Papers
39
Total Citations
1,191
H-Index
19
About
Nicholas Theodore is a pioneering neurosurgeon and spine researcher whose work sits at the intersection of surgical robotics, augmented reality, and spinal instrumentation. Based at Johns Hopkins, Theodore has become one of the foremost authorities on technology-driven approaches to spine surgery, with a particular focus on improving the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement — a technically demanding procedure central to spinal fusion surgery. His landmark 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of over 51,000 screws (164 citations) established a definitive benchmark for placement accuracy across existing techniques, while his cadaveric proof-of-concept study on augmented reality-assisted surgery (156 citations) opened an entirely new frontier by demonstrating that visual data projected directly onto a surgeon's retina could enhance precision in real time. Theodore has also been instrumental in evaluating next-generation robotic platforms, including among the first published clinical assessments of the ExcelsiusGPS® system, helping translate this FDA-approved technology into practice. With over 800 cumulative citations across his most influential papers, Theodore's research has shaped how surgeons, engineers, and institutions think about the future of minimally invasive spinal surgery — making him an essential figure for anyone studying surgical robotics or spinal innovation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Robotic Spine Surgery: Current State in Minimally Invasive Surgery99 citations · 2020
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- 6Technique: open lumbar decompression and fusion with the Excelsius GPS robot48 citations · 2018
- 7Ensuring navigation integrity using robotics in spine surgery46 citations · 2019
- 8New spinal robotic technologies44 citations · 2019
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