Raj J Gala, MD
Assistant ProfessorCards
About
Research
Publications
2020
Perioperative Outcomes in 17,947 Patients Undergoing 2-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus 1-Level Anterior Cervical Corpectomy for Treatment of Cervical Degenerative Conditions: A Propensity Score Matched National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Analysis
Galivanche AR, Gala R, Bagi PS, Boylan AJ, Dussik CM, Coutinho PD, Grauer JN, Varthi AG. Perioperative Outcomes in 17,947 Patients Undergoing 2-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Versus 1-Level Anterior Cervical Corpectomy for Treatment of Cervical Degenerative Conditions: A Propensity Score Matched National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Analysis. Neurospine 2020, 17: 871-878. PMID: 33401865, PMCID: PMC7788425, DOI: 10.14245/ns.2040134.067.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody mass indexCervical degenerative conditionsAnterior cervical corpectomyAnterior cervical discectomyOperative timeFunctional statusCervical corpectomyAdverse eventsCervical discectomyNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysisNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseDegenerative conditionsQuality Improvement Program databasePropensity scoreMultivariate logistic regression analysisAnesthesiologists physical status classificationMinor adverse eventsSerious adverse eventsImprovement Program databasePhysical status classificationShorter operative timeHigher functional statusMultivariate logistic regressionLogistic regression analysisASA PS classificationPerioperative adverse events after different fusion approaches for single-level lumbar spondylosis
Gala RJ, Ottesen TD, Kahan JB, Varthi AG, Grauer JN. Perioperative adverse events after different fusion approaches for single-level lumbar spondylosis. North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ) 2020, 1: 100005. PMID: 35141578, PMCID: PMC8820031, DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2020.100005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransforaminal lumbar interbody fusionPerioperative adverse eventsPosterior spinal fusionLumbar spondylosisAdverse eventsLumbar fusionChi-squared testInterbody fusionNational Quality Improvement Program databaseQuality Improvement Program databaseSingle-level lumbar fusionPropensity scoreLong-term outcome studiesImprovement Program databaseGood surgical techniqueLong-term outcomesLow back painSingle-level fusionDifferent surgical approachesPosterior lumbar fusionLumbar interbody fusionPearson's chi-squared testDifferent fusion proceduresAP fusionPerioperative complicationsHigh, As Well As Low, Preoperative Platelet Counts Correlate With Adverse Outcomes After Elective Posterior Lumbar Surgery.
Malpani R, Gala RJ, Adrados M, Galivanche AR, Clark MG, Mercier MR, Pathak N, Mets EJ, Grauer JN. High, As Well As Low, Preoperative Platelet Counts Correlate With Adverse Outcomes After Elective Posterior Lumbar Surgery. Spine 2020, 45: 349-356. PMID: 32045405, DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000003248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosterior lumbar surgeryPreoperative platelet countLow platelet countPlatelet countLumbar surgeryAdverse outcomesAdverse eventsHospital lengthNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseLow preoperative platelet countPreoperative low platelet countQuality Improvement Program databaseHigh platelet groupLonger hospital lengthLumbar surgery patientsPerioperative adverse outcomesMinor adverse eventsPostoperative adverse eventsImprovement Program databaseRetrospective cohort studyHigher platelet countsLarger patient populationPostoperative complicationsCohort studyPlatelet groupNavigation and Robotics in Spine Surgery
Ahmed A, Barzilai O, Bilsky M, Bono C, Boody B, Boriani S, Bronson W, Buza J, Bydon A, Colantonio D, Mica M, Dillard E, Dong J, Dowdell J, Errico T, Esfahani D, Evans J, Fan M, Fang T, Francois E, Fried T, Funao H, Gala R, Ginsberg H, Hammer C, Harrop J, Hecht A, Heller J, Holly L, Hu K, Jacobson J, Johnson A, Johnson B, Kang J, Kebaish K, Khanna A, Kocovic N, Kumar P, Laxer E, Laufer I, Lebwohl N, Liu Y, McEntee R, Mehta A, Mendoza M, Mikhail C, Milam R, Milby A, Molina C, Mombell K, Morrissey P, Mosley Y, Nathan J, Neisewander B, Neuman B, Oppenlander M, Pahlavan S, Panch T, Passias P, Paul J, Pennington Z, Pisano A, Russo G, Saadeh Y, Schär R, Schmitt A, Schuster J, Sciubba D, Seavey J, Sebastian A, Shenoy K, Silverstein M, Sullivan B, Sullivan P, Tan Z, Theodore N, Tian W, Varthi A, Votta K, Wagner S, Welch W, Wilson J, Zhao J, Ziewacz J. Navigation and Robotics in Spine Surgery. 2020 DOI: 10.1055/b-006-163747.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
Axial Lumbar and Lumbosacral Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spine and Adult Deformity: Surgical Technique and The Evidence
Gala R, Whang P. Axial Lumbar and Lumbosacral Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spine and Adult Deformity: Surgical Technique and The Evidence. Seminars In Spine Surgery 2018, 30: 247-251. DOI: 10.1053/j.semss.2018.07.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThromboembolic Events After Traumatic Vertebral Fractures
Samuel AM, Diaz-Collado PJ, Gala RJ, Webb ML, Lukasiewicz AM, Basques BA, Bohl DD, Kim HJ, Grauer JN. Thromboembolic Events After Traumatic Vertebral Fractures. Spine 2018, 43: 1289-1295. PMID: 29538240, DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000002634.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVenous thromboembolism eventsTraumatic vertebral fracturesVertebral fracturesSpinal cord injuryOdds ratioCord injuryRisk factorsNational Trauma Data Bank Research Data SetLonger inpatient lengthPulmonary embolism eventsDeep vein thrombosisHigh-energy injuriesVertebral fracture patientsLength of stayAdditional risk factorsMultivariate logistic regressionSuch adverse outcomesOverall rateThromboembolism eventsHospital courseThromboembolic eventsFracture patientsVein thrombosisLonger LOSTrauma patientsIncidence and considerations of 90-day readmissions following posterior lumbar fusion
