Massachusetts General Hospital

Biography

Dr. Kirk Wood earned his BA from UCLA in 1978 and his MD at Albany Medical College in 1984. He completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a spine surgery fellowship at the Twin Cities Scoliosis Spine Center at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Wood was appointed Chief of the Spine Service upon his arrival on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2004. He is actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows through his positions as Associate Profess of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Program Director for the Spine Surgery Fellowship Program.

Research

Dr. Wood's research interests include the effects of instrumentation for spinal deformity, the dynamics of the intervertebral disc and alternative methods and implants for spinal surgery.

Dr. Wood has worked extensively with European scientists to develop restorable implants for use in spinal fixation, hoping to ultimately discard many of the metallic-type implants that currently are used in spinal surgery.

Publications

Select Publications:

Guohua L, Passias P, Li G, Kozanek M, Rehak L, Wood K, Li G, Deng Y. Endoscopically Assisted Anterior Release and Reduction Through Anterolateral Retropharyngeal Approach for Fixed Atlantoaxial Dislocation. Spine Volume 35, Number 5, pp 544-551, 2010.

Simon J, Schoenfeld J, Katz J, Kamuth A, Wood K, Bono C, Harris M. Are Norma? Multidetector Computed Tomographic Scans Sufficient to Allow Collar Removal in the Trauma Patient? The Journal of Trauma, Volume 68, Number 1, 2010.

Wang Y, Zhang Y, Mao K, Zhang X, Wang Z, Zheng G, Li G, Wood K. Transpedicular Bivertebrae Wedge Osteotomy and Discectomy in Lumbar Spine for Severe Ankylosing Spondylitis. J Spinal Disorder Tech. Jan. 12, 2010.

Wang S, Passias P, Xia Q, Li G, Wood K. Segmental In-vivo Vertebral Motion During Functional Human Lumbar Spine Activies. Eur Spine Journal. Vol. 18, Number 7,/ July, 2009.

Wang S, Xia Q, Passias P, Wood K, Li G. Measurement of geometric deformation of lumbar intervertebral discs under in-vio weightbearing condition. Journal of Biomechanics:2009.01.004.

Click here for a complete list of publications.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield names MGH a Blue Distinction Center

MGH Hotline 4.30.10 THE MGH has been designated a Blue Distinction Center for both spine surgery and knee and hip replacement by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.