Practice Locations
Affiliated Hospitals
- Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
- Geneva Surgical Suites, LLC
Areas of Expertise
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Adult and Pediatric Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Disorders
- Disc Herniation
- Cervical Disc Replacements
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative Conditions of the Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spine
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
- Computer-navigated Surgery
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Fractures
- Spinal Instability
- Disc Degeneration
- Revision and Complex Spine Surgery
Biography
Dr. Minkara is a Harvard and Cleveland Clinic trained spine surgeon. He completed surgical and research fellowships in spine, conducting research at Columbia University in adult and pediatric spine conditions.
Throughout his education and training, he earned summa cum laude honors, was inducted to the Gold Humanism Honor Society for excellence and compassionate patient care, and was awarded multiple grants and honors. His work has been referenced in over 600 publications, and he also authored the chapter on spine deformity for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He specializes in all aspects of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine surgery, including minimally invasive spine, disc replacement, complex revisions, and spine deformity. His expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery provides patients with options for faster recovery time, less discomfort, and quicker return to normal activities. Dr. Minkara and his team use a multidisciplinary approach to tailor treatment for each patient based on their goals.
I believe in doing what’s right for the patient. The patient’s needs always come first. Doing what’s right includes taking the time to listen to their story and what brought them in, understanding their goals of care, offering conservative treatment options, and using proven techniques and technology to deliver the best care possible.”
Anas AJ Minkara, MDEducation
Medical School
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Residency
Cleveland Clinic - Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship
Columbia University - Clinical Research, Spine Surgery
Fellowship
Harvard University (Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital) - Spine Surgery
Affiliations and Associations
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- North American Spine Society
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Textbooks
- Minkara A, Pelle D, Savage J. AAOS Comprehensive Review 4: Adult Spinal Deformity (Chapter 17). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Journal Publications
- Egger A, Minkara A, Parker R, Rosneck J. Intra-articular Hip Injuries in National Basketball Association Players: A Descriptive Epidemiological Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022 Sep 16;10(9).
- Emara A, Zhai L, Rothfusz C, Minkara A, et al. Virtual Orthopaedic Examination of the Lower Extremity: The Know How of an Emerging Skill. JBJS. 2021 Sep 1;9(9):e21.
- Minkara A, Bainton N, Tanaka M, Kung J, DeAllie C, Khaleel A, Matsumoto H, Vitale M, Roye B. High risk of mismatch between Sanders and Risser staging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: are we guiding treatment using the wrong classification? Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 2020 Feb; 40(2):60-64.
- Lynch T, Minkara A, Aoki S, Bedi A, Bhara S, Clohisy J, Harris J, Larson C, Nepple J, Nho S, Philippon M, Rosneck J, Safran M, Stubbs A, Westermann R, Byrd J. Best Practice Guidelines for Hip Arthroscopy in Femoroacetabular Impingement: Results of a Delphi Process. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Jan 15;28(2):81-89.
- Chughtai M, Minkara A, Kuivila T, Patterson B. Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopaedic Surgical Residency and Fellowship Training: Lost Opportunity or Novel Experience? Annals of Translational Medicine. 2020 Sep;8(18).
- Ovalle F, Dembinski D, Yalamanchili S, Minkara A, Stern P. Hand and Upper Extremity Infections in Intravenous Drug Users: Epidemiology and Predictors of Outcomes. J Hand Surg Am. 2020 Jun;45(6):503-511.
- Nielsen E, Andras L, Bellaire L, Fetcher N, Minkara A, Vitale M, Troy M, Glotzbecker M, Skaggs D. Don't You Wish You Had Fused to the Pelvis the First Time: A Comparison of Reoperation Rate and Correction of Pelvic Obliquity. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2019 Apr 15;44(8):E465-E469.
- Minkara A, Matsumoto H, Glotzbecker M, Samdani A, Flynn J, Vitale M, Saiman L, Children's Spine Study Group. A Multicenter Study of the Epidemiology of Deep Surgical Site Infections in Children with Nonidiopathic Early-Onset Scoliosis Including Associated Pathogens. Spine Deform. 2019 Jul;7(4):647-651.
- Sultan A, Berger R, Cantrell W, Linsen S, Ramanathan D, Churchill J, Minkara A, et al. Predictors of Extended Length of Hospital Stay in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Posterior Segmental Instrumented Fusion. Spine. 2019 May; 44(10): 715-722.
