Chief of Spine, Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Fellowship Director, Swedish Neuroscience Institute
President and CEO, Seattle Science Foundation
Professor Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Systems Biology
Medical Director, Swedish Spine Program
Dr. Rod J. Oskouian, Jr., is a neurosurgeon who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex spinal disorders, with an expertise in:
Spinal Tumors, Including Metastatic Disease
Osteomyelitis/Discitis
Spinal Deformity Correction
Revision Fusion Surgeries
Spinal Procedures on the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine
Dr. Oskouian is currently the Chief of Spine at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute and President and CEO of the Seattle Science Foundation. His research and clinical focus is on scoliosis, spinal deformities and anomalies, osteoporosis, spinal cord injury, degenerative disc disease, spinal oncology, stereotactic spinal radiosurgery, and minimally invasive spinal surgery. He has published in numerous medical journals and textbooks, including Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Clinics of North America, the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Focus and Spine.
Dr. Oskouian received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and completed residencies in surgery and neurosurgery at the University of Virginia under the direction of Dr. John Jane. In addition, he completed a specialty year of training as part of the New Zealand Brain & Spine Fellowship Program at the New Zealand National Hospital in Auckland. Dr. Oskouian is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
American Board of Neurological Surgery, Surgery, Neurological
American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery
550 17th Avenue
James Tower, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 320-2800
Speaks: English and Persian (Farsi)
Recent Publications
Surgical Training Videos
Recorded Surgeries
Upcoming CMEs
World Neurosurgery. 2019 Sep;129:e146-e151. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.05.064.Epub 2019 May 16.
After properly identifying the anatomic structures, each of these techniques provides a consistent, reproducible, and efficient means to decompress the spine under various circumstances. These techniques provide surgical trainees with a framework for approaching surgical decompression.
Dr. Oskouian is extremely passionate about education, participating in and hosting national educational conferences each year for training and seasoned surgeons alike. His courses cover current topics in spine that are evolving, combining both lecture and cadaver labs into the agenda, allowing for hands-on time to practice new and innovative surgical techniques.
View upcoming courses.
Dr. Oskouian is heavily involved in clinical research that targets improving surgical techniques for spinal procedures, with the goal of producing better patient outcomes, both immediately after surgery and for the long term. In particular, he has been one of the leading surgeons in the nation to utilize the lateral approach for spinal deformity corrections. Through this technique, patients typically experience less pain, quicker recovery time, shorter hospital stays, and better correction of their deformity.
View recent surgical training videos.
Dr. Oskouian has been involved in over 40 publications including medical journals and texts, and has presented both nationally and overseas on the lateral approach to spine surgery.
In addition, he serves on the editorial board for the European Spine Journal. He is also active in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, as well as the North American Spine Association.
View recent publications.
Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Fellowship | 130 Trained Surgeons
This is a unique fellowship in that it is a combined orthopedic spine and neuro-surgical spine fellowship. There is a wide array of pathology giving a large and diverse perspective on spine management. Learn more.
The Spine Project - Kenyatta National Hospital
In 2014, Dr. Oskouian began working with Dr. Ombachi and Dr. Otieno to performa number of spinal surgeries in Kenyatta National Hospital. In addition, they have formed a strong partnership to begin offering medical education conferences and hands-on cadaveric surgical trainings to their medical students and staff.
Research and Innovation
Dr. Oskouian is at the forefront of clinical care and participates in a number of clinical and anatomical research projects. Many of the anatomical research projects are performed at the Seattle Science Foundation, where medical and surgical problems are examined and alternative anatomical solutions developed to solve various issues that face clinicians and surgeons alike. The Seattle Science Foundation boasts a large group of clinical research fellows from partnering medical centers who together are helping change the way we move forward with our understanding of human anatomy. This collaborative research and subsequent discoveries have resulted in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications in major medical journals as well as the publication of many clinical/surgical textbooks. View recent publications.
International Surgical Training: Argentina Spine Society
Click here to watch a Rod Oskouian, M.D. and Jared Cook, D.O. as they perform a surgical demonstration of an Intradiscal Osteotomy as part of the Argentina Spine Society meeting.
SSF Spine Residents and Fellows Course
The 14th Annual SSF Spine Residents & Fellows Course is specifically designed for orthopedic fellows and senior neurosurgical residents who are going to practice spinal surgery. Since the transition into any fellowship can often be challenging for both trainee and mentor, we hope this training course provides a useful starting point for this important phase of training. This course will cover the latest advances in complex spinal disorders such as minimally invasive techniques, trauma, deformity, tumors, infection and imaging, as well as radiosurgery. The course objective is to bring orthopaedic and neurological surgeons-in-training together to advance the art and science of modern spinal care. Learn more.
