Spine Universe Editorial Board

Doctor Praveen Mummaneni is Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). In addition, he is the Co-Director of the UCSF Spine Center, Co-Director of the Spine Fellowship Program and Director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Program. Dr. Mummaneni specializes in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery, degenerative spine disease, adult spinal deformity, scoliosis, and spinal trauma.

Dr. Mummaneni earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He completed his general surgical internship at the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Mummaneni completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of California at San Francisco. During his residency, he spent one year as a visiting scholar in biomechanics at the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley.

Following his residency, Dr. Mummaneni completed fellowship training in complex spine surgery at Emory University. During his spine fellowship, Dr. Mummaneni received advanced subspecialty training in adult spinal deformity surgery at Northwestern University and with the Indiana Spine Group. Twice he has been a Traveling Fellow; at Washington University in St. Louis and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Three times he has been a visiting surgeon; twice in Germany at Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik in Murnau and the Rehabilitation Clinic Langensteinbach in Karlsbad and once at National Hospital, Queen's Square in London. In 2006, he was the honored guest of the Japanese Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Mummaneni is a member of many prestigious professional organizations including Alpha Omega Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Spine and Peripheral Nerves, California Association of Neurological Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society (Candidate Member), and an Honorary Member of the South Carolina Spine Society.

Besides professional affiliations, Dr. Mummaneni has published more than 90 journal articles and chapters in such noted journals as Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Surgical Neurology, Journal of Biomechanics, Muscle and Nerve, Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, Contemporary Neurosurgery, and Master Techniques in Orthopedic Surgery. He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques. Further, Dr. Mummaneni has directed courses for professionals and presented research in more than 160 presentations at major medical meetings all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Currently, Dr. Mummaneni lives in San Francisco where he enjoys hiking, white-water rafting, and travel. He is also fluent in Telugu.

Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD is on the Spine Universe Editorial Board.

Spinal Case Studies From Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD

• Back and Leg Pain in a 47-year-old
  The patient is taking oral morphine and hydrocodone for pain control. However back and radicular leg pain persists.

SpineUniverse articles from Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD

• Back Support When Sitting
  For people with back pain, sitting with adequate back support is important.
• Cervical Spine Surgery
  To understand cervical spine surgery, it is important to know about neck anatomy and spinal structures affected by degenerative conditions that may cause neck pain.
• Cervical Spine Surgery and Degenerative Neck Disorders
  Degeneration in the cervical spine can lead to significant changes in anatomy. These changes can cause neck pain and other symptoms due to spinal cord and nerve compression. You may also develop neck pain as you learn to readjust your neck movements
• Cervical Spine Surgery: Surgical Techniques to Treat Neck Pain and Symptoms
  If cervical degeneration causes spinal cord dysfunction, radiculopathy, neck pain, or abnormal neck motion, surgery may be necessary. The surgical goal is to reduce pain and restore spinal stability.
• Discogenic Low Back Pain
  Discogenic low back pain is caused specifically by one or more intervertebral discs in your lumbar spine. Activities that increases the pressure on the disc can make your pain worse, so sitting or bending forward may hurt. You may also have leg pain.
• Minimally Invasive, Endoscopic, Internal Thoracoplasty for the Treatment of Scoliotic Rib Hump Deformity
  A video abstract from the 2002 SRS Annual Meeting that presents the authors' experience with VATS thoracoplasty with long term follow-up.
• Non-Surgical Treatment of Spondylosis (Spinal Arthritis)
  Very few patients with spondylosis (spinal arthritis) require surgery. Non-operative therapies are tried first and are often successfully alleviate the patient's symptoms.
• Spondylosis (Spinal Arthritis): Reduce Back and Neck Pain
  Most cases of spondylosis (spinal arthritis) are mild and require little, if any, treatment. This article covers common non-surgical treatments, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, and medications. It also explains when surgery is needed.