amiel D, Ball ST, Allen RT, Wong VW, Chen A, Sah RL, Bugbee WD: Prolonged Storage Effects on the Articular Cartilage of Fresh Human Osteochondral Allografts. J Bone Joint Surg 85A:2111-2120, 2003.
• Williams SK, Kauffman CP, Stimson L, Garfin SR: “Tuberculous Infections of the Spine.” Principles and Practice of Spine Surgery. Editors Vaccaro AR, Betz RR, Zeidman SM. Mosby, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2003.
• Kauffman CP, Williams SK, Stimson L, Garfin SR: Spinal Granulomatous Infection: Treatment in the Year 2000. Seminars in Spine Surgery 12(4):192-202, 2000.

I have been fortunate to train under some of the best and most renowned spine surgeons in the world.  During residency my spine training started under Dr. Steven Garfin, where I was introduced to complex revision surgeries.  After finishing residency I moved to Miami to spend one year devoted solely to spine surgery in Miami, and trained under Dr. Frank Eismont, Dr. Nathan Lebwohl, and Dr. Mark Brown in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.  In addition, I regularly operated with and learned from Dr. Barth Green in the Department of Neurosurgery.  Finally, I spent almost two months with Dr. Harry Shufflebarger at Miami Children's Hospital learning advanced techniques in correcting pediatric scoliosis.  Like I once learned from Dr. Eismont and Dr. Lebwohl, I am now helping to train our future generation of spine surgeons in our spine surgery fellowship program as well as our orthopaedic surgery residency program.

Since starting practice, my ongoing education has continued, with a particular focus on developing minimally-invasive techniques.  My neurosurgery colleagues, in particular Dr. Micheal Wang, Dr. Steven Vanni, and Dr. Alan Levi, were gracious enough to scrub into surgery with me and teach me these techniques in the early days of my practice.  I have since adopted these techniques as a large component of my practice, and have been able to help advance the field in certain key areas such as trauma and tumor/oncology. My goal is to continue to safely develop these minimally-invasive techniques in order to treat serious conditions of the spine while minimizing the invasiveness of the surgery.  Lately I have been presenting my minimally invasive surgery research projects and techniques on the local and national level.  This allows me to teach and learn, to always stay on the cutting edge.

Nobody wants spine surgery, but sometimes there is no choice.  This is how people usually meet me, when their spine condition has progressed to the point where they are finally considering surgery.  My first goal is to get people better without surgery and I am always trying to help people avoid an operation if I think this is in their best interest.  When surgery becomes necessary, my goal then becomes to choose the least invasive technique that will properly treat the problem, while avoiding complications.  Attention to detail is very important. 

My team consists of Nurse Lise and Secretary Mariemel ("Mel").  Lise was the director of the orthopaedics and neurosurgery unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital for many years, and provides an unusually high degree of nursing sophistication and expertise.  It is easy to see how well liked and respected she is whenever we run into her former nursing colleagues.  She has been a great addition to the team, and you will not find a more proficient and kind and caring nurse than Lise.  While she has many roles, the key one is preparing patients for surgery and then ensuring their post-operative care is exactly what we want.  Mel is the point-person who facilitates appointments and takes care of paperwork and logistics and keeps my schedule sane.  She loves to see the patients doing well, and often times Mel will accompany Lise on patient rounds, which is extraordanary for an administrative assistant.  She is an excellent patient advocate with great instincts and she will track me down when she senses that somebody needs immediate attention.   All three of us have our roles and it is an excellent team.

Our general appointment line is (305) 243-3000, and my office number is (305) 585-7709.  If you would like to make an appointment, please go through the appointment l