Spine Universe Author Biography

Howard W. Robinson, M.D., is a member of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), and the CINN Institute for Spine Care, Chicago, Illinois. Board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Robinson is highly skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with occupational injuries including back, neck, joint and nerve disorders, as well as musculoskeletal diseases.He also has a keen interest and expertise in treating sports-related injuries.

Dr. Robinson is proficient in various spinal interventional techniques, including selective spinal blocks and electrodiagnostic testing. He employs a wide-range of minimally invasive treatment techniques including fluoroscopically guided spinal injections, discography, radiofrequency neurotomy, intradiscal eletrothermal annuloplasty (IDET), and Nucleoplasty to reduce the pain and promote long-term healing of his patients.

Dr. Robinson is from Southern California and received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of Hawaii. Subsequently, he earned his medical degree in 1997 from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. After completing his degree, Dr. Robinson continued his education by pursuing a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, affiliated with Northwestern University Medical School. Following the completion of his residency in 2001, Dr. Robinson completed a Sports and Spine Medicine Fellowship at CINN.

Dr. Robinson has participated in several clinical research projects. His current research interest is studying the validity of epidural steroid injections. He is also in the planning stages of studies involving facet joint cyst aspiration, and diagnostic as well as therapeutic medial branch blocks of the dorsal ramus.

Dr. Robinson is a member of several professional organizations including the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports, and Occupational Rehabilitation, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the Illinois Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

SpineUniverse articles from Howard W. Robinson, M.D.

• Minimally Invasive Procedures Used to Treat
  Disorders Affecting the Lumbar Spine
  Identifying the pain generator is the first principle in the physiatric approach to low back pain.
• Treating Disorders Affecting the Lumbar Spine
  Using Minimally Invasive Procedures
  The physiatric approach includes an accurate diagnosis targeting the main pain generator.