SIGN Fracture Care: Hands-on Cadaveric Course
Check-out interviews from our Pre-SIGN Fracture Care International conference. 23 Surgeons from 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Tanzania, Zimbabwe & Guatemala participated in a surgical training designed for surgeons from underserved areas to help them effectively and safely treat trauma-related injuries, both orthopedic and neurosurgical, in the developing world.
Surgical Anatomy of the Lumbar Plexus is the only book on the market devoted to the lumbar plexus and its branches, focusing on anatomy and clinical applications, pathology, surgery, and imaging. Thorough knowledge of the lumbar plexus and its branches is crucial to achieving positive patient outcomes, especially with newer surgical approaches. Many of the nerve branches are formed within the psoas major muscle and careful dissection is necessary to free them during surgery to prevent damage. Moreover, the iliac vessels are medial to some of the larger branches of the plexus, such as the femoral and obturator nerves. In the retroperitoneal space, the kidney and ureter are nearby. In addition, due to the overlying peritoneal cavity and its contents, accessing the lumbar plexus presents considerable challenges.
Surgical Anatomy of the Lateral Transpsoas Approach to the Lumbar Spine.
The specialized ligaments that connect the head to the spine have never before had a book dedicated to their anatomy and clinical relevance. Therefore, this book is unique and fills in a gap in the literature. Audiences with a strong interest in such a topic include radiologists, spine surgeons, anatomists, rehabilitation physicians and therapists. Additionally, trainees including students, residents and fellows in disciplines treating patients with diseases or trauma to the craniocervical (connection between the head and neck) junction will have a strong interest in the book. As the fine surgical anatomy involved in spine surgery has progressed greatly in recent year, knowledge of all detailed anatomical structures relevant to this field is important. Therefore, this book will satisfy the demand for a more detailed knowledge regarding this region of the body and will be welcomed and timely for all who are interested in the human spine.
This volume covers the known details of all subtypes of occult spinal dysraphism in unprecedented detail. This 21 chapter invaluable resource begins with a deep dive into the history and embryology of occult spinal dysraphisms. Following this, subtypes of occult spinal dysraphism are thoroughly explored ― of which include split cord malformations, tethered cord syndromes, adult presentations/outcomes of occult spinal dysraphism, cutaneous stigmata. Chapters will cover the clinical presentation, radiological features, and surgical nuances of each of the occult spinal dysraphisms. Throughout the book, expertly written text is supplemented by a number of high quality figures and tables, as well as a video documenting surgical treatment of type 1 split cord malformation.
By focusing on each entity currently grouped within this topic as a separate chapter, the most up-to-date information will be provided to the reader, makingOccult Spinal Dysraphisma must-have resource for students, practitioners and medical professionals involved in treating spinal dsyraphism.
Surgical Cases
Recorded Surgical Videos
Recorded Surgical Training Videos
"Dr. O, I can't thank you enough for fixing my back last summer! It only took 3 years, but it all paid off. This year at WSU has been great and no pain in sight, all thanks to you. Thank you for listening to me, not thinking I was crazy, and getting me in so fast. I really appreciated it. And I promise to not to lift or twist and do it again."
"Dr. Oskouian and his team have been instrumental in my current good health! They have kept my concerns top priority and I have counted on them numerous times to assist with my needs over the phone. They have always listened and made sure my concerns were heard and cared for. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking medical care for their back issues!"
"I want to thank you all for taking such great care of me. I appreciate you all so much and want the world to know how great the whole team is. From the doctors, to the nurses, to the medical assistants, to the office personnel. You have an A++ team working together as one and with that said, the treatment is amazing. I have a journey ahead of me, but I'm glad you were by my side. Thanks guys, I would not be able to do it without y'all."
"I am well on the way to recovery after the fall and subsequent operation - and I want to thank you again for operating on me and fixing my neck. All of your hard work and studying has given you this gift of making such difference in people's lives. I realize just how serious a situation I was in, and had I not had your expertise on my behalf, I am sure I would not be feeling as well as I do now. Again, my sincere thanks."
"I will never be able to thank you enough for your surgical talent and giving back my daughter a quality of life that only a highly qualified and skilled surgeon, such as you, could accomplish. I am thankful every day when I see her living a life free of extreme pain and without the need for narcotics. You have brought joy to me, her father and our daughter."
“You have saved my life on numerous occassions. What more can I say than a heartfelt thank-you.”
Dr. Oskouian hosts a number of community outreach events throughout the year. From Summer Programs in Medicine and Health Care to Research Internships and Fellowship Programs.