Cui JJ, Gala RJ, Ondeck NT, McLynn RP, Bovonratwet P, Shultz B, Grauer JN. Incidence and considerations of 90-day readmissions following posterior lumbar fusion. The Spine Journal 2018, 19: 631-636. PMID: 30219360, DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.09.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosterior lumbar fusionDays of dischargeReadmission ratesBaseline readmission ratesHuman Investigation CommitteeAdmission ratesDay readmissionLumbar fusionUtilization Project Nationwide Readmissions DatabaseAverage daily admission rateBaseline admission rateBundled payment plansNationwide Readmissions DatabaseHospital admission dataAverage admission rateDaily admission ratesCalendar yearCurrent quality metricsPLF patientsPatient demographicsPostoperative dayRetrospective studyPatient counselingPatient outcomesSpine surgeryLumbar Disc Herniation: A Controlled, Prospective Study with 10 Years of Observation
Gala R, Whang P. Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Controlled, Prospective Study with 10 Years of Observation. 2018, 109-112. DOI: 10.1201/9781315154053-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLumbar disc herniationGroup of patientsDisc herniationNonoperative treatmentInitial nonoperative treatmentLumbar disc prolapseLong-term outcomesTiming of treatmentObservational armConservative managementSurgical treatmentDisc prolapseProspective studyRetrospective natureCommon causeNatural historyHerniationDiagnostic imagingPatientsDefinitive indicationTreatmentSelection biasYears of observationGroupPrior studiesThe Impact of Insurance Status on the Development of Nonunion following Scaphoid Fracture
Dodds S, Fenoglio A, Bohl D, Gala R. The Impact of Insurance Status on the Development of Nonunion following Scaphoid Fracture. Journal Of Wrist Surgery 2018, 07: 288-291. PMID: 30174984, PMCID: PMC6117168, DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639509.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDevelopment of nonunionCase-control studyRisk factorsScaphoid nonunionTertiary referral centerInadequate initial managementImpact of insurance statusInsurance statusReferral centerDelayed diagnosisAcute fracturesInitial managementDisplaced fracturesScaphoid fracturesPatientsNonunionProximal locationProximal aspectRiskScaphoidCarpal instabilityUnderinsuranceFractureStatusSurgeonsDiscrepancies in the Definition of “Outpatient” Surgeries and Their Effect on Study Outcomes Related to ACDF and Lumbar Discectomy Procedures
Bovonratwet P, Webb ML, Ondeck NT, Gala RJ, Nelson SJ, McLynn RP, Cui JJ, Grauer JN. Discrepancies in the Definition of “Outpatient” Surgeries and Their Effect on Study Outcomes Related to ACDF and Lumbar Discectomy Procedures. Clinical Spine Surgery A Spine Publication 2018, 31: e152-e159. PMID: 29351096, DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000000615.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsACDF patientsLumbar discectomy patientsDiscectomy procedureDiscectomy patientsSurgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseQuality Improvement Program databaseACS-NSQIP databaseAnterior cervical discectomyImprovement Program databaseSame-day dischargePossibility of patientsCervical discectomyOutpatient statusRetrospective studyOutpatient surgeryAdverse outcomesOutpatient settingOutpatient procedureProgram databaseBACKGROUND DATADay dischargeAmerican CollegeACDFOutpatients
Clinical Care
Overview
Raj J. Gala, MD, is a spine surgeon who says his priority is to listen to patients, many of whom are experiencing severe pain.
“As we age, we put wear and tear on our bodies, and our spine slowly deteriorates, which can lead to pain in the neck, back, or anywhere in the spine,” Dr. Gala says. “My first step is to let patients tell me their story, to explain what’s bothering them. That helps us decide where to go from there.”
If surgery is needed, Dr. Gala offers a repertoire of options including minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery. The two most common spine procedures are decompression (relieving pinched nerves) and fusion surgery (permanently joining two or more vertebrae).
Relieving back pain can be immensely helpful to patients, Dr. Gala says. “We use our backs in every activity we do, even if it's just sitting or sleeping,” he says. “There's really no way to offload your spine no matter what you're doing. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 90% of the population will have back pain at some point.”
Dr. Gala says he was drawn to the spine specialty because of its potential for innovation.
“There’s still so much research that needs to be done. For example, in the hip and knee world, we know how to replace those joints and restore mobility to where it was,” he says. “We haven’t quite gotten there with the spine, but I’m excited about advances we are making in robotic and endoscopic procedures.”
Dr. Gala’s research focuses on population health, including the factors that influence whether someone experiences back pain or a fracture. He’s also involved in research exploring nerve blocks for pain management.
Clinical Specialties
Spine Surgery; Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
Board Certifications
Orthopaedic Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 2021
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