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  5. Jacob Buchowski, MD, MS
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Jacob Buchowski, MD, MS

J. Albert Key Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

Professor of Neurological Surgery

Division of Spine Surgery

Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

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(314) 514-3500

Jacob M. Buchowski, MD, MS, is the J. Albert Key Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Neurological Surgery, and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He is also the director of the Washington University Spine Fellowship. Dr. Buchowski earned his bachelor and master of science degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University and his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins, where he served as administrative chief resident at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was fellowship trained in adult and pediatric spine surgery in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Buchowski specializes in the surgical treatment of degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine.

Common Diagnoses Treated

  • Cervical disc herniation
  • Cervical deformity
  • Cervical kyphosis
  • Cervical spinal stenosis
  • Cervical myelopathy
  • Degenerative spondylolisthesis
  • Disc degeneration
  • Disc herniation
  • Fractures of the spine
  • Isthmic spondylolisthesis
  • Lumbar disc herniation
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Lumbar spondylolisthesis
  • Nerve compression (in the cervical or lumbar spine)
  • Radiculopathy
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylosis/arthritis of the spine
  • Spondylolisthesis disc disease (including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine)

Common Procedures

  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
  • Anterior spine fusion
  • Artificial disc replacement or arthroplasty
  • Cervical disc replacement or arthroplasty
  • Cervical fusion
  • Cervical laminectomy or decompression
  • Decompression of the cervical and lumbar spine
  • Discectomy
  • Lumbar fusion
  • Lumbar laminectomy or decompression
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Revision spine surgery
  • Robotic spine surgery
  • Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)

Clinical Office Locations

Hospital Affiliations

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital
  • Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
  • St. Louis Children's Hospital

Academic Office Mailing Address

  • Washington University School of Medicine

     

    Campus Box 8233

    660 South Euclid Avenue

    Saint Louis, MO 63110

    Dr. Buchowski has contributed more than 150 publications to the field of orthopaedics. A selection of his work is highlighted below. For a complete list, visit his PubMed profile.