- Minkara A, Westermann R, Rosneck J, Lynch T. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes Following Hip Arthroscopy in Femoroacetabular Impingement. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Feb;47(2):488-500.
- Lynch T, O'Connor M, Minkara A, Westermann R, Rosneck J. Biomarkers for Femoroacetabular Impingement and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Jul;47(9):2242-2250.
- Ramkumar P, Navarro S, Becker J, Farhan A, Minkara A, et al. The Effects of Space Microgravity on Hip and Knee Cartilage: A New Frontier in Orthopaedics. Surg Technol Int. 2019 Nov 10;35:421-425.
- Vitale M, Minkara A, Matsumoto H, Albert T, Anderon R, Angevine P, Buclkland A, Cho S, Cunningham M, Errico T, Fischer C, Kim H, Lehman R, Lonner B, Passias P, Protopsaltis T, Schwab F, Lenke L. Building Consensus: Development of Best Practice Guidelines on Wrong Level Surgery in Spinal Deformity. Spine Deformity. 2018 Apr;6(2):121-129.
- Imahiyerobo T, Minkara A, Lee J, Matsumoto H, Callejo F, Roye B, Roye D, Vitale M. Plastic Multilayered Closure in Nonidiopathic Scoliosis Significantly Reduces the Risk of Wound Complications in a Pediatric Population. Spine Deformity. 2018 Jul-Aug;6(4):454-459.
- Minkara A, Lin A, Vitale M, Roye D Jr. Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Cell Saver in Posterior Spinal Fusion. Spine Deformity. 2017 Nov;5(6):430-434.
- Minkara A, Flynn J, Matsumoto H, Glotzbecker M, Smith J, Samdani A, Saiman L, Vitale M. Building the Case for Optimal Prophylaxis for Growth-Friendly Surgery for Non-idiopathic Scoliosis: Using Vancomycin and Aminoglycosides. Spine Deformity. 2017 Nov;5(6):465.
- Minkara A, Patil Y, Dhanda R. A Pleomorphic Adenoma Causing Carotid Sinus Syndrome: Case Report and Literature Review. Ear Nose Throat Journal. Jan-Feb 2018;97(1-2):E23-E26.
- Minkara A, Simmons M, Goodale A, Patil Y. Subjective Morbidity Following Radial Free Flap Reconstruction in Head and Neck Tumor Patients. Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2019 Mar;133(3):230-235.
- Kelley B, Minkara A, Angevine P, Vitale M, Lenke L, Anderson R. Temporary occipital fixation in young children with severe cervical-thoracic spinal deformity. Neurosurg Focus. 2017 Oct;43(4): E11.
- Matsumoto H, Campbell M, Minkara A, Roye D, Garg S, Johnston C, Samdani A, Smith J, Sponseller P, Sturm P, Vitale M, Children's Spine Study Group, Growing Spine Study Group. Development of a Risk Severity Score (RSS) Predicting Surgical Site Infection in Early Onset Scoliosis: Identifying High-Risk Patients. Spine Deformity. 2017; 5(6):464-465.
- Patil Y, Minkara A. Assessment of Morbidity and Arm Function Following Radial Forearm Free Flap in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Radiation Oncology; 94(4): P887.
- Pascoe J, McConnell K, Lopez A, Minkara A, Sawani H, Dye T, Simakajornboon N. The Effect of Sleep Disordered Breathing on Heart Rate Variability in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2016;193: A5986.
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- POSNA Research Grant
- Summa Cum Laude Honors
- Russell A. Hibbs Research Award Nomination, Scoliosis Research Society
- Richard Norling Premier Scholarship
- Dean’s Honor List
- Student Marshal College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati (in recognition for service and academic accomplishments)
- National Clarion Competition – Center for Health Interprofessional Programs
- Volunteer Merit Award – University Hospital
- Chief Resident Leadership Workshop – Cleveland Clinic
- Ethics Committee – UC Medical Center
- Graduate Medical Education Committee on Program Improvement – Cleveland Clinic
- State Tournament Physician – Regional High Schools and Wrestling Tournaments
- Integrated Emergency Management - FEMA - Emergency Management Institute
- Annual Leadership Academy - Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)