    • Stone DH, O'Malley J, McCoy L, Bentz GP, Maihew K, Nelson B, Budd L, Jonnalagadda P, Yakdan S, Feger MA, Neuman B, Buchowski J, Ogunlade J, Lambrechts MJ. The impact of body mass index classification on operative characteristics and perioperative outcomes in lumbar microdiscectomy. J Clin Neurosci. 2026 Jul 21;153:112213. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2026.112213. Online ahead of print. PMID: 42480349
    • Martinez Rivera A, Bentz GP, Stone DH, Pereira DE, Galla JT, Ledesma JA, Dalton J, Montgomery
      BK, Clohisy JC Jr, Wilson JL, Neuman BJ, Buchowski J, Bridwell K, Obey MR, Miller AN, Lambrechts MJ. Sacral U-Type Fractures: A Comparative Study of Treatment Approaches. Global Spine J. 2026 Feb 2:21925682261422685. doi: 10.1177/21925682261422685. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41627299
    • Yakdan S, Zhang J, Benedict B, Xu Z, Javeed S, Zhang JK, Steel BA, Gupta VP, Boierbush K, Piccirillo JF, Rodebaugh TL, Goodin BR, Buchowski JM, Neuman B, Hafez D, Kelly M, Ray WZ, Lu C, Frumkin M, Greenberg JK. Multidomain postoperative recovery trajectories axer lumbar and thoracolumbar spine surgery. Spine J. 2025 Dec;25(12):2739-2752. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee. 2025.05.017. Epub 2025 May 7. PMID: 40345393
    • Pennington Z, Schwab JH, Lo SL, Goodwin CR, Goodwin ML, Colman M, Charest-Morin R, Dea N,
      Lubelski D, Ozturk A, Buchowski JM, Gibbs W, Hsu W, Krishnaney A, Laufer I, Macki M, Mesfin A,
      Shankar G, Tobert D, Shin J, Plai A, Sciubba DM. Application of deformity principles in the
      management of spinal neoplasms: A Primer. N Am Spine Soc J. 2025 Aug 5;23:100779. doi:
      10.1016/j.xnsj.2025.100779. eCollection 2025 Sep. PMID: 40979538
    • Smith JS, Kelly MP, Yanik EL, Baldus CR, Pham V, Ben-Israel D, Lurie JD, Edwards C, Glassman SD, Lenke LG, Buchowski JM, Carreon LY, Crawford CH 3rd, Lewis SJ, Koski T, Lafage V, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Ames CP, Bess S, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Bridwell KH. Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment for Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis at 8-Year Follow-Up: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. 2025 Jun 1;160(6):634-644. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.0496. PMID: 40172880
    • Yakdan S, Frumkin MR, Javeed S, Plog BA, Zhang JK, Benedict B, Boierbush K, Goodin BR, Piccirillo JF, Buchowski JM, Rodebaugh TL, Ray WZ, Kelly MP, Greenberg JK. Defining Substantial Clinical Benefits of PROMIS Pain Interference and Physical Function in Patients Undergoing Lumbar and Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2025 Jan 30. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005276. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39882633
    • Carreon LY, Glassman SD, Smith JS, Kelly MP, Yanik EL, Baldus CR, Lurie JD, Edwards C, Lenke LG, Buchowski JM, Crawford CH 3rd, Koski T, Lafage V, Gupta M, Kim HJ, Ames CP, Bess S, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Bridwell KH. Cost-effectiveness Improves for Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment of Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis at Eight-Year Follow-up. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2025 May 1;50(9):586-592. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005186. Epub 2024 Oct 14. PMID: 39397347
    • Tan X, Jing L, Neal SM, Gupta MC, Buchowski JM, Seion LA, Huebsch N. IGF-1 peptide mimeticfunctionalized hydrogels enhance MSC survival and immunomodulatory activity. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Sep 2:2024.06.27.600680. doi: 10.1101/2024.06.27.600680. PMID: 39005297
    • Grabala P, Galgano MA, Grabala M, Buchowski JM. Radiological and Pulmonary Results of Surgical
      Treatment of Severe Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Preoperative Halo Gravity Traction Compared with Less Invasive Temporary Internal Distraction in Staged Surgery in Adolescents. J Clin Med. 2024 May 13;13(10):2875. doi: 10.3390/jcm13102875. PMID: 38792417
    • Greenberg JK, Frumkin M, Xu Z, Zhang J, Javeed S, Zhang JK, Benedict B, Boierbush K, Yakdan S, Molina CA, Pennicooke BH, Hafez D, Ogunlade JI, Palloia N, Gupta MC, Buchowski JM, Neuman B, Steinmetz M, Ghogawala Z, Kelly MP, Goodin BR, Piccirillo JF, Rodebaugh TL, Lu C, Ray WZ.
      Preoperative mobile health data improve predictions of recovery from lumbar spine surgery.
      Neurosurgery. 2024 Sep 1;95(3):617-626. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002911. Epub 2024 Mar 29. PMID: 38551340
    • Klawson B, Buchowski JM, Punyarat P, Singleton Q, Feger M, Theologis AA. Comparative analysis
      of three posterior-only surgical techniques for isthmic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024 May 15;32(10):456-463. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-23-00369. Epub 2024 Feb 27. PMID: 38412458

Research Interests

Dr. Buchowski's research interests include: clinical outcomes following surgery for spinal tumors and metastatic spine disease, clinical outcome following complex reconstructive surgery, and the role of biologics in spine surgery.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Buchowski's clinical interest is in the surgical treatment of degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine such as disc herniations or spinal stenosis. Although not his primary interest, Dr. Buchowski is also known for the surgical treatment of primary and metastatic spinal tumors.

Background

Dr. Buchowski earned his bachelor and master of science degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University and his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins, where he served as administrative chief resident at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was fellowship trained in adult and pediatric spine surgery in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Board Certifications

  • Diplomate, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Medical Degree

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Residency

  • Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital / Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Fellowship

  • Spine Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine

Honors and Awards

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2026 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2025 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York
  • Hibbs Award – Best Clinical Paper, Scoliosis Research Society 59th Annual Meeting, Barcelona,
    Spain. October 10-14, 2024
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2024 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2023 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2022 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2021 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York

  • Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor 2021 Listing, Castle Connolly, New York, New York

  • Best Doctors in America 2020 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, March 18, 2019

  • AAOS Achievement Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 12, 2019

  • Best Doctors in America 2019 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, March 14, 2018

  • AAOS Achievement Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 6, 2018

  • AAOS Achievement Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, October 13, 2017

  • Best Doctors in America 2018 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, June 8, 2017

  • Best Doctors in America 2017 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, March 3, 2017

  • AAOS Achievement Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, February 28, 2017

  • Best Doctors in America 2016 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, July 27, 2015

  • Best Doctors in America 2015 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, May 11, 2015

  • Best Doctors in America 2014 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, April 3, 2014

  • Best Doctors in America 2013 Listing, Best Doctors, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, February 7, 2013

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